The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that a mega Bio-Diverse Country like India should preserve and protect its forest cover and pass the treasure to next generation duly protecting and developing it. He was interacting with the Indian Forest Service (IFS) Probationers (2017-19), here today.The Vice President asked the Officers to be aware of the imbalances in the global life support systems caused by depleting forest cover, environmental degradation, global warming, pollution of air and water, etc. Stressing on the importance of forests in maintaining ecological balance, the Vice President has asked Forest Officers to act as facilitator in providing the benefits of the forests to the community and nation, besides providing leadership.The Vice President said that Forest Management has no longer limited to the management of forests and wildlife alone but is also an activity for maintaining the health of land, water and air.
He further said that we now need to depart from the age old concepts of forest management and adopt a more open, cooperative, ecological functional and environmental angle. Keep social, economic and cultural ramifications in mind while taking decisions on the management of forests, he added.The Vice President asked the officers to carefully address the problems of forest protection and human sustenance and advised them to apply their knowledge and skill with a human face while dealing issues of the hungry and deprived people living in the around forest areas.The Vice President asked Indian Forest Service Probationers and Officers to take up concrete action plans of ecological restoration and conservation by involving people living near forest areas. He also stressed on the need to create additional opportunities for employment for them through forestry-based programmes.