Chandigarh: Topper of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) 1994-batch Dharminder Sharma on Saturday took over the charge of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Head of Forest Force, Punjab (PCCF, HoFF) at the Forest Complex in Sector – 68, SAS Nagar (Mohali).
He would also continue to hold the charge of PCCF Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab till the next incumbent gets posted.
Boosting eco Tourism, proper upkeep of the wetlands, evolving steps for increasing green cover in the state and employment avenues at local level would be his focus areas, said this forester, botanist, and a natural resource manager by education and training.
A Graduate from Delhi University in Plant Sciences, he did his Masters in Natural Resource Management on Marshal Papworth Scholarship from Cranfield University, UK. He is trained in forestry and allied Sciences from universities in the UK, Finland and Yale University, USA.
‘Van Mahotsav’ to be held in July 2025 would be a unique event, he added.
He has previously served the Punjab Government in various capacities at district and higher levels as the District Forest Officer at Patiala, Sangrur and Ferozepur, Team Leader in a World Bank Aided Project, Director Chhatbir Zoo, Chief Conservator of Forests, Plains, Head of the Department of Soil and Water Conservation Department and Secretary, Agriculture on deputation.
His achievements include preparation of the State Forestry Research Plan of Punjab, which later guided research projects under the then JICA (Japan) project in 1999. In the same year, a professional training course was also organised for newly recruited the forest guards in the forest department.
Apart from a highly technical ‘Working Plan’ of Forest Division, Ferozepur in 2000, Sharma also prepared the “Master Plan” of Chhatbir Zoo during his tenure as the Field Director in 2006-09. This was one of the first in India and highly appreciated by Central Zoo Authority, Government of India (GoI). This document is guiding all the development undergoing in the zoo since then.
Since his study of specialization in UK was on Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry Systems, he has been invited to speak and train the participants about climate change and other environmental issues at many institutes of national repute. He has addressed national and international seminars/workshops at MGSIPA Chandigarh, Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Delhi etc.
He has also been invited as an expert on the topics of wildlife conservation including the management of captive wild animals to train senior forest officers across India.
