In the Media
India: FRI assures support for ‘Green Punjab’ campaign
June 27, 2012
Punjab Newsline
In a bid to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free, Forest Research Institute (FRI) Dehradun has assured all technical support and assistance to the state Forests Department for undertaking plantation drive across the state.
Disclosing this here today Financial Commissioner (Forests) Mr Dhanbir Singh Bains said that this assurance was given by Director, FRI Mr PP Bhojvaid and Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun Mr VK Bahuguna during a meeting at Dehrdun, last week. It may be recalled that Mr Bains was deputed by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal to visit FRI for chalking out a detailed action plan for the massive plantation drive.
Dwelling on the concept of agro-forestry to improve the economic lot of the farmers of the state, FRI asked the Punjab government to complete a value chain in terms of Nursery/ farm forestry and industry so that the farmers could link up with nurseries to maximise their income. FRI team also observed that if the forest area in Punjab was increased to 15% it would automatically increase carbon sequestration levels and a benefit could be drawn by claiming Carbon Credits. Mr Bains further said that Mr Bhojvaid would call on the Chief Minister on June 29 to give him a detailed presentation about the concept and scope of agro-forestry in the state, besides the proposed plantation drive ‘Greening Punjab Campaign’.
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Keywords: agroforestry, Asia, forest cover, India, Punjab, reforestation