Rosewood workshop for Forest Dept officials in Nurpur
The Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla, organised a scientific training workshop for officials and field staff of the Forest Department under the Nurpur forest division at the Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS) here on Thursday.
The workshop was organised based on an integrated approach for the management of rosewood (shisham) nurseries and plantations.
The training was mainly focused on generating awareness about the management of diseases and pathogens causing harm to rosewood, and creating rosewood nurseries through clonal propagation. HFRI senior scientist Dr Ashwani Tapwal gave detailed information on the topic to the gathering, and highlighted the research work of the institute.
He said tree disease-causing fungi was a serious threat to the forest ecosystem, and could cause large scale casualties of trees and upset biodiversity balance.
Dr Tapwal said the management of pathogenic fungi helped in conserving tree plantations and maintaining ecological balance.
Apart from climate change, Ganoderma and Fusarium species of fungi were the main reasons for the decline in the number of rosewood trees, he added, stating that a bio-fungicide was the best option to control such types of fungi.
“The HFRI has prepared bio-fungicide from Trichoderma species to protect rosewood from fungal diseases,” he said.
Dr Tapwal highlighted the importance of preparing tall plant stock using mycorrhizal bio-fertilisers and mycorrhiza in forests.
Dr Vipin Guleria of RHRC, Nurpur, said the use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides was a cost effective, environment friendly and sustainable solution for the organic farming of crops. He advised participants to adopt eco-friendly means for crop cultivation and disease management.
Divisional Forest Officer (Nurpur forest division) Amit Sharma, in his inaugural speech, said by the timely identification of diseases in forests and nurseries, future outbreaks caused by them could be avoided.
He advised participants on environment-friendly management to prevent plant diseases. HFRI scientist Balkrishan Tiwari, while highlighting the importance of tree improvement, said forest productivity could be increased by selection, propagation and proper management of high-quality trees.
