Yogi: UP nation’s 1st state to include human-wildlife conflict as disaster

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said UP is the first state in the country to include human-wildlife conflict as a disaster and has begun providing assistance to the affected."Due to widespread deforestation and illegal logging in Nepal, wildlife from that region has migrated to Dudhwa and surrounding areas in UP," he said, after inaugurating the National Forestry Dialogue on ‘Forests and Economies' as part of the Aranya Sammelan on the occasion of International Forest Day.He added that wildlife does not attack suddenly but when someone approaches their young ones, or attempts to encroach on their territory, or make them feel threatened.About 2,467 forest-based industries based on the Green Economy model have been established in the state so far, said the CM. This, he said, "inspires us to optimally utilise forests for economic development and human welfare, while maintaining ecological balance."He also released coffee table books on Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary, nine years of the forest department, and world records of greenery in UP."The books should not be limited to the department alone, but sent to every minister. They should be sent to every airport, railway station, govt and private universities, agricultural universities, and every office of the forest department," he added.CM awarded children and others, including social organisations, forest department officials and employees, who have done outstanding work in the field of human-wildlife conflict.He mentioned an incident from last year, when a tiger, about seven or eight years old, came into Sitapur. The feline did not harm anyone despite being there for several days. The team that rescued it was asked to release it in the wild.The CM also visited an exhibition organised by the forest and wildlife department.Talking about plantation done in the state in the last nine years, he said that the campaign has been successful because society was proactive and the govt was providing support."This year, the state has set a target of planting 35 crore saplings in a single day, which is expected to reach 40 to 45 crore in the months following. Under the Prime Minister's inspiration, 50 crore saplings are currently available for plantation under the One Tree in the Name of Mother campaign," he added.Among the other initiatives for wildlife conservation that the CM spoke of was the Jatayu Conservation Centre in Gorakhpur, which is for conservation of the Red-Headed Vulture.The CM said that UP has been making a capital expenditure of Rs 2 lakh crore on infrastructure over the past few years. This amount is the highest in the country.Among other efforts of the govt to conserve the environment that CM spoke of were the setting up of an electric vehicle manufacturing unit in Lucknow.He said govt has initiated work to develop the ancient city of Ayodhya as a solar city.