Kerala - Kozhikode   

Workshop on draft forest policy

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: A one-day workshop on discussing the draft document for the State's forest policy suggested among other things, inclusion of Environment Department in the Forest Department.

The suggestions put forward at the workshop included allowing grant of forestland for non-forest needs only after conducting the environment impact assessment, bringing in mangrove forests under threat and wetlands under the ambit of Environmental Protection Act. It asked for planting only indigenous trees in forest areas as per the order of the Supreme Court and called for including necessary amendments in the Forest Policy.

Also, inclusion of forestry studies in curriculum and making compulsory not to grant title deeds for forestland were recommended. Other important suggestions mooted were to make plantations, which were not functioning natural forests and to set up eco-educational centres in all districts.

A total of 45 persons representing various NGOs from six districts, environmental organisations, CWRDM and Malabar Botanical Garden participated in the one day workshop. Minister for Forests Benoy Viswom, who could not attend the workshop, said in a message read out at the workshop that he expected valuable suggestions for the framing of a popular forest policy.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Paloli to open NGO Union State meet
Empowering women, with a difference
Technical workshop at GEC today
Gandhian workers' regional meet
Workshop on draft forest policy

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu