Shimla: Forest Experts bat for tackling climate change  through a multipronged strategy and raising plantations near habitations to mitigate monkey menace in Himachal Pradesh.

There raised their points at the three daylong training programme organised here by  Himalayan Forest Research Institute here in a bid to equip frontline forest staff with essential skills for tackling climate change.

This was  organized in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department (HPFSD).

The training, which took place from March 4th to 6th, saw the participation of twenty-five frontline field functionaries from various forest divisions across the state.

Aimed at enhancing their knowledge and practical skills, the programme covered topics such as plant identification, forest mensuration, fire management, and laws related to forestry.

Addressing the participants, Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Director of HFRI, emphasized the importance of adopting innovative and scientific approaches in forestry, especially in light of the challenges posed by global warming.

Prominent speakers at the event included S.S. Negi, retired PCCF & HoFF (HP Forest), who stressed the vital role of frontline staff in implementing forestry initiatives, and Harish Janartha, Shimla MLA, who underscored the need for capacity-building programmes to address environmental changes in the region.

Janartha also raised concerns about the growing issue of monkey menace in the state and proposed planting fruit trees near habitations to mitigate the problem.

Janartha sought the Institute's assistance in selecting suitable plant species for this purpose.

Dr. Vaneet Jishtu, Principal Investigator of the project, highlighted the significance of collecting baseline information on global warming to study its impacts in the Himalayan region.

He also discussed the importance of capacity-building in helping organizations and communities adapt to a rapidly changing world.

The training programme concluded with participants gaining practical exposure through field visits and hands-on demonstrations of techniques such as GPS technology in forest management and tree measurements.

The program served as a crucial platform for frontline forest staff to enhance their skills and knowledge in addressing the challenges of climate change in Himachal Pradesh.