Capacity Building Programme on “Field Engineering Training for Forest Watershed Management” organized

6^th December, 2021, Udhagamandalam

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Regional Centre, Udhagamandalam, has organized the twelve-day Capacity Building Programme on “Field Engineering Training for Forest Watershed Management” for the Assistant Conservator of Forests of State Forest Service from 6^th to 17^th December, 2021.

In his inaugural address, Dr. S. Sivakumar, Director, Pasteur Institute of India, Coonoor, The Nilgiris stressed on the importance of the Natural Resource Management for the country's holistic development. He regarded the climate change as the leading cause of natural calamities like cloud bursting, floods, drought and landslides. The crucial role of forests in the supply of good quality drinking water and the need for suitable soil & water conservation measures in the forest ecosystems for sustainable water availability in the future was highlighted by Dr. Sivakumar.

Dr. C. Vidyasagar, I.F.S. Lecturer & DCF, Central Academy for State Forest Service, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu stated that the programme would impart the basic and applied knowledge on soil and water conservation in the forests.

Dr. K. Kannan, Head, ICAR-IISWC, Regional Centre, Udhagamandalam highlighted the importance of the flood water harvesting and management in the present climate change scenario to utilize it for longer duration in the forest ecosystem.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand)