While addressing the annual convocation of 2014-16 batch of the IFS probationers at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) at Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun on Saturday, the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the forest service probationers should act as the guardians of the forests and forest-land rather than as the mere guards.
While congratulating to the officer trainees, he mentioned that the training imparted at the IGNFA prepares the officers for the tough challenges that lie ahead of them. He emphasised on striking a balance between conservation and development as both are equally important for the survival of humanity. He pointed out the need to work more on global warming and climate change, as it is a prime threat to the world.
He said that the key is to develop sustainable utilisation of natural resources with a strong commitment to eradicate poverty and hunger globally. “This could be achieved most effectively if we put the common people at the centre of this development process,” he said.
He also advised the young officers to become the facilitators to convert the threats to forests into opportunity through eradicating poverty. He stressed that the young professionals must keep it in mind that the decisions to be taken by them would have far- reaching consequences of ecological foundation of the nation. He also advised the foresters’ fraternity to address the climate change impacts which is emerging as a global concern.
He exhorted the young officers to always remember that as a natural resource manager it is their duty to understand how poor people live and organizse their lives to ensure better living conditions for them.
In the end, he expressed hope that the high standards of professionalism of the forest officers would be maintained and further enhanced.