International Day of Forests (IDF) 2025

Students & teachers from the Department of Forestry visited HESCO village on 21 st March 2025 to celebrate the International Day of Forests-2025 in association with Himalayan Environmental Studies & Conservation Organization (HESCO). The United Nations General Assembly has designated March 21st as the International Day of Forests. This day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees in our lives. Theme for IDF-2025 was "Forests and Foods". Previous themes included: "Forests and Health", "Forests and Human Health", "Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption" for 2024, 2023 & 2022 respectively. IDF-2025 focussed on the critical role forests play in maintaining ecosystem services, supporting biodiversity, and addressing climate change to get sustained food production. Team Forestry & Team HESCO led by Dr Sas. Biswas & Padma Shri Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil P. Joshi, respectively, reciprocally welcomed each other and the participants. Padma Shri Padma Bhushan Dr. Anil P. Joshi showered his blessings for making the event successful. In his inaugural address he emphasized the need for acceleration of rural economy by relaunching of improvised local-wisdom-based old-technologies to achieve sustainable economic & environmental growth at local & national level. He addressed the need of GEP (Gross Environmental Products) for sustainable development of any country. His words were full of inspiration for the student & faculty participants in the fully packed auditorium. Dr. Himani Joshi, Sr. Scientist HESCO, presented works of organization related to environment and forests in context to IDF-2025. Ms Nikita led the students from the Dept. of Forestry. She presented the Forestry Department's commemoration of International Day of Forests since 2011 to date. Mr Sanjay Kirtuniya, B Sc Forestry student, gave a presentation on the significance of IDF-2025. Interactive talk among forestry student participants, faculty, and HESCO Researchers on various aspects of Forests role in maintaining food availability was held. Field study visit on HESCO's activities pertaining to food yielding forest species aiming at human-wildlife conflict management, besides environmental conservation was also carried out. Participants studied HESCO's grassroot and technological innovations & upgradation based on local wisdom and application such as the Gharat (traditional water mill), briquetting technologies, and low-cost bridge constructions, significantly enhanced the learning experience and made the visit both insightful and meaningful. The visit to the manufacturing unit for fruit juice and other related products, aimed at enhancing the livelihood of rural communities, proved highly enriching for the students. Dr. Vikaspal Singh, DIBNS offered vote of thanks acknowledging the support received from officials of HESCO. The event made the day insightful for the students.