Future Amidst Wild Life
Forests are one of the invaluable gifts, which nature has bestowed upon mankind. Forests are helpful in proper functioning of wheel of nature and are useful to all forest animals. It is just impossible to think of life in the absence of the forests. Growing population, increasing pollution, industrialization are not less than a menace for the existence of forests. This is the reason why famous environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna started Chipko Movement for the protection of forests. Bahuguna said that before cutting trees people would have to cross his dead body, i.e. first he and his friends would be cut down and then later on trees. It is one of the major incident that happened for the protection of the forests.
Forests are not only useful for people and animals but they also work towards maintaining nature’s balance. Though Article 48 of our Constitution, it has been decided that state and nation should be determined for the conservation of environment, protection of forests and wild animals. For the protection of animals one central rule was made in 1972 in the form Indian Wild life Protection.
By the amendment of law in 1991, which provides more protection to wild life, a new law was passed, which will punish those people who violate the law. The Indian forests spread up to 6,39,000 kms. More than 92% of this land is under the control of Government, there is a need of experienced and capable people and different officials for practical functioning. Young people who have interest in work related to forest,“Foresting and Forest Management course” is a career which offers great opportunities. This field is not only adventurous but is very important in certain cases.
Every year Society People Service Commission (SPSC) organizes “Indian Forest Service Exams” for the protection of forest and wild life. Those young people who are interested in this exam should be at least graduate in any of these subjects – botany, animal protection or animal treatment, chemistry, maths, human science, physics, agriculture, engineering, statistics, etc. The selected candidates must be between 21-28 years of age group. To clear this exam, which is in English language, one has to go through a written test and an interview. In written test, there are 4 question papers, out of which 2 are optional and 2 are compulsory, with 200 marks prescribed for every paper. The performa of these question papers are self explanatory. Candidates who have cleared the written test have to pass through the process of personal examination and those who score highest marks in both of the above mentioned exams, are been selected.
Selected candidates are given training by SPSC in Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun. Here, the training is given for forest management, soil conservation, administrative arrangements, etc. Academy appoints trained candidates at an attractive salary as Forest Officer.
For young men and women, interested in offering their services in the field of forestry, there is one more major medium of admission that is “Training in Forest and Forest Management”. For this course, many training programs are offered both at graduation and post graduation level, and this management course is similar to MBA. Some Agricultural Universities and many other colleges offer graduate courses related to foresting. For admission in this course minimum eligibility is 10+2 or intermediate with subjects like chemistry, physics and biology. Many institutes offer courses at M.Sc. and PhD levels. Foresting and “Forest Management” course from Indian Institute of Forest Management , Bhopal is one such renowned course. Young men and women who have done their graduation from any faculty can take admission in the course in the Institute. Candidates who are graduate in science, agriculture, and foresting subjects were given preference in the selection process. The Institute organizes entrance exams at All-India level. Candidate based on merit in entrance exam, group discussion and interview were selected for the course. Duration of this course is 2 years. Some institutes offer associate courses related to Forest and Forest Management career. Post Graduate Diploma in Ecology, M.Sc. in Wild life etc. are also its courses. There are full chances for capable, young, and talented people to make a career in this field . People who have gained specialization in this field can be appointed at higher designations in the private sector and government institutes.
Major Training Institutes
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (U.P.)
- Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal (M.P.)
- Salim Ali Ecology Institute, (Pondichery)
- Saurashtra University, Rajkot (Gujarat)
- Wild Life Institute, Dehradun (Uttranchal)
