JAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir, having rich forest resources, has undertaken an exercise of listing forest resources with emphasis on Forest trees, biomass, carbon and regeneration.
J&K is the only UT which undertakes the National Forest Inventory (NFI) exercise for the Forest Survey of India on its own, while it is done by the latter for other States and UTs.
The information thus collected becomes part of the Indian State Forest Report (ISFR) published biannually by the Forest Survey of India.
J&K Forest Department is also undertaking the Continuous Forest Inventory (CFI) exercise in different forest divisions which is useful for preparation of Working Plans of territorial Forest Divisions.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, J&K Suresh Kumar Gupta has complimented the forest staff for leading the exercise and called upon expediting the same as per laid down protocol and norms.
Chairing a review meeting today, the PCCF & HoFF advised the field officers to collect the quality data during the exercise and expedite the data analysis as well as preparation of the plan, wherever the required quantum of inventory has been completed.
During the meeting, a detailed presentation of the ongoing exercise was made by Dr Kumar M.K, Chief Conservator of Forests, Working Plan.
After observing the key points shown in the PPT and clarifications made by the DFOs, the PCCF &HoFF directed the field officers to set timelines for each exercise and strictly adhere to the same. He advised the officers to ensure correct updating & careful verification of data without repetition at each level.
Senior Deputy Director Forest Survey of India Kuldeep Sharma, while speaking on the progress of NFI/CFI exercises, expressed satisfaction that work was proceeding smoothly on the ground and hoped that the whole exercise shall be completed in the coming months.
