Himachal: Wildlife conservationist resigns after 28 years of service

Himachal Pradesh: D.S. Dadwal, a distinguished officer of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Service, has resigned from his post, drawing strong reactions from the environment and Himachal Pradesh. Dadwal, who has been involved in the conservation of forest land, has worked on various portfolios, including the Pong Dam Forest Protection, where his portfolio has made significant contributions to the conservation and documentation of the forest. Dadwal, who has served for over 28 years, was recently posted as the Territorial Forest Officer (DFO) in Pangi, a tribal area in the district. His resignations include repeated denials of left-wing postings – an area he had deep knowledge of. Despite his expertise in alternative management, Dadwal faced products that left him frustrated and exhausted. An unnamed forest official said: “He was tired of being shipwrecked in the system. Despite his unique skills and smarts, he was not given any opportunities where he was nominated.” Environmentalist Prabhat Bhatti regretted Dadwal’s misfortune and called it a great loss to the state’s forest and habitat management. “His stand against forest mafias and gadgets made him unpopular among some preachers and catalogers then. Yet, he was a pioneer in corporate management,” Bhatti said.

Dadwal’s work earned him national and international recognition. He was a pioneer in vulture conservation and documented the bird diversity of Himachal Pradesh. His notable contributions include studying human-wildlife interactions and educating local communities about biodiversity during the initial years of management of the Pong Dam lake. One of his famous achievements was to impart bird identification skills to the boatmen and class IV employees of the Pong Dam, making them at par with the scientific community. Dadwal has written important works such as Birds of Himachal Pradesh, Volumes I and II, which are made up of photographs of migratory birds in the Pong Dam lake and other areas. He also wrote many articles and delivered lectures on conservation at various forums. Upon reaching the post, he evaluated individual positions to step down but coordinated the interview in detail. However, his decision has created a void in Himachal Pradesh’s natural conservation landscape. Known as field-visual officers, Dadwal’s understanding of architectural-specialist residences and scenic assistants made him a qualified expert. He built portfolio management in collaboration with supermarkets, disciples and researchers. Environmental Fellows say that losing an influential person like Dadwal reflects the saga facing nominees working inside the harsh coastline. It is a sobering reminder of the need to overcome the ossifications in their established system and promote a culture that makes uniqueness and segments a significant contribution.