The exchange of ideas between veteran foresters and the IFS probationers highlighted key challenges and the path forward for sustainable forest management
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun organised a days workshop on March 20 — 21, 2025 for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers recruited in 1974 and 1975. All officers along with their co — trainees under the Colombo plan from Nepal and Malaysia were invited. There were 32 participants including two from Nepal and one from Malaysia who took part in deliberation. Senior Foresters who retired 11 to 15 years ago, were aged between 71 and 75 years brought varying experiences from government sectors, corporations and private sectors to the table.
The role of the forestry sector in combating climate change was flagged by many participants. Malaysian participant Ong Chye lye, who is engaged in forest assessment and forest auditing in several countries was forthright in his expression that conventional forestry management in the present day is changing with climate change and improvement of technology. Today’s trend is urban forestry. Foresters worldwide have been blamed for deforestation even when natural disasters like landslides, flooding, sea surges etc are more frequent and destructive. Ong has practical experience in creating urban forests overnight by transplanting saplings and young trees at several locations in Malaysia.
Participants flagged the country’s commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land out of a total of 90 million hectares available in the country. This has been in response to the Paris Climate Accord setting a target to afforest 26 million hectares by 2030 so that we add 2.5 to three giga tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in addition to existing carbon (approximately seven giga tons CO2 equivalent) stored in India’s forest. Participants expressed concern about the progress made in fulfilling the commitment by 2030.
India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 suggests that we have added only 0.6 giga tons by 2021 post — Paris Accord from all sources like forest growth, agro — forestry and degraded land restoration together. ISFR 2023 is silent about it and we cannot know whether carbon storage in our forests has gone up or otherwise. The group recommended breaking this figure of 26 million hectares into states and districts and letting the concerned Forest departments set targets for restoration by 2030. CAMPA funds can be diverted for the purpose.
Sudhir Ahluwalia has the distinction of serving two States (Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh) and also the private sectors emphasised that the forestry sector is quite insignificant in providing storage for carbon, as compared to the enormity of the problem. The solution lies in the transition to cleaner energy from renewable sources like the Sun and wind. Despite several climate deals, the greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries and China continue to show a rising trajectory, which means that the speed and scale of transition are yet to pick up.
Some participants claimed that the enactment of the Forest Rights Act, of 2006 was the result of states’ inaction in not recognising forest villages and strengthening the basic needs support like health, sanitation, education, water and road network, despite the centre’s repeated advisories. Other participants expressed concern regarding states’ not implementing the cut — off date (December 13, 2005) in true letter and spirit, and accepting claims supported by bogus evidence leading to fresh and endless deforestation.
Participants observed that claims up to lakhs of hectares are being recognised in many central Indian states before each election. It results in compromising the ecological security of the region. The only scientific evidence of satellite imagery verification, which has been rendered ineffective by the Union Tribal Ministry, is recommended to be revived for admitting claims under the law.
Sundarraju, emphasised his experiences of clonal planting to boost productivity in plantations undertaken by him as MD of Tamil Nadu Development Corporation, till he retired in 2011. The data presented by him though updated till 2023. Participants hailed the research in the forestry sector which in turn has helped in quick biomass production leading to faster industrial growth. The corporations and private sectors have led from the front in inventing the clones. Later Ahluwalia in his presentation before young trainees advocated that the research in the forestry sector should be privatised, which would take the inventions to greater heights, which benefits industrial growth and helps in faster absorption of carbon.
For sustainable management of trees and forest cover resources, a system of forest certification, a market — driven tool is developed, so that environmentally conscious consumers can rely on wood products from such certified sources. A participant, Arun Bansal, who, post-retirement from the government sector has been working with the national governing body of Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) — the world’s largest forest certification system, explained how it is useful for citizens to procure wood from sustainably managed forests, that leaves a minimum carbon footprint.
Devendra Pandey, a participant, who has the distinction of serving Forest Survey of India as Director for seven years in two tenures, addressed young trainees by explaining how modern technologies like remote sensing, GIS and computers are supporting the forestry sector in the country in measuring and monitoring the forest resources accurately that helps in effective planning and management of forests. As biotechnology helps in enhancing productivity, the technologies developed by the Forest Survey of India should be employed in the sector for better management and penetration.
Suraj Shreshta, a participant from Nepal narrated his fight through PIL in Nepal’s Supreme Court to save 8045 hectares of forests proposed for Nijagagh International Airport, in the corridor connecting Protected Areas in the Terai Arc region of India and Nepal. The court hailed the effort of Shreshta, declared EIA null and void and saved 2.4 million trees from the axe.
CK Sreedharan, a participant who has the distinction of serving the private sector for more than a decade after superannuation from the government, chose to address young trainees on developing professional excellence. He advised to develop general, emotional, spiritual, moral, physical and social intelligences.
He also emphasised the need for acquiring knowledge and skills in using artificial intelligence. All these will benefit in developing a passion for forestry, a clear goal and objectives, competence, self-confidence without ego, continuous learning and emotional control and trainees would be in a better position to take the country forward towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
(The writer is a retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Force, Karnataka. Views expressed are personal)
