Vol. 7, Issue 12 (2018)

Author(s):
Ravindra Kumar Dhaka and Chintankumar Choudhari

Abstract:
In the climate change era, global warming is the greatest environmental challenge of the twenty-first century in India. Forestry education is one of the best tool to fight these challenges around the world as well as India. Forestry education at UG, PG and PHD level was recommended by National Commission on Agriculture (1976) and first it was introduced at Solan (Himachal Pradesh) in 1976. About 1600 forestry professionals are produced every year under ICAR and ICFRE forestry education systems in India. Further, National Forest Policy (1988) and National Forest Commission (2006) recommended that forestry graduates should be utilized in forest departments through proper weightage and preferences to conserve and manage the natural resources of the country as developed professional forestry human resources in the country. Now, it is compulsory to introduce the forestry subject at primary and secondary school level from childhood. It is prime duty of FRI University to introduce forestry education at graduation level under ICFRE system to empower the higher education in forestry sector throughout the country. It is also necessary to fill various vacant (more than 70%) posts in the field of forestry across the country to conserve remaining biodiversity of the country. Thus, all these gaps can be fulfilled by empowering forestry education to achieve a safer environment for our children (future generations) in this climate change era.