The Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh has underlined the need for striking a balance between economic growth and natural resources of the country. Inaugurating a Media Workshop on Journalism and the Environment in New Delhi, Mr Ramesh said that conservation of forest is essential as there is no substitute of natural resources. He said that protection of environment is the major challenge before the globe. He said that most of the mining projects are under the forests area but there is a need to strike balance between augmenting the economic growth and the natural resources so that environment could not be affected. He said that the Ministry has also set up a committee to find the impact of economic growth on the environment which will give its report by 2015. Mr Ramesh also said that wetland area of the country need to bring back in the environment protection policy regime.