ASIA-PACIFIC FORESTR Y COMMISSION SET TO MEET IN INDIA

摘要

Delegates and participants of the 21st session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission will have the chance to visit South Asia's historic "cradle of forestry" - Dehradun, India. Steeped in tradition, and home to several major forest-related research and education institutes, Dehradun offers a unique venue for the region's forestry leaders to gather for their premier bi-ennial forum. India is the seventh largest country in the world and has a population of over one billion. Seventy-five percent of the people live in rural areas and depend heavily on forests and other natural resources for their livelihoods, medicine, housing materials and food. Forests now cover about 67.55 million hectares, or about 20.5 percent of the country's land area. India is one of the 17 "megadiversity" countries and its forests are home to remarkable plant and animal biodiversity.