Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed representatives of Van Panchayats, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and Urban Local Bodies in Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Birla highlighted Uttarakhand's Van Panchayats as a successful model for community-based forest management and conservation.
He emphasized the role of local communities, traditional knowledge, and women in combating climate change and achieving sustainable development.
Representatives shared challenges regarding forest fire prevention, institutional strengthening, and need for financial and technical support.