Officials of the Sri Lankan forest department are undergoing a virtual training on high-tech forest nurseries being provided by the Forest Research Institute (FRI) under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). The four-day training course is being organised on the request of the Sri Lanka Forest Department through Ministry of External Affairs and MoEF&CC.
The institute's Silviculture division head RP Singh gave an outline of the course which will be covering different topics like site selection, establishment, design and layout, modern infrastructure and facilities, nursery operations and production of quality planting stock of forestry species in high tech nursery, forest seed technology, soil and nutrient management techniques, water management techniques in nurseries and other aspects.
Speaking at the inaugural function, ICFRE director general Arun Singh Rawat called for close co-operation and knowledge sharing between India and its neighbouring countries through the capacity development programmes in the field of forestry and environment. He further highlighted the role of establishment of high-tech forest nurseries for mass production of quality planting material for afforestation/reforestation programmes.
The deputy high commissioner of India at the high commission in Colombo, Vinod K Jacob flagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Davos message, in particular the call for 25 year period of growth that is clean, green, sustainable and reliable. He emphasised on the policies of the Indian government which aim at bilateral exchange of knowledge and cooperation in not only strategic, economic but also in field of GIS and remote sensing, forestry and environment research.
Conservator General of Forest, Sri Lanka Forest Department, KMA Bandara thanked the Indian government and ICFRE for conducting the course for the Sri Lanka Forest Department and said that he looked forward to more practically-oriented trainings for the department in various other fields.
The course is being attended by 53 officials of Sri Lanka.
