Pune: Giripremi Celebrates International Mountain Day
Pune, December 11, 2020: Giripremi, city’s premium mountaineer club, celebrated International Mountain Day today by worshipping mountain at Fergusson Hill.
Rahul Patil (Deputy Conservator, Forest, Pune), Dr Sanjeev Nalawade (Environment Expert), Rajiv Pandit (Director, Jividha), Anuj Khare (Member, Maharashtra State Wildlife Advisory Board), Pra. Ke. Ghanekar (Renowned Writer), Umesh Zirpe (Veteran Mountaineer and President, Akhil Maharashtra Giryarohan Mahasangh), Ushaprabha Page (Founder- President, Giripremi) honoured the event with their presence. December 11 is celebrated as International Mountain Day since 2003. The United Nations designates the theme every year to celebrate the important day. This year the UN assigned ‘Mountain Biodiversity’ for the celebrations. Girpremi organized several events in accordance with the UN theme.
Patil co-related mountains and forests. He said, “Mountains are home for the forest. Saving mountains eventually saves forests. We are worshipping forest by worshipping mountains. I believe people who love mountains can play a significant role in forest conservation. On the auspicious day of International Mountain Day, I appeal all the mountain lovers to contribute to forest conservation.”
Dr Nalawade stressed on the relationship between biodiversity and mountains. He said, “the UN has designated 32 biodiverse zones across the world. More than half of it is surrounded by mountains. In India, Himalaya and Western Ghats (Sahyadri is part of it) are biodiverse zones recognized by the UN. I believe most of the biodiverse zones will be conserved only if mountains are conserved. The UN has rightly highlighted the need of the hour to save mountains and biodiversity.”
Pandit, Khare and Zirpe also opined about mountain, wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Dr Avinash Kandekar, professor, Geography Dept., Savitribai Phule University shared interesting anecdotes about the rocks of Sahyadri. Bhushan Harshe, Everesteer and Giripremi member, explained all the activities including podcast, essay competition, online drawing competition and many more planned by Giripremi for celebrating International Mountain Day. The event was organised by following all the norms of Covid-19 pandemic.
The event was concluded by paying homage to the Indian Bison recently succumbed to the death after entering in a residential area in Pune.
