The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) celebrated World Environment day on 5th June, 2015 in its campus at Dehradun with great enthusiasm. It was organised by the newly established UNESCO Category 2 Centre on World Natural Heritage Management and Training for Asia and the Pacific Region, the only centre of its kind in the World, intended specifically for Natural World Heritage Sites. Nearly 180 members participated which included 100 students from Graphic Era University, Dehradun and faculty and researchers from WII

The event started with an introductory address by Dr. Malvika Onial, Scientist WII who exhorted the students to inculcate the habit of sustainable use. An interesting Philately Exhibition related to biodiversity was presented by Mr. J. D. Pati, IFS. This was followed by the main event of the day, the Extempore Contest, with thought-provoking topics on environmental issues. There was active participation by the students of Graphic Era University. The First Prize was won by Vijeta Negi and the Second Prize went to Meenal Lohani, both B.Tech students of the Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era University.  The prizes  included best-selling books on nature and wildlife by renowned writers like Ruskin Bond and Jim Corbett.  Another select group of students represented their creative skills by performing other activities including a ‘Clean Dehradun’  campaign, work of ISERT (International Youth Society of Ecofriendly and Renewable Technology), a popular song and music rendition as well as an environment related poem recitation. All participants were awarded a certificate of participation as a token of appreciation.

A brief felicitation ceremony followed in which the Chief Guest was felicitated with a memento. On this occasion, the Website of the UNESCO Category 2 Centre was launched by Dr. V.B. Mathur, Director WII and Dr. L.M.S. Palni, Prof. and Dean, Biotechnology Department, Graphic Era University. The release of a booklet, “Campus Snakes” was also undertaken on the occasion, which has been prepared by Scientists of WII namely, Dr. Abhijit Das, Dr. Sanath Krishna and Dr. Parag Nigam and researchers that provides information on the common snakes found on the institute campus.

Dr. Palni highlighted the significance of the World Environment Day and referred to the historical actions at the global level that have contributed towards the movement for environment protection. Dr. Mathur focussed upon the current year’s theme of the World Environment Day, ‘Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care’, and highlighted the pressure on the planet at a global level, urged the guests and participants to take measures to safeguard the environment.

Marking an end to the programme, a guided Nature Walk was organised for the students to enhance their appreciation of Nature and its bountifulness and to encourage them for its preservation. The students were taken around the WII Nature Trail in several groups by the faculty and researchers from WII. The event concluded with a collective re-iteration of the commitment towards cherishing our wonderful Nature and conserving it for the benefit of our future generations.