Leh, May 13: Chief Secretary of the Union Territory of Ladakh Dr Pawan Kotwal, Tuesday chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee of the Ladakh Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) at the Civil Secretariat in Leh.
During the meeting, Chief Conservator of Forests and CEO of Ladakh CAMPA, Sajjad Hussain Mufti, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the key achievements of the Forest and Wildlife Divisions under CAMPA for the financial year 2024–25. The presentation also outlined strategic objectives and the proposed action plan for 2025–26. Deliberations centred on a wide range of conservation and forest management initiatives, including natural and artificial regeneration, silvicultural operations, forest and plantation protection, pest and disease control, forest fire prevention, soil and moisture conservation, improvement of wildlife habitats, establishment of animal rescue centres, biodiversity conservation and the mitigation of human-wildlife conflict. Emphasising the importance of local participation, Dr Kotwal directed the concerned departments to involve community members in operating newly procured forest ambulances. He also underscored the need to develop nurseries and boost sapling production to enhance plantation drives. The Chief Secretary called for the geo-tagging of solar water heaters distributed under CAMPA, the installation of informative signage in wildlife areas, and the display of photographs showcasing local fauna. He also instructed the proper functioning and community-based management of forest rest houses, recommending the hiring of local residents for their upkeep and providing high-quality uniforms for forest and wildlife guards. Dr Kotwal proposed the construction of crate bunds along the right bank of the Indus River to stabilise its course and highlighted the necessity of a detailed study and analysis of the region’s ungulate population.
