The World Forestry Day is celebrated worldwide every year on 21st March to recognize the importance of forests in human well being as well as their critical role as life sustaining system. It is an occasion reminding all of us the importance of forests and trees in the human welfare. This day coincides with spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. The World Forestry Day originated at 23rd General Assembly of European Confederation of Agriculture in 1971.
The Government of India has accorded highest priority for conservation of forests and biodiversity of the country. In India the people living in and around forests are poor because of various reasons. They are totally dependent on forests for day to day needs. The national forest policy and strategies are mandated to enhance the livelihood of forest dependent communities particularly tribal on sustained basis securing the ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation.
India forests are primarily social and environmental resources, only secondarily as commercial resource. Indian forests contribute directly towards achieving the poverty alleviation, food security and environmental safety goals of Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) and indirectly contribute other five goals of MDGs.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of State for Environment & Forests emphasized for enhancing the income of forest depending community through afforestation, value addition of Minor Forest Produce (MFPs) including bamboo and medicinal plants. She also emphasized to document the traditional knowledge for the sustainable harvest and regeneration of the minor forest produce including medicinal plants by the tribal community. This will require capacity building and skill upgradation of local communities, creating modern infrastructure for storage, value addition and marketing linkages. The afforestation activities under various greening programmes alongwith biodiversity conservation and value addition of minor forest produce will go a long way in enhancing income generation of forest dependent communities as well as ensuring food and water security.
Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI delivered the keynote address on the occasion highlighting the role of forests in achieving Millennium Development Goals. He suggested new strategies and innovative ideas for integrating forestry sector into the mainstream of developmental programmes of other sectors which is necessary for improving the livelihood of tribals and forest dependent communities.
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