Webinar on restoring urban ecosystem

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 13

Green New Shimla in association with Indian Oil Corporation organised a webinar on urban ecosystem restoration.

Participants dwelled on the fact that urban areas do not have adequate open spaces and vertical expansion of green spaces is the need of the hour and container gardening offers a sustainable alternative in extending the green cover in urban areas. Around 60 people attended the webinar.

Dr J S Wazir, Principal Extension Specialist, Doctor Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni along with Sushil Rana, DFO Shimla (Rural), were the keynote speakers. They pointed out that given the vast and rapid urbanisation and the consequent concretisation of the landscape of the hills, urban ecosystem restoration is the most pertinent issue which needs to be addressed immediately.

Rana dwelled upon the rejuvenation of traditional water sources such as ‘bouris’, ‘khar’, ‘kuhl’, ‘panihar’, ‘talai’ and ‘tallabas’ and elaborated on the efforts being made in this direction by the state government.

As a part of the World Environment Week, Green New Shimla organised multiple activities like holding of an online garden and flower competition for the residents, besides a tree plantation campaign.