Director Tourism, Farooq Ahmad Shah today said government was prioritizing eco-tourism in the state for sustainable development of this sector. 

On International Mountain Day 2011 yesterday, the director tourism was addressing a seminar ‘Mountains and Forests’ jointly organized by Tourism Department, J&K Ski and Mountaineering Association and Adventure Tour Operators Association of Kashmir in partnership with Save Hangul Campaign and Tree Talk Tours, at Nigeen Club here.

He said the protecting environment cannot be left to government alone, “people too have an important role in it,” he said.

“Mountains and forests have an innate capacity to generate water resources and serve as a means of employment hence need be preserved,” he said.

“In Gulmarg and Pahalgam the tourism related infrastructure needs to be maintained and planned well so that people in general and tourists in particular get the feel of real Kashmir,” Shah said.

Pointing to deforestation, he said “human greed and overexploitation of forests and mountains have put people under threat. Deforestation has become a routine. It has to be curbed with peoples’ support.” 

People from all walks of life participated in the seminar. The organizers said the seminar was an endeavor to educate people about the need to preserve and conserve forests in the state. 

“Tourism brings us cash and builds our economy. In order to maintain that resource, we have to go for sustainable development. Mountains and forests are the essence of tourism,” said Secretary General, J&K Ski and Mountaineering Association, Rauf Tramboo in his welcome address.  

He said the association shall put every possible effort for protection of ecology and work for promoting the adventure sports and tourism in the state.     

On the occasion, ‘lifetime commendation achievement’ awards were conferred upon environmental activists including the former director Tourism, Muhammad Ashraf. 

Addressing the seminar, former director said tourism was an additional source of income, not the backbone. 

“We should not base our economy and preservation of mountains and forests on mere tourism; it is a part of economy. We have to develop love for mountains and forests so that we save them for our future generations,” he said. 

The participating students and wildlife protection managers gave PowerPoint presentations on the changing dimensions of biodiversity and its preservation. 

Among others present in the seminar were CEO Gulmarg Development Authority, Mehmood Ahmad; a class 9 student of Tiny Hearts School, Sofi Nabeel; Intisar Suhail, manager wildlife protection and Monisa Banday, a forest graduate.

Greaterkashmir.com