Dalai Lama Unveils 'Forest Resources in India' Initiative for Climate and Conservation

On Friday, the Dalai Lama, a highly respected spiritual leader, presented the National Book Trust's publication titled 'Forest Resources in India: Integrative Governance and Community Participation for Sustainable Future' at McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala. The authors of the book are Sushil Kumar Singla, Rakesh B. Sinha, and Krishan Kumar Raina.

At the launch event, the Dalai Lama signed a copy of the book. Author Sushil Kumar Singla provided him with an overview of the book's themes, structure, and research findings.

The book offers an in-depth analysis of sustainable forest management in India, emphasizing the cultural traditions of nature conservation embedded in Indian heritage. It highlights the crucial roles of women and local communities, as well as the governance frameworks that influence forest policies. The book stresses the interconnectedness of sectors such as agriculture, environment, tribal development, and climate change, and underscores the collective responsibility of States and Union Territories to harmonize development with conservation.

The book's epilogue states that "India is making significant progress towards achieving the national forest policy goal of covering one-third of its land area with forests and tree cover by adhering to the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas. Our collective efforts must be aligned to bring about meaningful change for everyone, especially the most disadvantaged. Forestry should focus on creating livelihoods, achieving self-sufficiency, and increasing its contribution to the country's GDP and the Agriculture Sector." It also notes that "while constitutional provisions and regulations have effectively supported sustainable forest management, the current pressures on forests and natural resources should not deter us from pursuing deregulation, simplification, and comprehensive reforms in the forest sector. These reforms aim to ensure not only the Ease of Doing Business but also the Speed of Doing Business, ultimately leading to the Ease of Living." The publication advocates for a balanced approach between regulation and development, promoting strategic partnerships between public and private sectors to achieve both "Ease of Doing Business" and "Ease of Living." India is committed to expanding its forest and tree cover through collaborative principles, focusing on forestry's role in livelihoods, self-sufficiency, and GDP growth. The book calls for collaboration across related sectors such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, tribal affairs, environment, rural development, Panchayati Raj institutions, and tourism. It stresses the importance of stakeholder and local community involvement in governance and monitoring.

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