The North News
Sirsi( Karnataka), May 5
Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has made an impassioned plea to protect the country’s forests, warning that climate change poses an “alarmingly cliff-hanging” threat to humanity and that there is “no other planet” to turn to. Speaking at a special programme organised by the College of Forestry in Sirsi, Dhankhar said forests must be recognised not just as natural resources but as critical elements of public health and climate resilience. “Forests are our lungs,” he said. “If a country’s forests are in good shape, its people will enjoy good health.”
While calling agriculture “our lifeline,” the Vice-President stressed that forests are essential in regulating the climate, buffering natural disasters, and sustaining livelihoods—especially among marginalised communities. “We must pledge to protect our forests,” he urged, describing climate change as a global menace requiring urgent collective action.
Drawing on India’s civilisational heritage, Dhankhar said sustainability is embedded in the country’s Vedic traditions. “This land is a confluence of spirituality and sustainability,” he said. “We cannot engage in reckless exploitation of natural resources. We must restrict ourselves to what is minimally required.”
He advocated for a paradigm shift in how humans view nature—not as consumers, but as trustees with a duty to pass the planet’s resources to future generations. “The environment is not just a human issue,” he said. “It affects all life on Earth.”
The Vice-President also highlighted the urgent need for environmental consciousness to be integrated across education systems. “There was a time when disciplines like medical, engineering, management, and environmental education operated in silos. That time is gone,” he said. “Today, no institution can function in isolation. We must embrace an interdisciplinary, inclusive approach to learning.”
Dhankhar’s remarks come amid growing global concern over deforestation, climate-induced disasters, and the weakening health of ecosystems worldwide. India, which faces increasing heatwaves, erratic monsoons, and biodiversity loss, is grappling with the dual challenge of development and environmental sustainability.
