Participants take LiFE pledge to adopt  environmentally friendly habits to sustain  natural resources of Indian Himalayan Region

            World Environment Day (June 5) is an occasion which brings together millions of people across the country for awareness and action for the environment. This year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India envisages to celebrate the World Environment Day 2023 with a thrust on the Mission LiFE. The concept of LiFE, i.e., Lifestyle for Environment was introduced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, at the World Leaders’ Summit in Glasgow at the 2021 UNFCCC COP26, when he gave a clarion call to rekindle a global pursuit to adopt sustainable lifestyle and practices. Mass mobilisation across the country on LiFE are being organized in the run-up to the celebrations.

1. National Museum of Natural History (NMNH)

RGRMNH, Sawai Madhopur organised Nukkad Natak on “Dharti Kare Pukar” as part of Meri_LiFE (LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT) to create Awareness on Save Nature from Plastic Pollution, Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Deforestation, Using Chemical Fertilizers in Agriculture etc. In which Participants of Summer Vacation Programme actively participated in two Nukkad Natak and performed in presence of about 170 Students and visitors on 27th May 2023.

RMNH, BHUBANESWAR organized an orientation session with 123 students of  Nimapara, Puri on “The gentle giants: Pachyderms and their conservation. Alongwith students the general public also participated in the event  as part of MISSION LiFE (LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT)

2. Zoological Survey of India

Under Mission LiFE ‘Adopt Healthy Lifestyle’ the Recreation Club, Zoological Survey of India organised a week long Health Camp  in which  the  concluding program was a Health Check up Camp  for all its employees in which a total of 200 employees took part.Dr Dhriti Banerjee,Director,ZSI who actively took part in all the events said that this was the first step in making the employees aware that each one have to adopt healthy lifestyle which would in turn increase their overall efficiency and  work output of ZSI.   The camp provided check up of Body Weight,Blood pressure,Blood  guidance provided on diet by skilled dietician. The health Camp week started with a blood donation camp, meditation camp, talk on Importance of Millets for good health and concluded with the health Check up.

 

3. GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE)

 Himachal Regional Center of GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment organized an awareness and action campaign cum Community participation program under the ‘Adopt Healthy Lifestyle’ theme of Mission LiFE.  A total of 35 participants from institute participated in the program including the researchers, supporting staff, faculties and women’s representatives from Naraini Panchayat in the event. All the participants took the LiFE pledge to adopt the environmentally friendly habits to sustain the natural resources of Indian Himalayan Region.

National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE) organized another awareness event at Haryalidevi landscape, Rudraprayag District, Uttarakhand wherein the awareness under LiFE Mission. Director, Faculties, Researchers, supporting staff of NIHE, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and local villagers participated in the program. All the participants took the LiFE pledge to adopt the environmentally friendly habits.

4. National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)

The NCSCM has launched yet another effort to promote Mission LiFE themes in the fishing community of Old Town in the District of Cuddalore. Cuddalore District is located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is an important coastal district in the state. The district is one of the most productive fishing areas in Tamil Nadu, with a large fishing community. The district also has several tourist attractions for domestic tourists and people from all over India. The Cuddalore district has a coastal length of 58 kilometres and 49 fishing villages, with a total population of 47,000 marine fishermen. There are 23840 active fishermen among them, and almost 15000 fisherwomen are involved in fishing-related activities. There are 235 mechanised fishing boats and 2345 FRP boats, as well as 1906 non-motorised boats, operating in this district.

NCSCM scientists used this initiative to sensitise nearly 50 fishermen, dryfish godown owners, and ice plant owners about the themes of Mission LiFE and the importance of practising responsible and environmentally friendly fishing, hygienic fish handling and processing, and energy and water conservation. These initiatives, including the retrieval and recycling of any abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), were emphasised since a single ALDFG can remain in the sea for up to 600 years before decomposing. Plastic contamination, particularly microplastics in the marine environment, as well as their bioaccumulation in the food chain, were highlighted by NCSCM experts. The fishermen were sensitised to practise waste segregation at home and on board while fishing. As part of the event, NCSCM staff explained to the fishing community the need for management strategies to control fishing-related litter (FRL), clean sea initiatives such as “fishing for litter” to encourage fishermen to bring back the FRL to shore-based reception facilities (RFs) and collecting end-of-life (EOL) fishing gear towards extended producer responsibility as a measure for the circular economy and to close the plastic loop in the marine environment. Further, NCSCM scientists emphasised that such actions can enhance the value chain of FRL, which serves as a source of income during the fishing ban period. Additionally, it was suggested that during the fishing ban, the fishing community can utilize value-added fish products for additional income and livelihood diversification. This event taught the fishermen in a simple manner about the sensitivity of the marine habitat, climate change, and the need to live in harmony with nature. At the harbour, LiFE themes were displayed through posters and pamphlets promoting sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyles. By actively engaging in the Life pledge and signature campaign, the fishing community expressed their support for the LiFE mission.

5. Botanical Survey of India

BSI Solan office Mission LiFE today in different places in Solan town. Creating awareness about Mission LiFE.

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MJPS