HFRI Organizes Training on Sustainable Land Management to Restore Degraded Himalayan Ecosystems...
Shimla, December 18: A three-day training program on “Sustainable Land Management Practices for Restoration of Degraded Himalayan Ecosystems” commenced today at the Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla.
The programme aimed at addressing the urgent challenge of land degradation in the Himalayan region, is organized under the aegis of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Development (CoESLM), Dehradun.
The program brings together 21 participants, including officers from Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Public Works Departments.
Among the attendees are Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs), Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs), Horticulture Extension Officers (HEOs), Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), and Junior Engineers.
Dr. Sanjay Sood, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), Himachal Pradesh, presided over the inaugural session.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Director (In-Charge) of HFRI, welcomed the participants and emphasized the critical role of CoESLM in combating land degradation and promoting sustainable management of land resources nationwide.
Training Highlights
Dr. Sharma highlighted key sustainable practices like agroforestry models, slope stabilization, and watershed management, which are pivotal for restoring degraded ecosystems in the Himalayas.
He stressed that such initiatives are part of capacity-building efforts to achieve global land degradation neutrality targets.
Dr. R.K. Verma, Scientist-G and Training Coordinator, presented an overview of the training module.
He informed that expert resource persons from the University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni; ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chandigarh; and DRDO’s Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) would share insights. Topics include:
Sustainable land management to meet UNCCD targets
Winter farming technologies
Soil and water conservation techniques for Himalayan ecosystems
Agroforestry practices in higher altitudes
Livelihood enhancement through sustainable practices
An exposure visit has also been planned to provide hands-on experience in greenhouse and polyhouse technologies, showcasing community-led efforts in managing land resources.
Significance of the Training
In his address, Dr. Sanjay Sood underscored the importance of land ecosystems, describing them as the foundation of life and essential services to humanity.
He expressed grave concerns over the rapid rate of land degradation caused by deforestation, overexploitation, unplanned development, and natural disasters like flash floods and landslides.
Dr. Sood noted that the Indian Himalayan region is particularly vulnerable, with degradation posing a significant threat to livelihoods.
He emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to sustainable land management and applauded HFRI and CoESLM for fostering collaboration among scientific organizations, R&D institutes, and government departments.
