The Institute of Wood Science and Technology (IWST), Bangalore, has sought nodal agency status for the identification of timber used in Government buildings.

In the wake of increasing spurious timber in the market, the institute has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to allow it to authenticate the wood used for constructing Government buildings.

The proposal to this effect has been placed before the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests to take a final call.

The institute, in association with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is holding a conference on ‘Art and joy of wood' in Bangalore from October 19- 22.

“This conference is part of various global events to celebrate the international year of forests. The meet intends to bring out a meaningful strategy of wood use for sustainable development,” said Mr S. C. Joshi, Director, The Institute of Wood Science and Technology.

“The institute has also asked for creation of a National Mission on Wood. This mission is required to tackle some of the imminent and long-term national issues concerning wood,” said Mr Joshi.

One of the major issues, especially from the context of mitigating climate change, would be to gear up the nation for sustainable production and utilisation of wood. The difficulty is compounded by ever-shrinking landscape, he added. To mark the World Environment Day 2011, the United National Environment Programme (UNEP) in India, and the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), held a special nature camp for speech/hearing impaired children in Bangalore.

The Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, launched the special nature camp today.

The Minister, while interacting with the children, assured them that he would wave off the entry fee for speech and hearing impaired children to museum and parks.

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