Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Students urged to become ambassadors of forests

— Photo: D.Radhakrishnan

Conserve forests:The Field Director, MTR Rajiv K. Srivastava addressing the World Forestry Day celebrations at Kannerimukku near Kotagiri on Sunday.

Udhagamandalam: With a call to the student community to become ambassadors of the forests, the World Forestry Day was celebrated at the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) Interpretation Centre in Kannerimukku near Kotagiri on Sunday.

The celebrations were jointly organised by the Forest Department, the Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) and the Development Promotion Group (DPG).

Pointing out that conservation has ceased to be the concern of the forest department alone, the Field Director, MTR Rajiv K. Srivastava said that all sections of the society in general and students in particular should espouse the cause of the forests.

Adverting to the role of the forests in providing oxygen and water, he said not to expect the forest department alone to protect them. All should join hands in enhancing awareness about their importance.

Commitment

Stating that only then one third of the area can be brought under forests, Mr. Srivastava said that the need of the hour is commitment, involvement and motivation.

Referring to the activities of the NDC and its focus on the contribution of John Sullivan (founder of Ooty) in ensuring the economic well being of the Nilgiris, he said that it should be acknowledged and lessons should be learnt.

The District Forest Officer, the Nilgiris North K. Soundarapandian said that in construction and related activities if people go in for alternatives to wood pressure on forests would be reduced to a significant extent.

Asking the people to imagine a world without forests, he exhorted them to do what they can to conserve them. Exotics like lantana should be put to good use in order to protect rare trees.

The Director, NDC Dharmalingam Venugopal who presided said that a significant shift from productive use to protective use has helped protect forests in places like the Nilgiris. Expressing the view that the task of the forest department in protecting the forests is unenviable, he said that the people should recognize it.

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