08-10-2026:The Governor participated in the closing ceremony of Wildlife Week-2026 held at Lok Bhawan.

Lok Bhavan Uttarakhand-Information Wing
Press Note

Forest and Wildlife Conservation Is Not the Sole Responsibility of the Forest Department; It Is a Collective Responsibility of Society: Governor

We Need a Mindset of Coexistence and Harmony with Wildlife, Not Conflict: Governor

Lok Bhavan Dehradun 08 October, 2026

The Governor said that wildlife conservation is not merely about protecting wildlife; it is intrinsically linked to the future of humanity and generations to come. He said that while maintaining a balance between development and the environment, Uttarakhand must strive to ensure that development progresses without disrupting the natural movement corridors of wildlife. He emphasised that wildlife conservation, while an important responsibility of the Forest Department, is equally a collective responsibility of society as a whole.

The Governor was addressing the concluding ceremony of Wildlife Week-2026 held at Lok Bhavan on Thursday. The Uttarakhand Forest Department organises Wildlife Week across the state during the first week of October every year. This year, Wildlife Week was inaugurated on October 1, 2026, at the ICFRE Auditorium, Dehradun, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). The week-long programme concluded at Lok Bhavan on October 8, 2026, with Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) presiding over the closing ceremony.

The Governor said that wildlife cannot be protected by confining animals merely to protected areas. Tigers need healthy forests, elephants require secure corridors, birds need safe skies, and all wildlife species require clean water and interconnected natural habitats.

He said that if we view wildlife with sensitivity and respect, we must also understand their needs. This includes ensuring safe habitats, natural corridors and adequate availability of food. When wildlife does not have access to food and safe routes for movement, animals are compelled to venture towards human settlements. Therefore, the solution does not lie in escalating conflict, but in understanding the needs of wildlife and finding sustainable pathways for coexistence.

The Governor said that the 21st century has provided new opportunities for wildlife conservation through technology. Artificial Intelligence, camera traps, remote sensing, geospatial mapping, collar-based identification and advanced data analytics can help in understanding wildlife movement, behaviour and patterns more effectively. These technologies can play an important role in reducing human-wildlife conflict and creating a safer environment for both humans and wildlife.

He said that addressing human-wildlife conflict requires a balanced approach that prioritises the safety of both people and wildlife. The Uttarakhand Government’s decision to recognise human-wildlife conflict as a disaster and the constitution of district-level mitigation and management committees are important steps in this direction.

On the occasion, the Governor felicitated personnel for their commendable contribution to forest and wildlife conservation. He also unveiled the logo of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, Almora.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) Shri Kapil Lal said that the objective of Wildlife Week is to enhance public awareness and participation in wildlife conservation. The theme of this year’s Wildlife Week, “Connected Habitats, Thriving Wildlife,” focuses on the conservation of wildlife corridors and natural habitats along with protected areas. He said that Uttarakhand’s rich biodiversity and the close proximity of human settlements to wildlife habitats make human-wildlife conflict a continuing challenge. The Forest Department is making sustained efforts to mitigate this challenge.

On the occasion, Member of Parliament Shri Naresh Bansal, Secretary Shri C. Ravishankar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Smt. Neena Grewal, senior Forest Department officials, and students from various schools were present.
.……0…….