A one day “National Multi-stakeholders Workshop: Sustainable forest Management in India” was organized at Amity University Campus on Saturday, 23rd September, 2006 by Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development sponsored by International Tropical Timber Organization, established under the auspices of the United Nations with headquarters based in Yokohama, Japan, with 62 member countries. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment & Forests Govt. of India. This was a culminating event of the visit of ITTO Diagnostic/Technical Mission to India consisting of outstanding professionals in the field of forestry viz. Dr. Maharaj K. Mutthoo, Dr. Jürgen Blaser and Dr. John Palmer. The aim of this Mission was to explore and evaluate areas of cooperation between ITTO member countries in the sphere of sustainable management of forests in India.

In this context the a National Status Report on Forests and Forestry in India was released by the Hon’ble Minister and presented before the participants and Mission Members during the workshop inviting their comments and suggestions.

The workshop was inaugurated by the chief guest Sri Namo Narain Meena IPS, Hon’ble Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Govt. of India. A number of distinguished persons like Dr. Sunita Narain, Director, Centre for Science and Environment, Dr. J.C. Kala, Director General-Forests and Special Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Hon’ble founder President, RBEF, Dr. Ram Prasad, Principal National Consultant along with Members of Planning Commission; Senior IFS officers of the Ministry of Environment & Forests and various state forest departments, foreign donor agencies; Heads, staff Members and students of Amity Institutions were present. The workshop was marked by its vibrancy and interaction from diverse stake holders and was covered by the media.