Scientists, field experts and various stake-holders need to work towards building a consensus towards the evolution of a national wood use policy, Additional Director General of Forests (Forest Conservation) and Director General of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education AK Bansal said while inaugurating a two-day national seminar on advances in wood science and technology research including recent trends, future challenges and opportunities at the Forest Research Institute on Wednesday. The aim of afforestation and protecting the nation's green cover, keeping in mind the interests of various stake-holders including farmers, industrialists and consumers, can be achieved effectively with the creation of a national wood use policy, Bansal said. Addressing the gathering, Bansal said production and use of alternatives to wood such as steel is not environment-friendly as wood is much more versatile, economic and beneficial to the environment. Enhancing utilisation of wood through research and practical initiatives will not only benefit the environment but also benefit various segments of society, he said. A national wood use policy will facilitate the achievement of these targets in addition to working towards the successful execution of the Green India Mission which aims to double the area to be taken up for afforestation and eco-restoration in the next 10 years to 20 million hectares. The mission also aims to increase the GHG removals by India's forests to 6.35 per cent of India's annual total GHG emissions by the year 2020 and enhance the resilience of forests and eco-systems being treated under the mission. Regarding the challenges facing ICFRE, Bansal, who was given additional charge as the director general of the council in January this year, said that it is working towards meeting its aim of being the leader in its field in India. However, it is essential to facilitate orientation of efforts being undertaken by the scientific community in order to achieve this aim. For this it is important to facilitate efficient practical applications of research and development in forestry for the benefit of stakeholders including farmers, industrialists and consumers, he said. Challenges facing the researchers in the field of wood science and processing industries include developing appropriate technologies and making quality products available to the end users. Bansal urged participants of the seminar to work in collaboration to address at least five key issues - development and adoption of appropriate processing technologies for producing wood products required by a developing country using renewable fibre and looking into reasons for slow absorption of technologies by the processing industries to promote tree-growing as remunerative land use practice. Bansal exhorted participants to work towards development of consumer friendly product standards, proper and adequate sensitisation of professionals who guide wood-use in the nation and establishing a national database covering the whole range of wood and processed wood products for the benefit of all stakeholders. FRI director Dr SS Negi pointed out that the wood industry in India is expanding at a considerable rate as the nation grows. The national seminar at FRI is aimed at providing a platform for interaction among scientists, growers, industrialists and others. The deliberations and conclusions reached during the seminar will help shape a roadmap for guiding research and development activities in this field for the coming years. The conclusions will also provide suggestions for the national wood use policy to be drafted in the future. Earlier, the organising secretary of the seminar and head of FRI forest products division Vimal Kothiyal welcomed the participants to the seminar. Representatives of 50 organisations, industries, universities, research and development labs are participating in the seminar. A total of 55 papers will be presented on six themes in addition to 25 presented in poster format during this seminar. Negi said that considering the feedback being received from participants from across the nation as well as Germany, US and other nations, the FRI could make this national seminar an annual event.