Early Times Report LUCKNOW, Mar 21: At a time when the entire world is facing serious challenges such as climate change, global warming, and environmental imbalance, the importance of forests has increased more than ever. Every individual is experiencing the consequences of interference with nature in some form. This situation compels us to introspect where our efforts have fallen short. In the Indian Vedic tradition, nature has been given the highest place. Our sages, thousands of years ago, conveyed the message that the earth is our mother and we are her children - "Mata Bhumih Putroaham Prithivyah". This is our responsibility to protect our mother nature and follow the precautions to protect and preserve it. These views were expressed by Yogi Adityanath on Saturday at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan during the inauguration ceremony of the National Forestry Dialogue, organised on the occasion of International Day of Forests. On this occasion, the Chief Minister released a coffee table book, honoured several individuals, and also visited the exhibition organized by the Forest Department. Chief Minister said, "India's sage tradition has always stated, 'Dashakoopasama Vaapi, Dashavaapisamo Hradah. Dashahradasamah Putro, Dashaputrasamo Drumah'. Its meaning is: One stepwell is equal to ten wells, one pond is equal to ten stepwells, one son is equal to ten ponds, and one tree is equal to ten sons. The importance of trees in nature has been considered supreme. Forests are the basis of life and an important dimension of ecological balance. If there are forests, there is water; if there is water, there are forests; if there are forests, there is air; and if there is air, there is life. Life cannot be imagined without these". He further added, "Keeping the global perspective in mind, this year's theme has been set as 'Forest and Economics', which reflects the need to maintain ecological balance while also creating plans for economic development through forests and human welfare". He expressed satisfaction that under the guidance of Narendra Modi, the state has succeeded in increasing forest cover over the past 9 years. He emphasized that success came when it was turned into a people's movement. Whenever any campaign becomes a people's movement, success is achieved because then society leads it while the government and departments remain behind. When the government and departments are ahead and the public is behind, results do not come. The successes achieved over the past 9 years are based on this principle. |