Port Blair, March 22: The International Day of Forests was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the Department of Environment & Forests Andaman & Nicobar Administration yesterday. The theme of this year’s International Day of Forests is ‘Forests and Health’. In order to sensitize the general masses about the value of forests and their relationship with human health, the Department organized a bike rally consisting of 50 bike riders from Nature Park & Interpretation Centre (NPIC), Haddo which passed through Delanipur, Phoenix Bay, Mohanpura, Clock Tower, Marina Park, Netaji Stadium, Middle point, Goal Ghar and culminated at NPIC. The Department also displayed a tableau on the theme ‘Forests & Health’. The bike rally and tableau display was flagged off by Shri Kamal Datta, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Andaman &Nicobar Islands &Chief Wildlife Warden from NPIC.

As part of the series of events organized, a ceremonial plantation programme was also organized at Nature Park & Interpretation Centre (NPIC), Haddo by the Department.  Smti S Selvi, Chairperson, Port Blair Municipal Council (PBMC) was the chief guest while Shri R. Someswara Rao, Ward Councilor was the guest of honor. The invited guests and senior officers of the Department carried out plantation of Thitmin (Podocarpusneriifolius) saplings, which is a rare & endangered tree species and the only gymnosperm species available in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The Chairperson, PBMC also released the newly reared butterflies in the Butterfly Conservatory on the occasion.

Meanwhile, as part of the day, various awareness programmes were also organized in other part of the Islands. In Middle Andaman, an awareness rally was organized in Bakultala, plantation events were organized apart from meeting and discussion with local stakeholders, PRI members etc. on medicinal usage of forest products, herbs and medicinal plants.

Similarly, an awareness programme on the theme ‘Forests and Health’ was organised by Mayabunder Division at Karmatang beach with active involvement of PRI members of Rampur Gram Panchayat, villagers and staff of Forest Department. Awareness programme on Forest Fire-Prevention and Firefighting methods were also conducted at Mayabunder. In Nabagram, local people of Kalighat village and PRI Members were sensitized about various medicinal plants and saplings were also distributed. Workshop for school students was organized at Diglipur. A seminar on importance of Forests in human health was also organized in Hutbay, Little Andaman.