Special Correspondent
Ukhrul, July 6:
In a stirring call for environmental stewardship and responsible journalism, the Ukhrul Forest Division under the Forest Department, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ukhrul District Working Journalists’ Association (UDWJA), on Saturday organised a one-day Awareness Programme on Wildlife Protection and Conservation under the theme “Protect Wildlife, Preserve Nature, Secure Our Future.” The programme concluded with the planting of nearly 300 tree saplings, symbolising a collective pledge to defend the district’s rich natural heritage.
Held as part of the nationwide Vana Mahotsav celebrations, the programme brought together around 40 students, teachers, Forest Department officials and members of UDWJA in a united effort to promote wildlife conservation and environmental awareness.
Delivering a compelling keynote address, District Forest Officer Gitla Devi underscored the indispensable role of the media in protecting nature. Calling journalists the “voice of the environment,” she said the pen, camera and microphone possess the power to awaken society far beyond what a single plantation drive can achieve.
“A sapling planted in the soil grows into a tree, but a story planted in the minds of the people can grow into a movement,” she said, urging journalists to continue exposing threats to forests, educating the public on climate change and biodiversity loss, and giving voice to forest guards, grassroots conservationists and indigenous communities who tirelessly protect nature.
She stressed that conservation cannot flourish in silence and that an informed public remains the strongest ally in safeguarding forests and wildlife for future generations.
In one of the programme’s most memorable moments, Gitla Devi reminded participants, “Nature does not have a PR agency. It relies entirely on the integrity of the press to tell its stories.” The remark drew appreciation from journalists and participants alike, reinforcing the media’s responsibility in advancing environmental causes.
The awareness programme concluded with a mass plantation drive in which approximately 300 saplings were planted. Organisers described the initiative not merely as a ceremonial event but as the beginning of a sustained partnership between the Forest Department, the media, educational institutions and the community to protect wildlife, conserve forests and build a greener, more sustainable future.