Conference held on sustainable use of forest resources

GUWAHATI, May 18: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) through the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat organized a Regional Research Conference in Guwahati on Friday. The main objective of the conference was to identify the needs of the forestry research in the region for incorporation in the national forestry researchers plan.

The conference highlighted on the biodiversity conservation, enhancement of livelihood through forestry, sustainable use of cane, bamboo and medicinal plants resources and the impact of climate change in the Northeast region. The conference dwelt in length on means of enchaining the livelihood through forestry intervention, such as agro forestry, improvement of shifting cultivation, cultivation of bamboo, agar wood and other valuable forestry resources. The scope of increasing the income of farmers through systematic cultivation of agar wood was also discussed.

The need for checking the environmental damage due to shifting cultivation and improving the productivity in such system through use of appropriate agronomic practices and bio fertilizers was deliberated on the occasion

The conference was inaugurated by CP Marak, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of forest force Meghalaya. The ICFRE Director General Dr SC Gairola attended the conference as the guest of honour. Various sessions and group discussions were chaired by NK Vasu, PCCF, Assam and Dr Lokho Puni APCCF, Manipur. The conference was attended by various forest officers, forest based industries, forestry researchers, organizations and educational institutes from cross northeastern states.