Konda Surekha Emphasises Role of Youth and Innovation in Forest Conservation

Forest, Endowments and Environment Minister Konda Surekha on Friday said that young Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers have a crucial role to play in protecting forests and preserving ecological balance in Telangana.

The Minister was speaking after recently appointed young IFS officers of the Telangana cadre paid a courtesy visit to her at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat. She congratulated the officers on their appointments and extended her best wishes for their future service.

Addressing the officers, Konda Surekha stressed that forests are the “lifeline” of the state’s environment and that safeguarding forest wealth and wildlife is one of the most important responsibilities of the Forest Department. She expressed confidence that young officers, with their modern outlook and exposure to new technologies, can significantly strengthen conservation efforts.

The Minister advised the officers to gain a thorough understanding of forest laws and regulations and ensure their effective implementation. At the same time, she urged them to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of tribal communities and local people living in and around forest areas, and to work towards providing better services to them. Forest development programmes, she said, can succeed only with active public participation.

Konda Surekha also called upon the young officers to act firmly against illegal tree felling and poaching, and to work with dedication to maintain environmental balance. She expressed hope that they would take the lead in achieving the state government’s goals related to forest protection and sustainable development.