On Friday in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama released the National Book Trust’s new publication, Forest Resources in India: Integrative Governance and Community Participation for Sustainable Future. The book, written by Sushil Kumar Singla, Rakesh B. Sinha, and Krishan Kumar Raina, was also personally signed by the Dalai Lama during the event. Author Sushil Kumar Singla briefed him on the book’s themes, structure, and research findings.

The publication offers an in-depth look at sustainable forest management in India. It highlights India’s long-standing cultural traditions of nature protection, the crucial roles of women and local communities, and the governance systems that guide forest policy. It also stresses the links between agriculture, the environment, tribal development, and climate change, and calls for States and Union Territories to jointly balance development with conservation.

The epilogue states that India is progressing toward the goal of bringing one-third of its land under forest and tree cover by following the principles of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas. It emphasises that forestry must support livelihoods, promote self-reliance, and strengthen its contribution to the GDP and agriculture sector.

It notes that while constitutional provisions and central/state regulations have aided sustainable forest management, current pressures on natural resources require reforms that encourage simplification, deregulation, and faster decision-making to enhance both “Ease of Doing Business” and “Ease of Living.” The book also advocates stronger cooperation between public and private sectors and integration with related areas such as agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries, tribal affairs, environment, rural development, Panchayati Raj institutions, and tourism. Local community participation in governance and monitoring remains a central theme of the publication.