Include wildlife sciences in Holistic Agricultural Dev Programme: Minister Javid Dar
Wildlife sciences major component of ‘one health approach’ adopted by GoI: Dir NCBS
VC Prof Nazir Ganai highlights SKUAST-K’s role in wildlife education expansion
SRINAGAR: The three-day National Symposium on Avian Biology (NSAB 2026), held in conjunction with the 7th Meeting of the Association of Avian Biologists in India (AABI) and organized by the Division of Wildlife Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir from May 14-16, was successfully concluded on Saturday at the Shalimar Campus.
The valedictory event was presided over by Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar, who applauded the organizers for the historic initiative—held for the first time in Kashmir—and emphasized the need for more such programmes in the future.
The Minister recommended the strengthening of wildlife faculty and infrastructure, including lab facilities, to promote research on the subject. Additionally, he desired to include wildlife sciences as one of the components of the prestigious Holistic Agricultural Development Programme (HADP) of SKUAST.
Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir, appreciated the organizing secretary and his entire team for the successful commencement of the Symposium, and highlighted SKUAST-K’s achievements and its role in fostering innovative teaching and research mandates, with a focus on expansion of wildlife education and research in the region.
Prof. L.S. Shashidhara, Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, viewed wildlife sciences as one of the major components of the ‘one health approach’ adopted by the Government of India, and encouraged a multi-disciplinary research approach to address emerging issues related to zoonotic diseases.
Prof. Anand S. Dixit, Founding Member and President AABI, appreciated SKUAST-K’s efforts and emphasized building long-term collaborative networks for ecological monitoring and conservation for sustainable research and development in avian biology in India.
Prof. Khursheed Ahmad, Organizing Secretary NSAB 2026 & Head, Division of Wildlife Sciences, SKUAST-K, gave a brief overview of deliberations by scientists, experts, and researchers during the three-day symposium, highlighting its relevance in avian research and conservation, and its application in sustainable development through bird-based ecotourism and nature interpretation to boost entrepreneurship among local communities.
Prof. Raihana Habib Kanth, Director Extension, SKUAST-K, thanked the delegates, guests, and participants for making the event a grand success and proposed the formal vote of thanks.