Bareilly, 21st March 2025: The Uttar Pradesh Forest Department organised an event at the Smart City Auditorium, GIC Bareilly, on March 21st, 2025 to commemorate the International Day of Forests. 

The event saw the esteemed presence of Chief guest, Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of Uttar Pradesh. Also in attendance were Mr. Anil Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary – Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Uttar Pradesh; Mr. Sunil Chowdhary, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & Head of Forest Force (HOFF), Government of Uttar Pradesh; Mrs. Anuradha Vemuri, PCCF, Wildlife, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Mr. Vijay Singh, Forest Divisional Officer (FD), Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR); Mr. Manish Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), PTR; Mr. Bharat Kumar, and other senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department.

WTI stall featuring field equipment and sensitisation materials | Photo by Team WTI

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), along with organisations such as WWF-India and the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), actively participated by setting up an exhibition stall. The WTI team showcased its key conservation initiatives, including the Terai Tiger Project, the Wildlife Crime Control Division, and the Sarus Crane Conservation Project within the landscape. The exhibition featured field equipment, sensitisation materials (such as pugmark and scat identification guides), and activity books for school children, along with educational materials detailing the Dos and Don’ts for mitigating human-wildlife conflict. These resources were disseminated among school children and forest department personnel from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve and the Bareilly Forest Division.

Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt of Uttar Pradesh visiting the WTI stall | Photo by Team WTI

A key highlight of the event was the WTI team’s discussion with the Hon’ble MoEFCC, Government of Uttar Pradesh, regarding the recent tiger rescue operation conducted in Rahman Khera, Lucknow. This case, characterised by an extended period of human-wildlife conflict, was effectively managed through continuous monitoring, community sensitisation, and mitigation strategies in collaboration with the forest department. The Hon’ble Minister acknowledged and appreciated WTI’s efforts, particularly its role in sensitization and conflict mitigation initiatives across various conservation projects. Additionally, the team provided a demonstration of the equipment, camera traps, and rescue kits.