PASIGHAT, Mar 16: The Department of Economics, Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) conducted a one-day national seminar on ‘Forest Resources: Degradation, Conservation and Sustainability’ at the APU premises here today, which brought together scholars from across the country, along with NGOs working in the field of forest conservation.
The seminar was held against the backdrop of growing concern over forest degradation across the country. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, Arunachal Pradesh has 66,431 sq km of land under forest cover, accounting for 79.33 percent of its total geographical area. However, a comparison with the previous decade shows that most states across the country have experienced a decline in forest cover, driven by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and industrialisation. The seminar aimed to explore conservation measures and identify ways to mitigate deforestation at the global, national, and regional levels.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Amitava Mitra, former Pro Vice Chancellor Rajiv Gandhi University, spoke on India's position in the global Sustainable Development Goals framework and the SDG performance of Indian states.
Drawing from the SDG Index released by NITI Aayog, he discussed the progress made by states of Northeast India in achieving the 17 SDG indicators adopted by the United Nations.
He pointed out that there is no direct relationship between economic size and sustainable development, citing the example of the United States, which ranks 44th in the SDG Index despite being one of the world’s largest economies.
He also noted that countries like Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka perform better than India in SDG rankings, and that Uttarakhand, which tops SDG performance among Indian states, stands only 12th in per capita income.
He stressed the importance of quality research in addressing societal problems and urged the government to provide adequate infrastructure and support for researchers.
APU Registrar Narmi Darang urged the university’s teaching community and participants to prioritise research-oriented academic activities, saying that meaningful research is one of the most effective ways of contributing to society.
He said forests and human life share a circular relationship — mankind depends on forests, and forests depend on human actions — and that disturbing this balance would have serious consequences.
He emphasised that it is the responsibility of the present generation to pass on a healthy environment to the next, just as it was inherited from their ancestors. He also encouraged students to participate actively in such programmes, noting that the academic curriculum alone is not sufficient to shape the future of young people.
Controller of Examinations Dr Monshi Tayeng highlighted the importance of forests for sustainable development, citing the recent forest fire in Pasighat, East Siang district, as a local example of environmental degradation.
He said the consequences of wildfires include changes in rainfall patterns, scarcity of drinking water, decline in wildlife species, changes in crop production, and a reduction in forest products.
He also stressed the role of forest resources in supporting wildlife conservation.
NGOs, including the Elopa-Etugu Community Eco-Cultural Preserve (EECEP), based in Lower Dibang Valley, and The Dibang Team, based in Dibang Valley, also participated in the seminar.
Dr Fames Linggi, HoD Economics (APU), and Dr Tagam Dabi, Programme Coordinator, also spoke.
Resource persons included Sahil Nijhawan, conservation anthropologist and Fellow at the Zoological Society of London and UCL Anthropology, and member of EECEP; Abba Pulu, Assistant Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru Govt Model Degree College, Roing, and member of EECEP; and Dr Apilang Apum, Assistant Professor, JNC, Pasighat.
Dean Academic Affairs Prof Jena, Dean Students’ Welfare Eli Doye, and heads of various departments also attended the seminar.