Lucknow (UP), March 21 Highlighting the importance of environmental conservation, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that forests are the foundation of life and a vital component of nature's balance.
Inaugurating the ‘Aranya Samagam’, a national dialogue on the theme ‘Forests and Economies’ at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on the occasion of International Day of Forests, Adityanath said that global warming and cooling trends present a new challenge to humanity.
“Our Vedic tradition equates one tree with the value of 10 sons. Nature has placed the highest importance on trees. If there are forests, there is water; if there is water and forests, there is air; and if there is air, there is life,” Adityanath said.
Emphasizing the importance of trees, he said that forests serve as the very foundation of life and a crucial dimension of nature's balance, noting that this year's theme highlights how forest conservation can drive economic development and human welfare.
Modern environmental challenges are a direct consequence of interfering with nature, he said.
The chief minister also referred to the Vedic tradition of “Earth is our mother”, and emphasised that every citizen has a responsibility to protect and conserve the planet.
“We must reflect on where we faltered in our efforts, as we are now witnessing a massive shift in the global weather cycle,” Adityanath said, urging people to become more aware of forest preservation.
State ministers Arun Kumar Saxena and K P Malik also addressed the event, which was attended by senior forest officials from Uttar Pradesh and other states.