UNION MINISTER KIRTI VARADHAN INTERACTS WITH FOREST DEPARTMENT IN KOHIMA

KOHIMA, Feb 10: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, Kirti Varadhan Singh, held an interaction meeting with officers of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of Nagaland, at the Forest Guest House, Kohima, on Monday.

The officers, led by Y. Kikheto Sema, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, apprised the Minister of various initiatives undertaken by the Department for the conservation of forests, wildlife, and other natural resources in the State.

Highlighting the need to increase afforestation programmes in both rural and urban areas to address forest degradation, Sema requested enhanced allocations for Nagaland under the Nagar Van scheme. He also urged the Centre to consider the State’s proposals under the Green India Mission (GIM) of the MoEFCC.

Informing the Minister about the State Government’s efforts to promote agarwood plantation, Sema said that the draft Agarwood Policy for Nagaland is under submission to the Cabinet for consideration. He further sought allocation of funds from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) under central funding.

During the interaction, the Union Minister encouraged the Department to adopt a renewed approach to conservation with greater use of technological interventions. He called for comprehensive measures to address issues such as forest fires, landslides, and water scarcity through soil and moisture conservation activities, and stressed the need to sustainably manage Nagaland’s abundant natural resources for both economic viability and ecological sustainability.

The Minister also advised the adoption of improved plantation techniques, including the use of improved teak clones and agarwood inoculation. He suggested that the Department collaborate with research institutions such as the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB), Coimbatore, and the Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat, to introduce advanced technologies in tree cultivation.

Emphasising improved forest management for better economic returns, he called for the promotion of production forestry to strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and boost the State’s economy. (DIPR)