This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
3 mins Read
Delivering the Valedictory address at the International Symposium on Transforming Mountain Forestry Hon’ble Dr Krishan Kant Paul, the Governor of Uttarakhand, enlisted a range of ideas for the experts to consider in future deliberations. “The once highest rainfall area of Cherrapunji in Meghalaya is now bereft of forests and shrubs, challenging foresters to bring the degraded forests to life,” said His Excellency, “arguing that degraded soils do not hold healthy forests.” The scientists and foresters need to explore the causes of forest degeneration.
Some of traditional practices like the ‘sacred forests’ in the tribal areas of the north-eastern India could offer cultural methods of sustaining forests, he stressed. The Hon’ble Governor also highlighted the need to conduct research on finding hydrocarbon species that can address the fossil fuel crises. By drawing patents on new discoveries of products from the forests, the scientists can make the best use of harnessing knowledge (Goddess Saraswati) to generate wealth (Goddess Lakshmi), he remarked. His Excellency said that recommendations drawn by the symposium should influence policy.
Spread over 5 days in as many as 26 plenary and parallel sessions, with a couple of brain-storming sessions and few break-away group discussions, the symposium delved on a wide diversity of issues related to ‘Transforming Mountain Forestry’ towards developing a third-generation paradigm to bridge transboundary challenges for the welfare of mountain people, forests and environment in the Hindu Kush Himalayas.
Recognition of mountain forests as a ‘carbon pool’ was widely acknowledged and to ensure that the forests continue to play their role in neutralizing the impact of global warming the symposium recommended the need for States in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) to develop policies that promote people-centric sustainable management practices backed by relevant research. The need for linking science with policy and practice was stressed. Innovative ways to exchange knowledge for bridging information gaps was suggested to create horizontal and vertical links among stakeholders.
Governance and institutions are at the heart of a paradigm shift in managing mountain forests. Landscape-led governance institutions, on the lines of the Alpine Convention and the Mekong Commission, could be the way forward in finding common meeting points for member countries to identify policy provisions that can foster transboundary cooperation. Supporting formal and non-formal networks, encouraging legal trade in mountain products, and inter-sectorial dialogues were identified by the symposium as areas that can contribute to transboundary cooperation on wide array of issues.
Developing and managing transboundary markets holds promise in the context of improving the economic basis of local livelihoods in the region. The participants unanimously agreed that ‘minimum of quality’ for mountain products could be crucial for developing a network of HKH markets. The Governments of the Countries of the HKH Region would need to work together in removing regulatory hurdles by evolving standards and maximize value realization by sticking to niche products from the mountain regions.
The symposium was unequivocal in voicing its concern on the growing human-wildlife conflicts. Ways to improve forest management by involving and engaging communities were out forth. Incentives to enhance stewardship of forests by communities by developing both fiscal and non-fiscal mechanisms for payment for ecosystem services were show-cased through case studies. Recognizing and mainstreaming traditional knowledge in planning and implementation could inspire local stewardship of forests.
Attended by 250 participants drawn from 15 countries, including 8 countries of the HKH region, the 5-day symposium was jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, India; Forest Research Institute, India and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
For more information please contact:
Kunal Satyarthi, IFS Head Silviculture Division , Forest Research Institute Email: satyarthik@icfre.org, Cell: 91-9410394349; Web: www.icfre.gov.in
Nira Gurung Senior Communications Officer International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Tel +977-1-5003222 Fax +977-1-5003277 Email: nira.gurung@icimod.org
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
Related contents
距人类首登世界之巅已70年,而气候紧急情况发生在此:在兴都库什-喜马拉雅区域内,三分之二的冰川预计将在本世纪末消失。 领先的山地机构国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)、尼泊尔登山协会(NMA)和山区伙伴关系(Mountain Partnership) 呼吁全世界来拯救地球上的冰雪,以避免为时过晚。 #“拯救我们的雪”宣言在最初48小时内就收集到1000多个签名,其中包括新西兰前总理、各国外交官、传奇登山者和著名地球科学家。 尼泊尔加德满都讯(2023 年 5 月 29 日)——七十年前的今天,在埃德蒙·希拉里爵士和丹增·诺尔盖首次登上珠峰 ; 70 年后的今天,地球上最高的山峰正在经历由全球变暖引起的前所未有且基本不可逆的变化。 全球变暖正在危及珠峰与兴都库什-喜马拉雅地区的环境,该地区横跨八个国家,约长3500公里。根据目前的排放情况,科学家预计在未来70年内,该地区三分之二的冰川或将消融。 国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)在包括 尼泊尔登山协会 和 山区伙伴关系(联合国自愿伙伴联盟)在内的全球山地机构的支持下,呼吁公众支持 #拯救我们的雪(#SaveOurSnow)运动。该运动要求公众: 在社交平台分享来自世界各地山区的故事和照片,使用#SaveOurSnow 标签 强调气候影响; 在网址 icimod.org/saveoursnow/declaration/ 签署一份宣言,呼吁各国政府兑现将升温限制在 1.5 ...
February 29, 2016, DELHI – Today, Jean Lebel, President of Canada’s International Development Research Centre and His Excellency Nadir Patel, ...
Kathmandu, Nepal (18 November 2020): Our newly appointed Director General, Dr Pema Gyamtsho, has taken up his role, beginning his ...
Participants at the 3rd Regional Strategic Consultative Meeting for the Kangchenjunga Landscape stressed the need for greater collaboration to protect ...
Download App The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and ...
Participants at the meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity emphasize the need for sharing ...
Experts from leading institutions and government organisations working in the field of climate change in the Himalayan region called attention ...
Kathmandu, Nepal – 18 November 2022: Fostering cooperation on evidence-based policy making and promoting science and sharing of best practices ...