Experts voice for coordinated conservation efforts, greater community engagement
SRINAGAR: ‘2nd International Conference on Hangul and Other Threatened Ungulates (2IHUC-25)’ began at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar campus on Wednesday.
The conference aimed to address the conservation needs of the critically endangered Kashmir red deer or Hangul, its close relatives, such as Red deer, the Bukhara/Bactrian deer and the Yarkand/Tarim deer, besides other threatened ungulates worldwide.
Vice-Chancellor SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who was the chief guest at the occasion, said science, policy and community engagement is the key to conservation of Hangul, which occupies a place of pride in J&K Wildlife heritage.
He urged the new generation of students and biologists to use this platform for building networks and developing an actionable roadmap for conservation of Wildlife and the ecosystem.
Prof Ganai talked about the transformation in Agriculture through the Holistic Agriculture Development Program that was conceived and scripted at SKUAST-K.
Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment, Sheetal Nanda; Dr Gonzalez and many other dignitaries spoke on the occasion and voiced for coordinated efforts in conservation of Hangul and other threatened Ungulates especially in view of fast paced urbanization, climate change and other health threats.
More than 200 delegates from across the country and abroad are participating in the Conference, envisaged to be the milestone of global conservation relevance. Wildlife experts and biologists from US, UK, Canada, Middle East, Central and South Asia are sharing their research and expertise.
The International/eminent speakers include Dr Susana Gonzalez, Dr Stefano Focardi, Dr David Garlinda, Razan Al Mubarki, Dr Claude Fisher, Dr Ranjitsinh, Dr Yashveer, Dr Bivash, Dr Parag and more.
The event is held under the banner of the International Support and Alliance for the Central Asian Red Deer (Hangul), with due recognition at the IUCN level and is a significant step towards advancing species conservation and supporting India’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Various topics to be discussed and deliberated include population dynamics, behaviour and movement ecology, wildlife health, disease, genetics and forensics, conservation breeding and reintroductions, climate change impact and adaptation, conservation sciences, policies, practices and technological innovations and human-wildlife interactions and the community engagement.