ITANAGAR, 16 Dec: The GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPNIHE) conducted a ‘brainstorming-cum-state level consultation workshop on sustainable Himalayan ecosystems’, in collaboration with Bengaluru-based Sri Sri Rural Development (SSRDP) Trust, here on Friday.
“The workshop was organised to identify challenges and issues for empowering the local communities of Arunachal Pradesh, and to identify research gaps in different thematic areas, viz, biodiversity, water resource management, and socioeconomic issues in connection with climate change,” the institute informed in a release.
During the programme, GBPNIHE director Prof Sunil Nautiyal enumerated the institute’s research and development activities, while Dr Diana Amonge presented a brief on the work of the institute in the far eastern Himalayan region.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Jitendra Kumar, who also attended the programme, said that “Arunachal Pradesh should take the initiative to lead the country towards achieving carbon negative and emission-free economy and the role of our institute in maintaining pristine environment.”
Deepak Sharma from the SSRDP Trust suggested involving volunteers from the local communities as “jal sevaks” to rejuvenate the springs. He also suggested developing “a model for demonstration to the people in adopting environment-friendly lifestyle and emission-free tourism.”
Representatives from different organisations, including state and central government departments, universities, colleges and research institutes working in the state provided their inputs on the identified themes and suggested potential areas of research and development which can be taken up jointly by different organisations.
DNGC Principal Dr MQ Khan and the programme’s co-chair Deepak Sharma said that “inclusive and collaborative work by all the line departments and research institutes will give a fruitful result.”
An MoU was signed between the GBPNIHE and the SSRDP Trust during the workshop “to collaborate on different ecological and socioeconomic issues of the Himalayan region,” the release added.
On the same day, Prof Nautiyal called on Environment & Forest Minister Mama Natung at the latter’s office, where the minister advised the institute to “work on promoting cultivation of medicinal plants for livelihood and doubling farmers’ income.”
State Medicinal Plant Board Chairperson Karya Bagang and CO Milo Tasser were also present at the meeting, the release said.
Earlier, on 15 December, Prof Nautiyal had a meeting with the PCCF, during which the latter said that “we need to rejuvenate 75 important springs which will be dedicated to the Ajadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
He also suggested establishing a national level “nature learning centre” in Arunachal Pradesh with the help of the state and the central governments.
Prof Nautiyal requested the PCCF to “cooperate for a designated place for setting up of permanent campus of the GBPNIHE’s regional centre.”
Prof Nautiyal also visited the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India’s regional centres and held discussions with the scientists there regarding undertaking collaborative activities.
