Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s forests, vital for life on Earth, stand as a testament to the state’s natural wealth, emphasized Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia. Speaking at the State-level Divisional Forest Officers’ Conference at Aranya Bhavan today, the Minister highlighted the indispensable role of forest officers in safeguarding and expanding forest cover while urging them to work with sincerity and accountability.
Lauding the efforts of the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) in increasing forest cover and successfully controlling forest fires, Singkhuntia stressed that significant challenges remain. He addressed concerns about corruption allegations in plantation programs, emphasizing the state government’s zero-tolerance policy toward such practices. He called for vigilance and integrity from officials, stating that corruption and indiscipline would not be tolerated. He urged senior forest officials to make extensive field visits and emphasized the importance of balancing development needs with forest conservation.
The Minister expressed concern over human-animal conflicts, particularly involving elephants, and stressed the urgency of finding solutions. He directed officials to ensure prompt compensation for crop damage and explore alternative livelihoods for communities living near forests, such as horticulture, poultry farming, and eco-tourism. He underlined the need for collaborative efforts between forest officials and local communities to strengthen conservation initiatives.
Singkhuntia also highlighted the distress caused by the deaths of elephants and tigers, urging officials to take proactive measures to prevent such incidents. He emphasized accountability at all levels, urging forest officials to work closely with district administrations to tackle these issues. Recognizing the challenges posed by crop damage caused by monkeys, he called for innovative solutions to address this problem.
The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to tribal welfare, emphasizing the need to expedite the issuance of forest land titles and ensure that tribal communities are integrated into conservation efforts. He also stressed the importance of public engagement, urging officials to treat complaints from public representatives and citizens with respect and diligence to build trust and cooperation.
Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Satyabrat Sahu, commended the efforts of forest officials, noting the plantation of 5.2 crore saplings under the “Ek Ped Ma’ke Naam” campaign, which has significantly increased the state’s forest cover. He highlighted Odisha’s achievement as the leading state in the country in preventing forest fires. Sahu also mentioned the plantation of two million palm trees to reduce lightning-related fatalities and called for focused measures to prevent elephant deaths.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Devidatta Biswal welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of sharing success stories and innovative practices. Several DFOs presented notable initiatives from districts like Angul, Dhenkanal, and Keonjhar, showcasing effective strategies and challenges faced in conservation efforts.
Other key speakers, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sushant Nanda and Project Director of the Odisha Forest Development Project Dr. Mita Biswal, provided insights into enhancing forest and wildlife protection. Discussions included ways to address human-wildlife conflicts, strengthen conservation programs, and engage communities in sustainable forest management.
The conference concluded with a collective commitment to foster stronger community partnerships, improve wildlife protection, and enhance Odisha’s forest management for the benefit of future generations.