Sunday, 26 February 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the HNB Garhwal University and Ecological Task Force (ETF), 127 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Garhwal Rifles on Saturday. The MoU was inked between the registrar N S Panwar and the Commanding officer of the ETF, Colonel Rohit Srivastav at the university in presence of vice chancellor of university Annpurna Nautiyal.
The MoU will remain in force for a period of two years and endeavours to save the fragile Himalayan ecology, safeguard the environment and provide long-term solutions with involvement of local communities to reverse the migration of youth. A communication from the defence PRO said, “The degradation of the Himalayan forests has been linked to environmental problems and the livelihoods of millions of people. Forest degradation has been held responsible for increased landslides and soil erosion leading to the damage of the Himalayan agro-economy, loss of livelihoods and outmigration of the locals. HNB Garhwal University has been striving relentlessly for “One Himalaya” and research and innovation with a human face and ETF most dedicated force together will bring outstanding results.
The present decline of Himalayan forests has also led to the drying up of numerous perennial springs. In order to counter this problem, initiatives such as reforestation with integrated renewal of degraded watersheds is the need of the hour. Local communities depend on forest resources for subsistence living. They express that limited options for livelihood and declining productivity of agriculture threaten food security and induce migration. In the present case, the need of collaboration between two institutions which are already working with the local communities to safeguard and sustainability of natural resources is well justified.’’
