Ranchi, Apr 26 (PTI) Research papers of a Jharkhand forest officer have been accepted for presentation at the World Forestry Congress, which is held every six years. The event will take place in Seoul from May 2 to May 6. Sanjeev Kumar, additional principal chief conservator of forests, CAMPA, Jharkhand, will present the two papers at the congress. The first paper deals with the use of traditional knowledge in sustainable forest management and provisioning of ecosystems in Jharkhand while the second one discusses non-timber forest produce (NTFP) as a source of livelihood and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Kumar told PTI, that villagers and tribals living in and around the forests have acquired traditional knowledge over time. It is also transferred from one generation to the next through folk art, folk tales, and folk music. This traditional knowledge, he said, is all about the enhancement and sustainable use of forests. “A study was carried out in this regard to know the trajectories of sustainable forest management (SFM) development and the role of the traditional knowledge for SFM in Jharkhand. The study reflects that this traditional knowledge is associated with practices like conservation through planting groves, celebrating festivals based on nature, taboos, social beliefs and various other practices which have been helpful in SFM.” During globalisation and commercialisation, there is a risk of erosion of such traditional knowledge. Hence their documentation is necessary, he said. Kumar’s second paper deals with non-timber forest produce (NTEP) as a source of livelihood and climate change mitigation and adaptation. “There is an inextricable link between forest resources and livelihood of rural people. Rural people, including tribals such as Oraon, Munda, Ho, Savar, Santhal, and Birhor, living around forest areas use NTFP as their primary source of income, food, nutrition, and medicine. Medicinal plants, tendu, silk, lac, and bamboo are prominent among them. NTFP may be used for subsistence or sale, providing cash income and function as an economic buffer in times of hardships," the forest officer said. The paper also discusses how NTEP is used by the villagers and how it can be increased by using traditional knowledge. Its role and possibility in the context of climate change have also been discussed. PTI SAN SAN MM MM