In a recent interaction with Keerthana, Correspondent, Higher Education Review Magazine, Krishna Kumari, Forestry Faculty (Forest Biology and Tree Improvement) at Dr.Rajender Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, shared her views and thoughts about forestry and natural resources management, what are the essential skills and qualities that students should possess to excel in forestry and the natural sciences, the role of technology, such as remote sensing and data analysis, in evolving in the field of forestry and natural sciences, and more. Dr.Krishna Kumari has a doctorate in forestry from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun University. She has four years of research experience and one year of teaching experience, and she also contributes to igniting young minds for nature study and conservation.

How do you see the future of forestry and natural resources management evolving in the coming years?                                                        

Forestry is a very vast science from present and future perspectives in India as well as in the global platform. Forestry as definition is the theory and practice of all that constitutes the creation, conservation and scientific management of forests and the utilization of their resources. As climate change is an alarming condition for the whole world, only the Forestry and Natural resources management sector can resolve the problem. Every year many projects are working on Carbon sequestration and GHG emission studies for sustainable development. Recently COP 28 (Conference of the Parties) to the UNFCCC held at Dubai, UAE from 30^th Nov. to 12^th Dec., 2023 where more than 70,000 delegates including the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Business leaders (Corporate sector), young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts came on a single platform to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Whole world is targeting for the Sustainable developmental goal to achieve and present national best picture on global map. To develop new techniques and methods we require young sharp minds in this science to join for conservation and sustainable utilization.    

In your opinion, what are the key skills and qualities that students should possess to excel in forestry and the natural sciences?                       

To pursue studies in this field student should be from a science or agricultural background in 12th standard or equivalent as eligibility to get admission in any university in India. After the basic qualifications, students should clear the test conducted by the respective university or national level test by NTA or ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi). At world platform there are different tests and criteria for different countries. Apart from this, I feel a person must have an interest in nature to understand and conserve it in the future. Many students used to be very enthusiastic for wildlife studies, wildlife photography and to explore new natural places for them this science will become very astonishing career option. For higher studies like M. Sc Forestry or Natural Sciences, Ph. D. Forestry or Natural Sciences, Post Doctorate in Forestry or Natural Sciences can be done from Indian as well as foreign Universities. Many countries provide fully funded fellowships for higher studies like Germany, USA, Canada, Netherland, Russia, Australia, South Korea, Belgium, United Kingdom, China, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, etc.A person can frame his future as Researcher, academician, Government sector departmental jobs, business developer, corporate sector job, NGO worker, natural places guide cum explorer, wildlife photographer, small and large scale industries, social media influencer for conservation, activist for conservation of forests, etc. so there are endless opportunities to do in this field.                                                   

What is the role of technology, such as remote sensing and data analysis, in evolving in the field of forestry and natural sciences?                            

At present, many technologies help to study forestry in a better way like remote sensing, LIDAR, and new softwares. Remote sensing helps us to monitor and study change detection, forest degradation, encroachment studies, soil temperature variation, glacier melting, temporal changes in environment, pest and disease detection, monitoring, evaluation of damage in natural forests,  natural resources management, water whole studies, wildlife habitat suitability, etc.  Other technologies like wood science and technology, best wood combinations for improving strength in inferior wood, medicinal plant studies for active ingredients, Molecular studies for biodiversity analysis, software for statistical data analysis, and data analysis.  There are many recent technologies helping Forestry for better understanding.                  

According to you, what are the future challenges for the Forestry and Natural Sciences sectors of developed nations?                                               

In developed nations, at present forestry sector job opportunities are quite high as compared to the developing countries. For the future, the main challenges in  Forestry and natural science can be deforestation, the loss of diversity in the forests at very high speed,  loss of wildlife due to habitat destruction, the plight of forests, resource degradation,  loss of natural forests, and more difficulties in afforestation and reforestation pose severe climatic conditions, climate change effects, more man-made forests can lead to natural destructions, intra-species loss of diversity, etc.                                                      

In your opinion, what are the key strategies or initiatives that should be undertaken to promote sustainable forestry and the responsible use of natural resources in the future?                                                                                          

I think we need the basic concept of sustainability i.e. to use the resources at that level only so they may be available for future generations. Forestry branches like Community forestry, Urban forestry Extension Forestry, Intensive Forestry,Agro- Forestry and social forestry should be encouraged for the increase of green cover of the earth. More green energy solutions are required, nature-based solutions approach for the resources, policy level initiatives, Governmental level efforts for law and acts, and forest conservation efforts at local, national level, and global levels.We all need to join our hands to make this planet healthy, wealthy, green and prosperous for all life forms because we as human are not only on this earth. All living beings have right to live.