Press release from Business Wire India
Source: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Friday, December 09, 2011 04:28 PM IST (10:58 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Environment, People; Business: Business services, Energy companies, Media & entertainment
--------------------------------------------------
TERI Organizes Panel Discussion on the Eve of International Mountain Day
Panel Discussion in Association with the Forest Department of Uttarakhand Focuses on the Vulnerability of Mountain Forest Ecosystem, Impact of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Causes
New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, December 09, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- Fostering the government's efforts to preserve and safeguard the Himalayan eco-system under the National Mission of Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system and stressing on the need to study the drivers and implications of the changes due to climate change in the Himalayan belt, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with the Forest Department of Uttarakhand government, on the eve of International Mountain Day, organised a panel discussion on climate change and its impact on mountains, especially the forest ecosystems of the Himalayas.
The panel discussion on 'Climate Change and Vulnerability of Forest Ecosystems in Himalayas: Way forward' highlighted the importance of International Mountain Day. Special emphasis was laid on the issues that lead to the vulnerability of mountain forest ecosystem and the possible intensification of impacts due to climate change and anthropogenic causes.
In the keynote address, Mr. R.K. Goyal, Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India deliberated upon the challenges and opportunities in the perspective of climate change impacts that are influencing the sustainability of Himalayan ecosystems, making it hazardous and vulnerable for around 55 million people residing in the Himalayas.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. RK Pachauri, Director General TERI, said, "Impact of climate change vary from mountain range to mountain range, but there are some common factors, which should be addressed jointly by countries. Climate change has serious implications not only on human life but also on other species. This is an issue which will affect almost every activity across the mountain range, and we need to be concerned about it. There would be enormous benefits if societies and countries join hands and speak in one voice."
Ms. Jayati Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Development of North East Region, Government of India highlighted the importance of sharing the understanding and approach for forest conservation and development, and associated livelihoods in Himalayas.
Mountain forests play a vital role in the lives of the communities living in and around them and also in the downstream communities. Mountain forests provide various ecosystem services which Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has categorised into provisioning, regulating, cultural and supporting services.
Despite the rapid extraction and degradation, the forests found in this region constitute the single largest forest tract in India. However, climate change and anthropogenic influences such as the unscientific and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources is leading to increasing environmental degradation and aggravating the impact of natural hazards. Their impacts make the Himalayan region one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on Earth raising serious concerns about the future of the forests and dependant sustenance systems of the mountain community.
Provisioning services are the goods or products obtained from ecosystems such as food, freshwater, timber, and fiber. These services are tangible and most of which are often tradable and priced in the marketplace.
Regulating services are the benefits obtained from an ecosystem's control of natural processes such as climate, erosion, water flows, and pollination.
Cultural services are the non-material benefits obtained from an ecosystem such as recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, and spiritual renewal.
Supporting services are natural processes-such as nutrient cycling, primary production, and water cycling-that maintain the other ecosystem services.
Distinguished personalities from various state and central departments related to forest, environment and climate took part in the panel discussion. Policy makers, researchers from organisations like UNESCO, WWF-India, Indian Mountaineering Foundation, AFPRO shared their views and exchanged ideas to preserve and conserve forest eco-systems in Himalayas.
In her address Dr. Leena Srivastava, Executive Director, TERI while talking about TERI's research efforts in parts of the Himalayan ecosystem stressed on the need to study the Himalayan belt to understand the drivers and implications of the changes happening in the region.
The purpose of the panel discussion was to join hands with research communities, policy makers, environmentalists, academicians from the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and the entire world to increase awareness about the importance of mountains and to establish partnerships that will enable to develop applicable strategies and solutions that will bring about positive surge in the world of mountains.
The discussions and presentations aimed at improving knowledge about climate variability and change, and the vulnerability and adaptation of mountain forest, with a view to developing future strategies on both conservation and development.
A proposal to publish a White paper on "Himalayan Mountains and Forest" based on concrete proposals and best practices identified during the conference was made. The White paper is anticipated to feed into a decision at the Rio+20 and the Earth Summit 2012.
About: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
From microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state-no sphere of human endeavor is unfamiliar to TERI. Headed by world-renowned economist and Head of the Nobel Prize winning UN Climate panel, Dr. R K Pachauri, TERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.
A dynamic and flexible organization established in 1974, all activities in TERI move from formulating local and national level strategies to suggesting global solutions to critical energy and environment-related issues. Headquartered in New Delhi, TERI has established regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Guwahati and Mukhteshwer in the Himalaya's and International centers in Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Washington DC, London and Utrecht, The Netherlands.
To view the photograph, please click on the link given below:
Dr RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI shares his views on 'Climate Change and Vulnerability of Forest Ecosystems in Himalayas: Way forward'
For picture(s)/data to illustrate this release click below:
http://www.BusinessWireIndia.com/attachments/1(171).JPG
Dr RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI shares his views on 'Climate Change and Vulnerability of Forest Ecosystems in Himalayas: Way forward'
CONTACT DETAILS
Rajiv Chhibber, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), +91 9810426698, rajivc@teri.res.in
Debanjana Choudhuri De, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), +91 8447084563, debanjana.de@teri.res.in
KEYWORDS
ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, BUSINESS SERVICES, ENERGY, MEDIA
If you wish to change your Business Wire India selection please click on this link http://www.businesswireindia.com/media/news.asp and use your personal username and password to login.
Submit your press release at http://www.businesswireindia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment