On the World Environment Day today, Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change highlighted the need for increasing the green cover and protecting wildlife. He also released ‘Living With Leopards’ leaflet containing practical ways to reduce man-animal conflict in the vicinity of Sanjay Gandhi National Park Area. 

“Urban forestry is the new thrust area and we will be taking up massive tree plantation drive in as many as 200 cities and towns across the country” he said at a commemorative function organized at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali, Mumbai. The Environment Ministry will launch the ‘Urban Forestry Scheme’ in Pune, where 6000 saplings will be planted to create an ‘urban jungle’ on about 80 acres of land. 

Javadekar observed that in most of our cities there are gardens and parks but no forests. “There are many cities where the forest department has its land but there are no forests on it or are degraded. In these places through people’s participation, we will establish urban forestry” he added. Stressing that the green mission can succeed only through active people’s participation, the Environment Minister urged the citizens to plant trees, take a selfie and share photographs on ‘wedselfie.nic.in’. 

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