New strategy in forestry education needed

New approaches are needed in the forestry education system in view of major emergent challenges like rapid deforestation and threats to biodiversity, a top forest official said on Monday.

New approaches are needed in the forestry education system in view of major emergent challenges like rapid deforestation and threats to biodiversity, a top forest official said on Monday.

“Major emergent challenges such as rapid deforestation, environmental degradation, threats to biodiversity and inadequate livelihood support to the forest dwellers require new approaches to forestry education and fresh breed of forest professionals,” G V K Prasad, Director General of Indian Council of Forest and Research Education (ICFRE) said.

At a seminar in Dehra Dun on ‘Forestry Education in India: Issues and Opportunities’ being organised by Forest Research Institute (FRI), Prasad said lateral expansion of forestry in the fields of environmental conservation, pollution control, eco-tourism and horticulture also call for specialised education and training.

Varsities are required to play a key role in giving a new thrust to the development of the forestry sector in the country, he said adding, “forestry curricula has to be tailored and updated on regular basis.”

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