Addressing the trainee officers of the 2025-27 batch of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) and the Royal Bhutan Forest Service at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan stated that development and environmental conservation are not contradictory; rather, they can go hand in hand.
Key Highlights:
• Sustainable Future and Knowledge Integration: He emphasized integrating modern scientific forestry with the traditional knowledge of India’s civilizational and local communities.
• Use of Technology: He called for the effective use of modern technologies—such as remote sensing, GIS, drones, and AI—in forestry management.
• Yardstick of Success: Officers were advised to measure their success not by the positions they hold, but by forest conservation, wildlife protection, and public trust.
• Women’s Participation: He cited the presence of 17 percent women officers in the batch as a testament to ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s power).
