Many species of flora and fauna are facing the risk of extinction due to rapid climatic changes like increase in the average global temperature. The biodiversity loss is likely to be exacerbated by the impact of changing climatic conditions which result in further losses of habitats, especially in highly fragmented ecosystems, said the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) director general Dr Ashwani Kumar. He was speaking at the inaugural session of a consultative workshop on gaps and constraints in forestry sector mitigation at ICFRE on Thursday.
Kumar stressed that there are various constraints and gaps in the forest and climate change related mitigation measures and programmes at state and national levels. New technological inputs are required for plantation activities in difficult and inaccessible areas. lack of technically qualified human resource is also one of the constraints faced in climate change mitigation programmes in the forestry sector, he added.
ICFRE ADG, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Dr TP Singh informed that as per requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India as a party to the convention requires to furnish information in the form of National Communication (NATCOM) containing information related to the implementation of the UNFCCC. India submitted its second NATCOM to UNFCCC in 2012. The government has initiated work on the Third National Communication (TNC). One of the additional components of the TNC is the submission of Biennial Update Report (BUR) to the UNFCCC. Singh presented outlines of the requirements of NATCOM and informed that ICFRE has been involved in preparation of India’s National Communi-cation to UNFCCC.
The State additional principal chief conservator of forests, Jairaj spoke on forestry mitigation actions, gaps and constraints in the State action plan for Uttarakhand. ICFRE Climate Change division scientist VRS Rawat presented the draft report on forestry sector mitigation, constraints and gaps to be presented to UNFCCC by the Government of India and sought inputs from the participants on the occasion. The ICFRE DDG (Administration) Dr SP Singh, DDG (Extension) Saibal Dasgupta, Rajaji national park director Neena Grewal and Terai East divisional forest officer Parag Madhukar Dhakate were among those present on the occasion.
Thereafter, the under-secretary was seen running with a bunch of files. He cleared the file and presented it before the secretary in a few minutes.