Commissioner Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Saurabh Bhagat today reviewed the functioning of State Forest Research Institute J&K. The meeting was attended by Director SFRI, Special Secretary (Technical) Forests, Additional Secretary (Forest) and other officers of the department. The work programme of Capex budget, CAMPA, nursery management on scientific lines, proposal on re-structuring of SFRI for development of scientific cadre were discussed threadbare. The Commissioner/Secretary emphasised upon the upkeep of necessary stocks for the forthcoming monsoon plantation in Jammu region along with establishment of necessary infrastructure for raising of the important medicinal plant flora of J&K.A broad based committee of officers from Forest, Wildlife, FPF and SFRI departments has also been proposed to be constituted to work out a mechanism to check the pilferage of the Minor Forest Produce of the State. The committee shall also propose the species which need immediate protection and not to be allowed for trade and the species which can be selectively allowed for trade with regulations, and the legislation required for protection of threatened flora and fauna of the State shall also be proposed by the committee within fortnight.
The Commissioner Secretary also laid emphasis on the exemption of bamboo from the ambit of transit permit under J&K Forest Act to encourage bamboo cultivation by locals, and the required notification in this regard will be issued shortly.Further, there was also thread bare discussion on innovative projects submitted by the SFRI which include a) establishment of a Pinetum in Srinagar, b) Vermi-compost from Dal Lake weeds c) establishment of a bamboo-setum at SFRI HQ Jammu and d) Sacred grooves of J&K. The Commissioner Secretary appreciated the innovative proposals submitted by the SFRI and assured the financial assistance of Government for implementation of these projects.The Director SFRI also briefed about progress regarding the notification to be issued by the Government of India for endangered and threatened plants and animals of J&K, under Sec. 38 of Biological Diversity Act 2002.