Management of natural resources is an essential need of time. Our natural resources like water, wild life, forests with its rich biodiversity are at various stages of degradation. Quite a few species that hold the soil, conserves the perennial water sources are endangered, threatened and are getting extinct. We have realized that the air, water, mountains, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, wildlife habitat and biodiversity form the real wealth of our nation and as such they are also our life support system.

Young scientists and students must take their science in bold new directions if humans and the natural systems on which they depend are to coexist in the future. Human impact on the natural resources is the core area of future science and technology development. Topics for urgent attention are: afforestation and land-use change, urban ecology, invasions, biodiversity loss, and interacting drivers of global change. Taken together, the resounding message is focused on human footprint on the land and waterscapes across globe and what can be done to understand and mitigate this impact in future. It has become clear that, as we think about the future impact of global change, one of the largest uncertainties is how these anthropogenic changes will interact and affect ecological processes. It is important to link ecological knowledge with economic sides for optimum land-use change and sustainable development. Mr. B.K.P. Sinha, who is heading the institute as Director, is an ex Indian Forest Service Officer and has national and international experience and expertise in areas of Natural Resource Development and Conservation.

The courses of Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development thus assume great significance and importance in its being great relevance in conserving and managing the natural resources and sustainable development. I am more than confident that Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development should provide and ideal academic environment to pursue studies and be at par with high profile global academic institutions.