PANJIM: Goa Forest Department, in its weeklong campaign to create awareness as part of Wildlife Week launched a rally with students dressed as wild animals on Saturday emphasizing the importance youth play in safeguarding wildlife.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the rally, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Ajai Saxena said, “It is important for youth to understand the link forests and wildlife have in maintaining a balance. This is why it is important for these things to be inculcated in youth at a young age,” he said.
He also announced several awareness campaigns currently being implemented by the department in making sure the message spreads.
Following the rally, students of Mushtifund, Kasturba Matoshri and Hedgewar High schools watched a cultural programme and theatre performance on nature, plants and wildlife biodiversity, environmental degradation presented by Rajendra Kerkar and members of the Vivekananda Environment Awareness Brigade, Keri.
The students were also presented with a talk on coastal marine ecosystem by Dr Aaron Lobo and the screening of a short film on Shola forests produced by Shekhar Dattatreya.
