Pune: The Vanaja Club at MKSSS’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women( BNCA ) recently organised a session on Social Forestry . Vivek Khandekar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator, Social Forestry, gave a presentation and interacted with the students . Prof. Asmita Joshi, founder and Coordinator Vanaja club at BNCA ,Dr. Swati Sahasrabuddhe and Prof. Neha Adkar, Department of Landscape Architecture, students and members of Vanaja Club were present on this occasion.
Citing the examples of grasslands, wetlands which is a very specific ecosystem, Mr. Khandekar said forest is not only about planting trees. As landscape architects we must observe what nature has allowed to come. We should not go against the nature. Grassland is misunderstood as waste land. It is part of the ecosystem and has much higher biodiversity.
Vivek Khandekar in his presentation gave information about various initiatives of the forest department including setting up model nurseries, linear plantations, plantation on barren land, bio- diversity parks etc.
He said Social Forestry is one of the three verticals of the forest department which Includes Territorial and Wildlife as other two wings. The social forestry looks after greening on non- forest land.from left – Prof. Dhanashree. Sardeshpande, Dr.Swati Sahasrabuddhe, Prof Asmita Joshi- Founder, Vanaja Nature Club at BNCA, Dr.Anurag Kashyap, Principal BNCA, Mr.Vivek Khandekar, Srija Mitra, Diksha Taskar, Palak Rathi
