Government today said that degradation of the forests has to be arrested to fight global warming and climate change.

Addressing a valedictory session of the first Indian Forest Congress in New Delhi today, consultant in Planning Commission Ranjan Chatterjee said that problems of forests and tribals have to be addressed at grass root level.

He said that Commission is ready to allocate money for each scheme and task of the forest.

He added that this is not for any constraint, but this will help to achieve the targets.

He also said that Forestry issues at the national level need to be inculcated in the planning and developmental process for holistic and sustainable development.

The Forest Congress demanded inclusion of non-tangible benefits in the India’s GDP, second generation reforms in Joint Forest management programme and creation of more research organizations.

The delegates of the Congress also adopted ‘Forest Charter- 2011, which added to reduce poverty by investment in forest sector.

It called for wider consultations for evolving policy options in forest conservation and maintained that there is need to give push to futuristic research in tree genetics and breeding.

The four day congress was attended by more than 650 delegates comprising policy makers from central government, researchers, farmers, students and NGO’S.