IUST Hosts Plantation Drive & Environmental Awareness Campaign
Awantipora, March 17, 2025: The Department of Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change at the Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the Social Forestry Department of Pulwama, the Floriculture Department of Kashmir, and the Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing (DEERS), organized a successful Plantation Drive and Environmental Awareness Campaign at the IUST campus today. The event aimed to promote sustainability and environmental consciousness among students and faculty.
The plantation drive was inaugurated by Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor of IUST, along with distinguished guests including Prof. Abdul Wahid Makdoomi, Registrar of IUST; Prof. A.H. Moon, Dean Academics; Prof. Humayun Rashid, Professor of Practice; Prof. Parvez A. Mir, CEO of CIED; and Ms. Gazalla Abdullah, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Social Forestry Department, Pulwama. The event also saw the participation of faculty members, students, and staff from collaborating departments.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Romshoo emphasized the collective responsibility in combating climate change and preserving the environment. He highlighted the crucial role of youth in safeguarding natural resources and encouraged students to actively engage in green initiatives. Prof. Humayun Rashid further stressed the importance of environmental conservation and the vital role that academic institutions play in promoting sustainable practices and fostering positive attitudes toward nature.
As part of the initiative, 50 Chinar saplings were provided by the Floriculture Department, while 250 Deodar saplings were supplied by the Social Forestry Department. The local community also joined in the plantation drive, reinforcing the shared responsibility for a greener and more sustainable future.
The plantation drive forms part of a larger environmental awareness campaign led by the Department of Environment, Sustainability & Climate Change, focusing on tree plantation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable environmental practices both within the IUST campus and the wider community.
