Pulwama : Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force ( PCCF/HoFF), Jammu and Kashmir, Roshan Jaggi, urged officials of the department for mobilisation of village committees and Panchayat Raj Institutions to address to challenges of forest fires and damage to forests.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests during his recent visit to Pampore range of Awantipora forest division said that in view of the ongoing forest fire season he has urged officials for talking to various stakeholders.
“The officials should mobilise village committees and involve gram panchayats. Our job to protect forests will become easy if people living in the surroundings of the forests realise that the forest belongs to them and are important for their survival,” he said.
Jaggi said that the challenges faced by the forest department today are not new, but the department has a robust mechanism in place to deal with them.
He said that the mechanism comprises both legal and administrative components, ensuring a comprehensive approach to address forest-related issues effectively.
He said that Forest protection remains the primary duty of the forest department and it is approached in two ways.
“The first involves active participation from the community, known as joint forest management, with a special focus on engaging panchayat raj institutions and village forest committees. This approach is considered a priority sector for the department,” he said.
He said that some incidents like timber smuggling and encroachment require a different approach, where reasoning and persuasion may not be effective.
“In such cases, the forest department leverages provisions and acts related to forests and carries out joint enforcement,” he said.
He stressed the importance of sitting down with the community, discussing the challenges, and finding effective solutions through cooperation.
During the forest fire season Jaggi encouraged forest officials to engage with local communities, especially gram panchayats, to ensure they understand the significance of protecting their forests.
“By fostering this understanding, they can collectively prevent harm to their natural surroundings,” he said.
He also appealed to gram panchayats to pass resolutions against individuals who damage forests, as this strengthens the case for taking action against those who harm their village resources.
Jaggi said that when such resolutions reach the range officer, it results in stronger actions, underscoring the community’s determination to protect their environment.
