SHIMLA: Three day long 'National Conference on Forestry Solutions: Strategies under Mitigation and Adaptation of the Impacts of Climate Change in Western Himalayan Mountain States' is being organized from 19-21 November, 2009 at Peterhof in Shimla.

The conference is being attended by Forest Ministers of Uttranchal, Jammu and Kashmir and senior officers of these and other Himalayan States besides renowned experts.

Asha Swarup, Chief Secretary, Government of Himachal Pradesh would inaugurate the conference and renowned scientists and environmental experts of country and abroad would participate, he added. The aim of conference is to highlight the strategy forest resources and eco systems in mountain region, with special reference to Himachal Pradesh, explore options for sustainable forest management and identify institutional roles under forest governance, meaningful community participation, instilling the belief that investments in natural assets are profitable and work towards carbon crediting and achieving carbon neutrality.

The focus of the Conference is on five themes prominently through presentations, discussions and working groups sessions. The themes are-State of forest resources in Himachal Pradesh and sustainable forest management, Institutional role in forest governance and meaningful community participation, multi stakeholder approach, Impacts on mountain eco-systems and under forest sector, adaption and mitigation, potential for mountain related eco-systems, Market strategies, voluntary carbon Markets and Carbon Neutral Strategies, Research orientation, information gaps, international cooperation and best practices, Forest Certification and Separate forest policy for the hill States.

Chief Miniter Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal would be presiding over the concluding function of the conference on 21st November, 2009.