Chief Minister Kamal Nath said that the biggest capital of Madhya Pradesh is its forest wealth and Madhya Pradesh is proud of it. The responsibility of protecting and preserving the forests lies with the people living on forests and every member of the forest department. He said that forests will not be safe if tension and conflicts go on.

Addressing the forestry conference at RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration here today, the Chief Minister said that forest protection is possible only with the active cooperation of forest officers and field officers. He urged officers and employees associated with forest protection to realize the objectives of the Forest Protection Act.  He said that today's scenario is completely different from the time when the Forest Protection Act was legislated in 1980. The present circumstances are starkly different. People's expectations and aspirations were not so ambitious. It was easier to designate national parks.

Nath said that the biggest challenge is to make the degraded forests green. He said that the forest is deeply associated with Indian culture. The future is dependent on the forest.  He stressed the need to protect, conserve and judiciously utilise the forests.

Giving examples of bamboo and millets gaining importance as economic crop, the Chief Minister said that the priorities are changing now.  He said that the forest department will have to play the role of an enabler. All possible measures must be adopted to improve the degraded forest areas.  He said that forest protection must continue avoiding tension and conflicts in the interest of the people and the State.

The Chief Minister said that biodiversity of Madhya Pradesh is extremely rich.  Many researchers are working on this.

Now the world is rapidly moving from chemical-based pharmaceutical drugs to chemical-free pharmaceutical drug manufacturing. He said that minor forest produces are important assets of the future. The Forest Department will have to march forward with fresh approach and understanding.

He said that the Forest Department will have to work out a multi-pronged strategy for the same

deviating from conventional approach.

Minister for Forests Umang Singhar discussed the role of Joint Forest Management Committees and informed how their members are functioning for conservation of forest.

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests U Prakasham threw light on the objectives of the forestry conference and the prevailing status of forests in the state.

The Chief Minister released three publications-'Vananchal Sandesh', 'Camping Destinations' and 'Wildlife Destination'. At the outset, the Chief Minister was welcomed by presenting a sapling of Rudraksha.