Dainik Nation News Portal
Uttarakhand Governor Dr.K.K.Paul today stressed the urgent need for checking deforestation which is occurring the world over despite the growing awareness of numerous benefits of stopping deforestation.
He said that more than thirteen million hectares of forests are cleared around the world each year and this deforestation accounts for a very significant percentage of global greenhouse gas emission which is threatening the future of our planet.
The Governor was addressing the convocation of IFS Probationer Course (2015-2017 Batch) at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) ,Dehradun. He said a system of “green accounting” must be in place to help solve this problem . “As yet, we have no generally accepted system to convert Gross Domestic Product into Green Domestic Product that would reflect the use of precious natural resources in the process of generating national income,” he said.
He said better clarity on the concept of Green Domestic Product would sensitise the stake holders and was particularly relevant in case of Uttarakhand which has more than 60 per cent area under forest cover.
He highlighted the fact that the history of forestry in India has had its beginnings in this region, and even now, all forest officers receive their training in the Doon valley, which can be called the “cradle of Indian Forestry”. “At the same time, this Himalayan region is the home of the Chipko movement of conservation, that is regarded as an ideal in the environmental conservation movements of the world.” He said that despite this, there are several problems related to forests and environment in Uttarakhand that need to be tackled to save the region from natural disasters .
The Governor said the importance of forests in controlling natural disasters like floods, drought and loss of soil productivity, along with their importance in providing goods and services to the society, has resulted in growing public interest in conservation of forest resources. “The forester today is, therefore, expected to share his knowledge with society and needs not only stronger infrastructural support but also involvement in dissemination of scientific knowledge and wider range of technological skills to the local people.”
The Governor extended a warm welcome, on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of the state, to the President of India who was the chief guest on the occasion.
He congratulated the trainees for the successful completion of their course of studies, culminating in the award of degrees and diplomas. He also congratulated the recipients of medals.
The Governor said that the Prime Minister had given a complete road map on the recent civil services day regarding the important role public servants are expected to play in national development. “I hope the officers passing out from here, and moving to their state cadres, would have absorbed the essence of his exhortations for stringent implementation”.
