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Concern over rapidly depleting forests

BHOPAL: A two-day workshop to commemorate the World Forestry Day, which was organised here by the Academy of Administration and Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, has paved the way to integrate the Ecosystem Services concepts into forest planning process of the State Forest Department.

The State Forest Minister, Kunwar Vijay Shah, who inaugurated the workshop held here over the weekend, shared his concern over the poor state of forests and said: “we are living in a materialistic and political era and what is important is our level of commitment to address the issue.”

He said that the tribals and forest dwellers were equally responsible when it came to protecting the forests and stressed the need for a massive awareness drive at the grass-roots to build a mass movement for the protection of forests.

Mr. Shah said that there was extreme necessity to provide alternative fuels to reduce the demand for firewood and the resultant pressure on forests. He said that the Central Government should take initiative in this direction and provide cooking gas to the villagers on subsidised rates.

He thanked the Central Government for approving a special package to relocate villagers still residing inside the Kanha National park. Under this package Rs.10 lakh would be paid as compensation to every adult member of a family.

Addressing the special session on the theme “Healthy forests ensure flow in water”, the Editor of Sanctuary Asia, Bittu Sahgal said that deforestation was responsible for maximum global warming and climate change. Pointing out that forests were the source of cleanest water, he said: “we would be doomed if we delete forests from our lives.”

Mr. Sahgal said that the situation has already reached alarming levels.

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Concern over rapidly depleting forests

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