Technology to use pine needles as natural fibers

Solan, February 18

The Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun, have signed an agreement for the transfer of technology for the utilisation of pine needles as a source of natural fibers.

Ajay Srivstava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), signed the agreement on behalf of the state Forest Department while Arun Singh Rawat, Director-General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, represented the FRI.

The Forest Department organised a workshop on the occasion in collaboration with the FRI where scientists elaborated upon the technology.

“In Himachal, about 1,25,885 hectares are estimated to be covered with Chil pine forests. About 1.2 tonnes of needles are shed per hectare of pine forest annually between April and June. Being highly combustible, they cause devastating forest fires during the summer and result in loss of timber, resin, plantations, wildlife and other rare biodiversity. The department spends crores of rupees on forest fire preventive and control measures every year,” said forest officials.

On adoption, the technology will help prevent forest fire, besides generating livelihood for the local community. Successful implementation of this technology would involve community participation in a big way. Himachal Pradesh already has a policy on collection and removal of pine needles from the forest.

Ajay Srivastava, PCCF, expressed hope that this technology will transform the forest fire scenario in the state. “In a state where about 90 per cent of the population is rural, this technology offers an option of income generation using a resource that was considered a waste so far.” Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division of the FRI, Dehradun, has developed a technique to extract fiber from pine needles.