Amity signs MoU with Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
New Delhi: Amity signed an MoU with the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). Amity University has already undertaken many collaborative Research Activities with Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the signing of this MoU aims to make this partnership stronger.
The MoU sets an understanding between ICFRE and Amity Universities and Institutions (AU) to collaborate in applied research programs, capacity building and knowledge sharing on forests, biodiversity conservation, ecosystems, climate change vulnerability, climate change mitigation and adaptation and livelihood of forest dependent communities and other subjects mutually agreed between both the organizations.
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous body of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India and is an apex body in the National Forestry Research System. It has been undertaking the Holistic Development of Forestry Research through need-based planning, promoting, conducting and coordinating Research, Education and Extension covering various aspects of Forestry.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri A.S. Rawat, Director General, ICFRE, said, “We are glad to sign this MOU with an institution like Amity which is excellent in all areas. Some of the areas where we will be working together with Amity are- Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Climate Change, Biodiversity and others. We have made a beginning and there is a lot that needs to be done in these areas”.
Expressing extreme pleasure on this occasion, Dr. Ashok Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, stated, “This is indeed a historical event as this MoU is being signed between Amity and ICFRE. Forests play a major role in a country’s development and we should find areas where we can work together. There will be a consortium from both sides who will be working together in different fields. Today is a start of a huge mission and we have to work towards drawing synergies of brains and connect them, there are innumerable opportunities which can be explored through this collaboration.”
Dr.(Prof.) Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor, Amity University, Uttar Pradesh, said, “It’s a great day for us and with the blessings of our Founder President Sir, we have signed the MOU with ICFRE. We, as an institution, have always laid great emphasis on topics such as climate change, environment, forestation, biotechnology, capacity building, skill development and community impact. We aim to create an environment-friendly ecosystem through this collaboration. The team of Amity & ICFRE will be reviewing the progress periodically and we will not miss out any opportunity to bring out the best from this collaboration. “
Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President ASTIF, Amity University, said, “It is a matter of great pride for us as we sign this MoU with ICFRE. We will bring synergies from the entire Amity Group as a whole and work collaboratively. ICFRE deals with the solutions-based forestry research in tune with the emerging issues in the sector, including global concerns such as climate change, conservation of biological diversity, combating desertification and sustainable management and development of resources and we are glad to be associated with them.”
Presentations were also made on the various areas of collaboration by Dr. S.P. Singh, Director, Amity School of Natural Resources & Sustainable Development and Dr. Rajesh Sharma, ADG (BCC) and (External Project), ICFRE.