Afforestation will inflict great disaster on human civilisation, said Chandrashekhar, Assistant Forest Conservator of Shimoga Wildlife Division.
   Speaking at the training programme for villagers underthe joint-forest management programme organised as part of State sustainable forest management and bio-diversity conservation scheme at Vithagondanakoppa village near here recently, he stressed on the need to involve local communities in forest conservation endeavours.
   Afforestation has resulted in natural calamities, global warming and other problems. Forests are treasure trove of many resources and should be conserved. Calling for sustainable modules of development, he said that awareness campaigns about need to conserve forest are necessary.
   Addressing the gathering, Deputy Conservator of Forest Brijesh Kumar said that self help groups and stree shakti sanghas should be trained in forest conservation. The programme was organised jointly by Forest Department and Outreach organisation in which Range Forest Officer Chandrakant Uppar, T C Vijayabhaskar from Patanjali Yoga and Nature Association took part in the programme.