Thursday, 23 March 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Nature will protect those who protect nature. The Union minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said this after inaugurating an international workshop on enhancing ecosystem services by improving forest quality and productivity and SLEM knowledge dissemination at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) here on Wednesday.
Choubey said that the nature will protect those who protect the nature adding that as a nation India never exploited nature but instead worshipped it. He also stressed on sustainable utilisation and circular economy for conservation of forests.
ICFRE director general Arun Singh Rawat said that the conservation of natural resources, forests, biodiversity and restoration of degraded lands can be attained through Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM). This can be achieved through increased participation of local community, conserving biodiversity, and maintaining ecosystem services. The concept of ecosystem services has gained global momentum as they hold immense importance for human well-being. The total value of ecosystem services (TEV) for India is $1.8 trillion/year.
Additional secretary and financial advisor to MoEFCC Pravir Pandey stressed on green finances and said that the funds should be utilised by research and development organisations in synergy so that it benefits the society.
Additional director general of forests (Forestry) BK Singh complemented ICFRE on successfully implementing the ESIP in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
Over 200 delegates from national and international research organisations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand, Universities, SFDs, representatives from World Bank, FAO, GIZ, UNDP, scientists and officers were present during the inaugural session.
