30 Apr 2015|Noida | Amity Campus
Amity University signs Memorandum of Understating (MoU) with Forest-PLUS Program
Amity University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Forest-PLUS, a US organization providing technical assistance to improve the management of forested landscapes in India to further strengthen the academic courses and research concerning climate change and management of forested landscape in India.
The MoU was signed byDr. Gina Green, Head of the Forest-PLUS and Mr. B L Arya, Registrar, Amity University Uttar Pradesh inthe presence of Dr.Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group and Mr. Kit Kernan, COP,Forest-PLUS.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr.Gina Green said that it isthe greenhouse gases which supported the human existence otherwise, humans would have been living in an ice age. She shared her concern over the thickening of the blanket of greenhouse gases. She highlighted that Forest-PLUS program will contribute towards the mitigation of climate change. Dr. Green further added that the purpose of collaboration with Amity University is to accelerate research initiatives and development for climate change which will reducee missions from deforestation and forest degradation and lead to afforestation,conservation, and sustainable management of forests. She emphasized that the main aim of the programme is the exchange of academic expertise of India withUnited States and vice versa.
Briefing about Forest-PLUS initiative, Mr. Kit Kernan said that Forest-PLUS is a 5-year program that started in 2012, funded by the USAID, which aims to bring together world experts in the area of Forest Management to identify and develop systemic approaches for forest conservation in India. He further added that India is a country of mega biodiversity and during the last three years, the program has been instrumental in conducting research at the national and local landscape level across 4 states of India, namely - Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim which covers 70% of forest area in India. He outlined that over the years Forest-PLUS has been actively working towards developing innovative ways to include private organizations in the programme that will strengthen the capacity for forest carbon measurement and monitoring. Mr.Kernan stressed that the academic collaboration with Amity University will assist in providing mutual expertise to improve the conditions of forested landscape. He apprised that the Forest-PLUS programme is going to end inyear 2017 and expressed his hope that the outcome of the association will help to ensure that the proposed techniques and research in the area of Forest Management are assimilated for permanent and sustained development.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ashok K Chauhan said that global community is facing daunting challenges due to climate change, high carbon emissions and forest degradation. He discussed the importance of forest conservation in achieving political, social and economic growth and stability in India. Under the components of MoU, Dr. Chauhan proposed to establish six cells for widening the area of research and monitoring including “Agro-Forestry”, “Non-Timber Forestry”, “Sustainable Forest Management Training”, “Green Forest Entrepreneur Incubator”, “Academic Exchange”, “Measurement Reporting” and “Verification(MRV) of Carbon Emission”. Dr. Chauahn urged corporate leaders to explore opportunities in forest conservation for a sustainable future.