By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 23 Aug: Arun Singh Rawat, Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, and Director, Forest Research Institute, inaugurated an online training programme, today, on “Managing green spaces for urban biodiversity and ecosystem services” for the in-service Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers to be held from 23 to 27 August. Forty-one officers of the Indian Forest Service from 22 states of India are participating in this training programme being held for their career development.
Rawat emphasised the importance and management of urban forestry for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services in today’s context for the sustainability of urban life. He said that urbanisation is a global phenomenon and the degree of urbanisation and urban growth rate varies in different parts of the world. Cities occupy less than 3 % of the global terrestrial surface but account for 78 % of carbon emissions, 60 % of residential water use and 76 % of wood used for industrial purposes. This uncontrolled urbanisation resulted in the deterioration of natural resources and the environment in urban areas in many cities in India and the world. It has also affected human health. He further said that urban forestry is the ethical care and management of urban forests, i.e., tree populations in urban settings, to improve the urban environment. The urban forests in cities involve trees and related organisms, structures, and people. On the other hand, urban parks, gardens, and natural landscapes are better known for their non-market or intangible benefits than tangible ones. He hoped that forest officers would contribute significantly to urban development by using the recently developed package of practices and technologies.
Prof CR Babu, Emeritus Professor University of Delhi, delivered an inaugural lecture on “Biodiversity parks as a model for urban environmental sustainability and resilience.” In the following sessions, prominent national and international experts on urban forestry and ecosystem services will deliberate virtually during this training, including Dr Sara Barron, Professor, University of Melbourne, and Dr Yadong Qi, Professor, Southern University, USA.
Dr Vijender Panwar, Head, Forest Ecology and Climate Change Division, FRI, welcomed the chief guest, resource personnel, IFS trainees, Group Coordinator Research, Heads of Divisions, and scientists. Dr Hukum Singh, Scientist and Training Coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks.
