Climate change a global challenge, need to protect forests: Dhankar

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar on Monday warned that climate change is a global challenge, a “situation alarmingly cliff hanging”, and forests should be protected.

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Interacting with faculty and students at the College of Forestry in Sirsi, Dhankhar said: “Forests are extremely important. Forests are our lungs. If a country’s forests are in good shape, its people will enjoy good health — because forests are the lungs. Agriculture is our lifeline. But we need forests as they regulate climate, they buffer disasters, and they support livelihoods — especially for the poor and marginalised.”

The Vice-President said climate change was a global challenge. “The situation is alarmingly cliff hanging, and we have no other planet to live on apart from Mother Earth. We cannot engage in reckless exploitation of natural resources. We must restrict ourselves to what is minimally required. We all need to be aware of this,” he added.

Stressing the importance of education in building a sustainable future, Dhankar said no institution could operate in isolation.

“Earlier, medical, engineering, management, environmental, and forest education were taught in silos. Today, we need an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to learning. There was a time when medical education, engineering education, management education, environmental education, and forest education all existed in silos. But now, everything has become interdisciplinary,” he said.

Encouraging students to be inquisitive, Dhankhar said, "Nurture a desire for new knowledge. The subject you're studying holds immense potential. Our cultural heritage is a treasure trove. The more you explore, the better you can serve creation. Forestry education offers real opportunities for innovation and research, particularly in forest-based production and solutions."