Punjabi University, Patiala, sets up centres for restoration of ecosystem, skill training

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 24

Punjabi University today got two more centres—the Centre for Restoration of Ecosystem in Punjab (CRESP) and the Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship and Skill Training (CREST)— for research launched by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on his visit to the campus.

The university authorities said the centres would work for restoration of the state’s biodiversity and to provide new skill sets to youth.

They said, “The ecosystem in Punjab is in dire need of restoration as it is losing its biodiversity due to anthropogenic activities, including deforestation, habitat fragmentation besides climate change. We require sustainable solutions to tackle this challenge and to restore Punjab’s biodiversity. Punjabi University has established Centre for Restoration of Ecosystem of Punjab (CRESP) to look for solutions that will sustain biodiversity to improve resilience in a changing climate, and re-establish an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture.”

Dr Himender Bharti, Director, CRESP, said the main objectives of the centre would be to re-establish and restore native species of Punjab, to generate strategies, action plans and awareness and to engage all sectors of society to address the management of degrading ecosystems of the state.

Officials said the CREST would be instrumental in grooming the youth and imparting them relevant skill-sets. Professor Balraj Saini, chairman, CREST, said the centre would run various kind of programmes of different durations, with the aim of preparing rural people for conventional as well as emerging business avenues. “The centre will utilise the vast technical resources and expertise available within the university. It will evolve novel ideas and techniques suiting the domain of rural entrepreneurship”, he said.

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