Forests are a resource to be conserved

Forests, which were previously viewed as a resource for consumption, are now considered a resource for conservation.

Inaugurating a four-day International Workshop on Forest Products Statistics in India, the Union minister of state for environment and forests, S Regupathy said that with ever increasing demands of forests products from the richest to the poorest of the masses, there was a lot of pressure on the forests.

He said ?forestry has left the environs of wilderness and the sector has spread in other areas in the form of plantations, agro-forestry, cultivation of medicinal plants and made significant inroad in contributing to the national economy.?

Referring to the systematic parameters of meticulously laid out permanent sample plots, details of loggings, forest produce, the minister said, ?With the advancement of technology the reporting has now become more meticulous and expertise dependent. The forestry structure is about to witness a renaissance in technological adaptation in its working. This is most appropriate time to organize this workshop.? The Indian Council of Forest Research and Education, Dehradun, which brings out a biennial publication ‘Forestry Statistics in India’ covers the sectoral data.

The workshop has been organized by the Union ministry of environment and forests.

The workshop has been organized by the Union ministry of environment and forests and is sponsored by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

However, there are few data gaps which are to be plugged in order to provide exhaustive collections of figures to really understand the health of forests.

The inaugural session was addressed by Additional Director-General of Forests, GK Prasad, Deputy Inspector-General of Forests and the chief of the national focal point for ITTO, in India, Bipin Behari, ITTO representatives Steven E. Johnson, and Frances Marie and FAO forestry officer, Felice Padovani.

The workshop will deliberate on issues that can help in increasing the quality of forestry statistics of the country, problems being faced by the state forests departments in reporting, status of the statistical cells and their requirements, definitions of forest products and variations from them, estimates of removal of timber of all categories and production of paper and pulp, charcoal and other products.