Social Forestry Deptt hosts workshop on ‘People’s Forestry for Livelihood & Environmental Benefits’

Jammu: The Department of Social Forestry, J&K conducted a one-day Workshop on “People’s Forestry for Livelihood & Environmental Benefits” here at Chadwal-Kathua.
The event witnessed impressive participation of people from Village Panchayat (Plantation) Committees, Tree/Bamboo Growers/Artisans/Wood Based Industries/NGOs’s/Civil Society Groups, Senior Citizens, Farmers & the officers & officials of the Department. The workshop specifically discussed cultivation of Bamboo, Poplars, Eucalyptus, Harar, Amla, Behera and few other varieties at large scale for the sustainable economic development of the area.
The workshop was chaired by Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF/Director, Department of Social Forestry Dr. Mohit Gera. He spoke in detail about the economic and environmental benefits of tree growing on farm lands and village common lands. He said that trees represent one of the important components of each and every terrestrial ecosystem and are a part of nature’s precious gifts.
“The welfare of humankind is affected not only by their density and diversity but also by their direct and indirect values” he said and added that in J&K ‘We are blessed to have a huge potential of tree cultivation that can be supplied to the wood-based industry and provide immense income and livelihood opportunities to people.
He further enlightened the participants about the potential and ways to involve local farmers, small scale industries& other stakeholders to derive maximum benefits & capitalize the efforts of the Department for their well-being.
Various issues related to Wood based industries, Village Panchayat Plantation Committees, Farmers/ Tree growers, Artisans were also discussed in depth to overcome the problems being phased by these important stakeholders.
The workshop was attended by Mohinder Kr. Gupta, Regional Director Social Forestry Department, Jammu; Vijay Kumar Verma, Wildlife Warden, Kathua; Munish Bhardwaj, DFO, Social Forestry, Kathua; Som Dutt Khajuria, DFO Samba, besides members of NGOs and civil society.