Friday, February 11, 2011

EXPERTS DISCUSS TREE IMPROVEMENT IN RELATION TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION AT PAU

LUDHIANA, FEBRUARY 11:(Anmol Singh)

The International Union for Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) symposium on 'Short Rotation Forestry (SRF): Synergies for Wood Production and Environmental Amelioration,' organized by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, PAU, culminated today.

Speaking on this occasion, the chief guest Dr. Michael Kleine, Coordinator IUFRO Special Programme for Developing Countries and Professor of Forestry, University of Natural Resources, Vienna, Austria said that SRF is a significant contributor to the wood resource world over. There is a large gap between demand and supply of industrial wood globally, observed Dr. Kleine. Investment in tree plantations always felled short in meeting the wood requirements. He stressed that the situation needs immediate attention to increase the productivity on one hand and save the deteriorating environment on the other. Industrial wood as well as bio-energy option through SRF will open the avenues for rural employment, improve the socio-economic condition of the people and would also lead to increased area under vegetation for CO2 sequestration and other positive effects on climate, soil and water, said he. Dr. Kleine emphasized the need for the rehabilitation of degraded forests landscapes. Sharing the IUFRO activities under the global network for forest services, he said that cooperation promotes the understanding and knowledge exchange for the conservation and maintenance of forests including reforestation and afforestation.

Dr DS Cheema, Dean, College of Agriculture, PAU, addressing the gathering, stated that the beginning of 21st century has set the role of forests not only in conservation of natural resources but green house gases mitigation role of forests and plantations. The world's fight against climate change has placed a special emphasis on protecting the world's remaining forests and raising new plantations. This has given rise to concepts of carbon trading under clean development mechanism and reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. He added that the survival and well being of a nation depends upon sustainable development and that forests have the major role to play in sustainability of natural resources for the well-being of generations in posterity.

Earlier, Dr Avtar Singh, Head, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, welcomed the chief guest, coordinator of IUFRO and the participants of the symposium.

The technical session IV on 'Improvement of SRF Tree Species,' chaired by Dr Georg Von Wuehlisch, Germany, witnessed eight presentations. Dr Davorin Kajba spoke on 'Selection and breeding of willows (Salix species) for SRF, Dr Piare Lal and Dr NB Singh deliberated on 'Clonal agro forestry plantations in India' and 'Four years performance of selected tree willow clones in Himachal Pradesh. The experts including Dr. R.C.Dhiman from Wimco Seedling Ltd. shared their views on 'Development of superior clones of Populus deltoides for increasing carbon sequestration capacity of agro forestry plantations' and 'conservation and management of biological resources of Dalbergia sissoo (Tahli) for genetic improvement.' Dr MS Hooda and DR Pravin H Chawhaan discussed 'Reproductive biology and breeding strategies in jatropha for bio-energy' and 'Genetic analysis, inheritance pattern and character association for growth and wood parameters in central Indian teak (Tectona grandis). Dr Rajendra Singh Beniwal spoke on 'Genetic variability among the progenies of Pongamia pinnata at nursery stage.'

The poster session was chaired by Dr Dhiman, and the winning entries were awarded certificates and mementos.

The technical session V on 'Ecological implications, invasive species and biodiversity' was chaired Dr JP Chandra, Rudrapur. In this session, three presentations were made which include – Dr KK Sreejesh and Dr Kamal Sharma shed light on 'Tree legume rotation in teak sivlviculture: suitability of acacia species' and ' Reduction in pre-bearing period and development of promising strains of some commercially important medicinal trees.' Dr KS Dadhwal shared his views on 'Vegetation biodiversity as affected due to limestone quarrying and measures for eco-restoration of mine-spoil areas in Uttarakhand Himalayas.'

The technical session VI on 'Marketing, stakeholder, vision and capabilities'was chaired by Dr Promodh Kant. The session saw eight presentations – JK Rawat and Rafal Matela dwelt on 'products from short rotation forests: commercial possibilities and limitations' and 'Business model for the SRF on the example of willow biomass (Salix viminals var.giganeta) cultivation and use.' Dr RC Dhiman and Dr Sujatha threw light on 'Private sector in SRF: opportunities and challenges' and 'The role of SRF products in enhancing carbon mitigation in India.' Dr Umesh Kanna spoke on 'designing and augmenting pulpwood supply chain through contract tree farming' and 'Market mechanism of agro-forestry products in Punjab.' Dr. GR Rao and Dr. Laxmi Kumari Neupane spoke on 'Bio-fuel plantations in farmers' fields in Andhra Pradesh – Center for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA)\'s experiences and 'An assessment of non timber forest product and its contribution in rural livelihood.'

Dr. Sanjeev Chauhan, Organising Secretary of the event and SRF Coordinator of IUFRO, said that the delegates will be shown around the plywood industry at Jalandhar and agroforestry farms at selected places in the state. He disclosed that there will be a post symposium training on science-policy interface. Dr SC Sharma, Director, PAU Regional Research Station for Kandi Area (RRSKA), proposed the vote of thanks.
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