Utilization of Pine Needles as a Source of Natural Fiber.

A workshop on the Utilization of Pine Needles as a Source of Natural Fiber was organized at Nahan on 17th February 2022 by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute Dehradun.

Chemistry and Bioprospecting Division of Forest Research Institute Dehradun has developed a facile and eco-friendly technique to extract natural fiber from pine needles. The technique is simple, cost-effective, and does not demand large space, energy, instrumentation, etc. This makes it replicable on pilot scale and can be easily taken up in remote areas having abundant pine needles.

The technology is being adopted in the State of H.P. for the first time. An agreement was signed between the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and Forest Research Institute Dehradun for the transfer of this technology. The agreement was signed by Sh Ajay Srivastava, Pr. Chief Conservator of Forest (HoFF), Himachal Pradesh, and Sh. Arun Singh Rawat, Director, FRI and Director-General ICFRE, Dehradun. On the occasion, Sh R.P. Singh, Head Silviculture, FRI; Dr. Vineet Kumar, Chief Scientist who developed the technology; and other senior officers from Forest, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Departments were present.