The global climatic change, the forest productivity in the nation and how to improve the forest cover are among the major issues facing the nation at present. These and other aspects will be deliberated upon in detail in the five-day 19th Commonwealth Forestry Conference (CFC 2017) starting at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) on April 3.
Addressing the media, the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) director general Suresh Gairola said that the international conference is being organised at FRI in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and Commonwealth Forestry Association, United Kingdom which is also the world’s longest established international forestry organisation for promoting conservation and sustainable management of forests and their contribution in peoples’ livelihoods.
Gairola said that about 500 delegations including scientists, academicians, forest officers, representatives of the governments, industries, research and conservation agencies from India and abroad will be attending the international conference. Out of the total 53 commonwealth nations, representatives from 49 common wealth nations will be attending this event. Working on the theme of ‘forests for prosperity and posterity’, the CFC 2017 will also focus on primary issues including biodiversity conservation and management, livelihood and economic security from forests, diversification, multiple use and sustainable harvest, good governance in forests, forests and climate change and forests and water. The ICFRE director general further informed that the Uttarakhand governor Krishan Kant Paul is slated to inaugurate the CFC 2017 at FRI on April 3 with MoEFCC secretary AN Jha as guest of honour in the presence of the director general of forests and special secretary Sharad Singh Negi among other senior officials and scientists.
The CFC 2017 has been divided into four plenary sessions and a total of 21 technical sessions focussed on socio-economic perspective of forests, resource assessment and monitoring, economic valuation, forest conservation and development, impact of climate change, adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation and management, bioprospecting and value addition of forest produce, urban forests, landscape management and policy interventions. An exhibition of handicrafts and other handmade, herbal and medicinal plant products made by self help groups, voluntary organisations and others will also be held for three days with the stated products being made available for purchase. The CFC 2017 is expected to bring out concrete recommendations that would set a guideline for strategic planning, policy making and efficient action by the member countries and all concerned, said Gairola. FRI director Savita and senior scientist NSK Harsh among others were also present at the Press conference.