Development & Conservation Can Go Hand in Hand: VP Radhakrishnan
VP urges IFS probationers to blend technology with traditional wisdom for sustainable forest management
- Vice President says development and conservation are complementary goals.
- Calls for combining scientific forestry with traditional ecological knowledge.
- Urges officers to use AI, GIS and drones alongside field experience.
- Asks probationers to measure success by forests restored and communities empowered.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Aug: Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday asserted that development and conservation are not opposing forces and can always go hand in hand, urging Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationers to strike the right balance between ecological protection and developmental needs.
Addressing the 2025–2027 batch of IFS probationers and officers of the Royal Bhutan Forest Service at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun, the Vice President said the officers would play a crucial role in safeguarding India’s forests, biodiversity and natural resources during the country’s journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047.
He stressed that the Indian Forest Service would be central to strengthening India’s ecological security and achieving the national goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. He urged the officers to ensure harmony between conservation and development, livelihoods and environmental protection, and the needs of the present and future generations.
Highlighting the importance of community participation, Shri Radhakrishnan said forest officers should respect the traditional knowledge of communities that have lived in harmony with forests for generations. He also called for collective excellence, stating that institutions and nations are built through sustained teamwork rather than individual achievements.
The Vice President emphasised that integrity must remain the guiding principle in public service and said difficult decisions should always be based on the Constitution, the law, scientific evidence and the larger public interest.
He encouraged the young officers to adopt modern technologies such as remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), drones, Artificial Intelligence and data-driven tools while complementing them with field experience, practical judgement and sensitivity towards local communities.
Calling for a blend of modern scientific forestry and India’s civilisational wisdom, Shri Radhakrishnan said both approaches must work together to build a sustainable future.
He also welcomed the growing participation of women in the Indian Forest Service, noting that women constitute around 17 per cent of the current batch, describing it as a positive reflection of the country’s progress towards women-led development.
Concluding his address, the Vice President urged the probationers to measure their careers not by the positions they hold but by the forests they restore, the wildlife they protect, the trust they earn from communities and the legacy they leave behind. He reminded them to always keep “Rashtra Pratham” (Nation First) as their guiding principle.
Uttarakhand Governor Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh (Retd.), Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, IGNFA Director Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Course Director Smt. Ajeeta Longjam and other dignitaries attended the programme. During his two-day visit to Uttarakhand, the Vice President will also address IAS probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie.
