National recognition for ecosystem restoration and Golden Mahseer conservation
Munish Sood
MANDI: Himachal Pradesh has earned double recognition on the national stage as its Forest Department (Nachan Division) and the Department of Fisheries have both been conferred with the prestigious SKOCH Gold Awards-2025.
The awards, presented at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, celebrate exemplary governance models that deliver sustainable, inclusive and high-impact outcomes.
This dual achievement highlights Himachal Pradesh’s commitment to balancing ecological conservation with community development, demonstrating how integrated approaches can yield results that are both environmentally sustainable and socially transformative.
Restoring ecosystems, empowering communities
The Nachan Forest Division, led by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) SS Kashyap, was awarded the SKOCH Gold for its pioneering project on ecosystem services improvement through restoration of degraded forests, development of nature parks and livelihood enhancement under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-supported initiative.
Over the past few years, the division has introduced multiple measures to tackle ecological degradation while supporting local communities. Key achievements include:
• Creation and rejuvenation of nature parks across landscapes, which have improved biodiversity, promoted eco-tourism and created open learning spaces for conservation education.
• Large-scale restoration of degraded forests through scientific silviculture, assisted natural regeneration, soil and moisture conservation and targeted plantation drives to improve forest health and carbon sequestration.
• Livelihood upliftment of forest-dependent communities through self-help groups, skill development and promotion of non-timber forest produce, particularly benefiting women and youth.
The project has strengthened water security in catchment areas, contributed to climate change mitigation and deepened the community’s sense of responsibility towards forests.
Receiving the award, DFO Kashyap said: “This recognition is not mine alone. It belongs to every officer, frontline staff, and community member who stood with us in this journey. The award symbolises our collective commitment to sustainable forestry and inclusive development.”
The initiative represents a holistic model where conservation and human development reinforce each other, setting a benchmark for other forest divisions across the country.
Fisheries Department: Saving Golden Mahseer from brink
Equally remarkable is the recognition of the Department of Fisheries, Himachal Pradesh, which bagged the SKOCH Gold Award for its successful conservation and breeding program of the critically endangered Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora).
The Golden Mahseer, also known as the “Tiger of the Himalayan Rivers”, holds ecological, recreational and cultural importance. It is the state fish of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. However, its population had suffered steep declines in recent decades due to habitat loss from hydropower projects, overfishing, and pollution.
Recognising the urgency, the department launched a revitalised captive breeding program at the Machhyal Mahseer Farm. Earlier, the farm struggled to produce more than 5,000 fingerlings annually. A turnaround came in 2023, when the department appointed a dedicated nodal officer, collaborated with ICAR-CICFR Bhimtal and introduced specialised training on breeding techniques, feeds and disease control.
The results have been spectacular:
• 87,000 Mahseer fingerlings produced in 2024-25, a historic leap.
• 34,500 fingerlings released into Pong and Gobind Sagar reservoirs this year alone (20,000 in Pong and 14,500 in Gobind Sagar).
• Plans to expand stocking drives to the newly established fish farm at Sunni (Shimla district).
The breeding program is now a cornerstone of Mahseer conservation, offering stable populations for reintroduction and serving as a research hub for genetics and reproductive biology.
Director-cum-Warden of Fisheries Vivek Chandel (IAS), who received the award along with Assistant Director Dr Som Nath, credited the achievement to the vision of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the guidance of Secretary-in-Charge Priyanka Basu Ingty.
“This award is a testament to the tireless efforts of our officers and staff,” Chandel said. “By saving the Mahseer, we are not only protecting biodiversity but also strengthening eco-tourism and livelihoods linked to our rivers and reservoirs.”
The conservation effort has already boosted recreational angling, with over 3,700 anglers visiting Himachal in 2024-25, while also supporting fishermen dependent on reservoir fisheries. Fish production figures reflect the success: from 17,025.97 MT in 2022-23 to 19,019.83 MT in 2024-25, including reservoir fish production growth from 549.35 MT to 748.76 MT in just two years.
Milestone for Himachal’s green governance
The SKOCH Gold Awards recognise initiatives that create real impact. For Himachal Pradesh, the dual honours signify not just departmental excellence but also the state’s leadership in sustainable governance.
While the Forest Department has shown how ecosystem restoration can be integrated with livelihood generation, the Fisheries Department has offered a replicable model for saving endangered aquatic species. Together, they showcase a balanced development vision—where conservation priorities and community aspirations move forward hand in hand.
