Himachal Pradesh, India – The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (ISB-BIPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) have entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at unlocking the state’s substantial but largely untapped forest and pastoral economy through science and technology-driven governance.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the agreement was formally signed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sanjay Sood for the Forest Department and Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director of ISB-BIPP, representing the institute. This collaboration marks a significant stride towards modernizing forest resource management and community engagement in the ecologically rich Himalayan state.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the partnership’s critical role in bolstering the state’s rural economy. He emphasized that the collaboration between the Forest Department and ISB-BIPP is a crucial step forward for the long-term economic benefit of Himachal Pradesh. The Chief Minister expressed optimism about the state’s position to lead in integrating scientific methods, local community involvement, and governmental oversight to fundamentally transform forest governance practices across the country.
Prior to the official signing, the ISB-BIPP team shared findings from a comprehensive joint forest inventory. This initiative involved over 500 forest guards who meticulously collected more than 200,000 tree-level records, complete with species-tagged images. These data points were subsequently integrated with satellite imagery and analyzed using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies, with on-ground validation ensuring accuracy.
The inventory has resulted in the creation of detailed maps for seven key species: khair, bamboo, chir pine, amla, wild mango, sal, and rhododendron. These findings have been jointly published under the title ‘Counting Green Wealth’. The research provides a robust scientific basis for understanding and valuing the state’s forest resources.
The detailed inventory estimates a significant untapped economic potential amounting to approximately ₹22,600 crore across five specific bio-resources. Amla is estimated to hold a potential value of ₹8,700 crore, followed by pine needles at ₹5,500 crore, wild mangoes at ₹4,800 crore, sal seeds at ₹2,400 crore, and rhododendron flowers at ₹1,200 crore. The report stresses that any extraction will be managed within a sustainable, species-specific “yield sweet spot” to ensure ecological balance and long-term viability.
As a testament to successful community-led forest enterprises, the Pir Panjal Jungle Producer Company in Pangi was showcased. This women-owned initiative is actively involved in the hazelnut (thangi) business. The data generated from the inventory is already being implemented within the working plan of the Palampur Forest Division, marking the first application of such data-driven insights in forest management. The new MoU is set to extend this innovative approach to other forest divisions, with the ultimate goal of comprehensive statewide implementation.
Professor Ashwini Chhatre, while signing the MoU, remarked on the significance of the partnership, stating, “This partnership reflects what is possible when rigorous science is grounded in field reality. Over 500 forest guards spent months gathering this data, giving the estimates real credibility for economic decisions.” His statement underscores the importance of empirical data collection and its direct impact on informed economic planning.
The scope of the MoU is structured around four key areas designed to foster sustainable economic growth and enhance governance. These include the development of Forest Economy and Community Enterprises, with a focus on empowering women-led producer companies and establishing robust market linkages. Secondly, the creation of a Forest Intelligence Platform, which will be initially piloted in Palampur before a statewide rollout, aims to centralize and analyze forest-related data for improved decision-making.
The third area addresses the implementation of a grazing portal and a comprehensive pastoral database under the Himachal Pradesh Grazing Policy, 2026. This initiative will be integrated with existing government databases such as Aadhaar, Him Pariwar, Bharat Pashudhan, and the PEHEL scheme, providing a holistic approach to managing grazing resources. Finally, the MoU includes provisions for extensive training and capacity-building programs for both Forest Department staff and members of producer companies, ensuring the effective adoption and utilization of new technologies and management practices.
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