OUR REPORTER AIZAWL, MAR 11
Organised by department of environmental science, Mizoram University (MZU), a five-day training program on “Climate change adaptation for natural resource management for the state of Mizoram” through participatory discussions with stakeholders began in Aizawl on Thursday.
The training programme is being organised in collaboration with Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal funded by Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
The program participants include officers and staffs of allied department of the state, Panchayat members, Academicians of the state. This program also has registered participation from mass allied groups such as scientists, academicians and program officers from northeast India. Program started through formal welcome by Prof. BP Mishra, Program Coordinator to all the resource persons, other dignitaries and participants of this training. Prof. Lalnundanga, Registrar, Mizoram University spoke about the different international conventions on climate change and the emergence of the concept of climate change adaptation after Bali convention and the necessity for brainstorming sensitization in the state.
Prof. Lalnuntluanga, Controller of Examination deliberated upon the impacts of climate change faced by the society, highlighting its effect on productivity of crops and the shifting of cropping belt in the state. He also emphasized the need of integrating the ideas of farmers with scientists to formulate suitable approaches.
Prof. Pankaj Shrivastava, Director, IIFM in his inaugural speech highlighted on forest resources, forest cover, different levels of adaptation approach, agriculture and human health, ecosystem level research, long-term planning, sustainable development, climate change adaptation approaches, Land tenure systems, Jhum regulation, etc.
Prof. K.R.S Sambasiva Rao, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University made a deliberation on climate change adaptation for sustainable natural resources management. He also stated that forestry sector may collaborate with other disciplines for developing the data base of the natural resources for sustainability of these precious resources.
Prof. U.K. Sahoo, Dean highlighted on the aim and objective of the workshop, the outcome of which may be used for formulating the policies for climate change adaptation through people’s participation.
Prof. Bhaskar Sinha, Program Director, elaborated on the importance of such program on land and resource management systems. He stated about the major role played by the IIFM in the region included carrying out training and awareness on climate change adaptation, cross fertilization of ideas and research studies.
Prof. S.K Tripathi spoke in details on resources wealth of the state and various ongoing schemes of the forest departments in collaboration with VFMC in the state. He also stated on the importance of people’s participation for management of precious natural resources of the state. Inaugural session was ended with vote of thanks by Prof. O.P Tripathi, organizing secretary of the program and technical session was conducted by resource persons from IIFM, Bhopal and from the state. Two field exposure visits are scheduled for all the resource persons and participants to Reiek and Hmuifang landscape.
(Source: The Mizoram Post Vol 18 Issue 272 Aizawl Friday 12 March 2021 http://themizorampost.net/page-view?date=12-03-2121&page_no=1)