Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Amity University Uttar Pradesh organized a three-day Training Workshop on “Production and Consumption Pattern of Timber in India and Future Scope” for senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officers from January 10-12, 2024. The workshop was attended by 14 participants from various cadres including Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat and others.
Addressing the participants, Mr. Subhash Chandra, Additional Director General & CEO, CAMPA Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Govt. of India, averred, “During recent times, many issues pertaining to the forest sector have emerged which need to be addressed such as how to integrate sustainability into forest products, how to increase the green cover, problems related to forest certification and laws. Therefore, the topic chosen for this workshop is very apt and relevant and through collective efforts the challenges can be addressed in a better way. Innovative thinking and new-age strategies need to be implemented specially in skill development and tapping the rural market, which has a lot of economic potential.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation, stated, “The production of timber should be in proportion with the consumption of timber and new technologies should be adopted to ensure optimum production and consumption of timber. A multi-disciplinary approach and public and private sector partnership is required to enhance the productivity, keeping in mind the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Highlighting the significance of the Training Workshop, Dr. D. K. Bandyopadhyay, Chairman, Amity Law School, asserted, “The forest sector contributes to 1.7% of the total GDP of the country and we must aim to enhance it. A lot of organizations have been formed to create the checks and balances in the forest sector along with the implementation of many new policies by the government. Increase in the green cover will lead to achieving Sustainable Development Goals and protecting the environment.”
Welcoming the participants and guests, Dr. S.P. Singh, Director, Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, said, “The aim of the Training Workshop is to provide an opportunity to the forest officers to interact and exchange ideas for providing solutions to the challenges of the forest sector in India.”
During the three-day workshop, technical Sessions on topics such as “Demand and Supply of Timber and Its Impact on Consumption Pattern in India”, “Overview of World's Forest Resources and Trend of Production and Consumption of Timber”, “Future Scope for Improvement and Consumption Pattern of Timber in India: Strategies and Challenges” and “Agroforestry: A Tool for Meeting the Requirements of Wood” and others will be conducted.