The GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) and the Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) have signed a letter of agreement for establishing the Himalayan Knowledge Network. Earlier, the NITI Aayog had made the GBPNIHE as the centralised data management agency for the Himalayan area and following the agreement signed on Wednesday, USAC has been made the State’s nodal agency for the knowledge network. The purpose of this initiative is to facilitate sharing of relevant data through science based policy for Himalayan environment and development.
Signing the agreement, the GBPNIHE director RS Rawal said that USAC will establish a network for convenient information sharing among the various scientific institutions, linear departments and other non-governmental institutions in the state. The centre will prepare detailed documents after identifying priority based sectors for sustainable development of the state and various stakeholders.
Speaking on the occasion, the USAC director MPS Bisht informed that both the institutions will jointly reach out to those experts who have detailed knowledge about the mountains and Uttarakhand. The two will also jointly organise expert talks and raise awareness among the youths on climate friendly aspects, natural resource management and disaster. Training and motivating the youths for collection of data to be used by planners and policy makers and preparing a directory of climate change experts will be among the other important works to be undertaken following the agreement, he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Himalayan Knowledge Network has been conceptualised to enhance cooperation and networking among all relevant institutions involved in research and development in the region to meet the requirements of planners and policy makers for environmental conservation and sustainable development.
Thursday, 04 March 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
