Agartala, August 02, 2025: The Tripura Forest department under the Indo-German Development Cooperation’s (IGDC) CREFLAT Project held its first Statewide Stakeholders Meeting on Forest Sector Strategy at the JICA Conference Hall in Gandhigram on August 02 last aimed towards sustainable forest governance and climate resilience.
The consultation took place under the guidance of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) constituted by the Government of Tripura marked a crucial beginning to formulating an evidence-based, climate-resilient forest strategy for the state.
“The forests of Tripura are not only biodiversity hotspots but also the backbone of local livelihoods. It is vital to adopt a strategy that ensures sustainability, resilience and community involvement,” said Mr. R.K. Samal, Principal Secretary of Forests and PCCF, Tripura.
Senior forestry experts and officials, including Shri B.M.S. Rathore, IFS (Retd), former PCCF of Madhya Pradesh, Selvaraj Prabhu, IFS, Project Director of CREFLAT, and Prasad Rao, IFS, Director, NTFP Centre of Excellence, participated in the deliberations. The event brought together stakeholders from critical departments like Revenue, Agriculture, Tribal Welfare, ARDD, Rubber Board, Tripura Bamboo Mission and institutions such as the BSF, NGOs, private enterprises and academic institutions.
CREFLAT- Climate Resilience of Forest Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Adaptive Capacities of Forest-Dependent Communities in Tripura is a flagship component of India’s climate change adaptation program in the Himalayan region.
The meeting comes at a time when forest degradation in Tripura is rising. According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the state has experienced a steady decline in forest quality due to both climatic and anthropogenic pressures.
Participants stressed the growing demand for both timber and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and emphasized the need to align Tripura’s forest strategy with India’s national biodiversity, water, soil, and carbon conservation goals.
“This is not just about forests, it’s about preserving the ecological, cultural and economic lifelines of Tripura’s people,” said Selvaraj Prabhu, IFS.
The meeting concluded with a roadmap for a consultative process that integrates insights from ongoing projects, existing policy documents and extensive grassroots-level stakeholder dialogues to formulate the final strategy.
The initiative is expected to build a resilient forest ecosystem that supports conservation while enhancing the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
