Pointing out that forest conservation and public welfare must go hand-in-hand, Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran has said the government cannot work towards one goal at the cost of the other.
He also bemoaned an “obsessive love for animals” displayed by certain sections that was torpedoing the government’s efforts to strike a balance on the forest fringe areas, while addressing the last in the series of Statewide Vana Souhrida Sadassu outreach campaign conducted by the Forest department at Aryanad in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday.
Advocating a paradigm shift in the mindset of forest officials, Mr. Saseendran felt their responsibility did not end with forest and wildlife conservation. The role of the Forest department had undergone significant changes to accommodate the well-being of the people among its priorities. While it succeeded in preserving the State’s treasure trove of flora and fauna as highlighted in recent studies, officials largely neglected the problems faced by those living in close proximity to forests.
