With joint initiative of UNESCO and IUGS, an international programme “Planet Earth” was launched in last quarter of 2006 with political support of 191 UN countries (www.esfs.org) focusing on science and outreach programmes.

The international years of planet earth run from January, 2007 to December, 2009 and aims to capture peoples imagination with the exciting knowledge we posses about our planet and to see knowledge is used to make the Earth a worth living place for our future generations.

International Planet Earth Programme about crucial issues of water, soil, climate, hazards, earth and health is being implemented through Department of Science and Technology (DST), GOI whereas nodal agency to execute this programme in Uttarakhand is UCOST, Dehradun.

Involving various Government and Non-government agencies/organizations, the broad theme relevant to hill state i.e. “Conservation of Mountain Eco-system under “Planet Earth Programme” has been identified and with official statewide massive launch of programme on 22nd April, 2007, a large number of programmes have so far been planned, developed and organized. A summary of the important programmes is given hereunder: