With Bengaluru’s roads seeing a rise in the felling of trees in the last few years for tackling urban infrastructure, tree experts and green enthusiasts will only be happy to see the city host a national conference to discuss trees. The Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bengaluru and the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change will host 130 tree-and-wood scientists from across India for a national conference on ‘Tree Improvement Research in India: Current Trends and Future Prospects’ on February 2 and 3, at the institute premises in Malleswaram.
Experts as botanist Dr. H.Y. Mohan Ram and R.S. Suresh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Karnataka Forest Department, will be taking part in the conference, says Surendra Kumar, Director, IWST. While the conference will have scientists speaking on multiple facets to improve cultivation and usage, the city’s green enthusiasts would be looking forward to getting information on alternative fast growing tree species to replace the felled ones. “From Willow trees grown in Kashmir to Eucalyptus in Kanya Kumari, a host of species for increased yield in the non-timber species would also be discussed by forest geneticists, breeders, scientists, professional foresters and agricultural experts,” said P.N. Arun Kumar, organising secretary of the national conference, IWST.
What species would make more sense to Bengaluru and many such cities choking with widespread urban growth will make up some of the interesting sessions of the conference, according to scientists at the wood institute. “The national conference is a platform for scientists to speak on tree species as Milia Dubia, Madhuka Longifolia, Garcinia, Sandalwood, Bamboo and Hardwickia Binata amongst many more to discuss faster growth and increased yields in specific soil conditions. Experts would also speak on enhancing commercial value of forest resources,” informed wood scientist, Pankaj Agarwal, extension officer, IWST.
ISWT regularly conducts training and seminars on scientific methods of cultivation, seed germination and nursery practices for farmers that includes sandalwood and bamboo. “The national conference is largely inspired by our hugely popular training programmes that demand such larger platforms for sharing technology from experts. One of the interesting inclusions would be Milia Dubia’s -- being a hardwood timber, apart from its presence in plywood manufacturing. It can be used as one of the fastest growing trees for city’s diminishing green cover,” said Agarwal.
