Prof PK Khosla, Chancellor of Shoolini University, Solan, was today honoured by the Indian Society of Agroforestry, Jhansi, with the Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017, for his contributions to agroforestry research and development.?
An alumnus of Oxford University, Dr Khosla was instrumental in starting agroforestry education in the country for conservation and scientific investigations of the Himalayan trees. Prof Khosla was also at the forefront in establishing the Indian Society of Tree Scientists (ISTS) and worked as its Secretary as well as Secretary-General for more than two decades. He has edited more than 15 books related to agroforestry.
Prof Khosla has organised several National and International Conferences on Agroforestry, which earned him a distinguished place in the fraternity of Indian top scientists. He played a key role in greening the mid-Himalayas and was fondly known as a Green Scientist.
The award was conferred on four dignitaries starting 2017-20 and Prof PK Khosla was the first to receive the award (2017). Other scientists to receive the awards were, Dr PS Pathak, Former Director, Indian Grassland Institute, Jhansi (2018), Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR, New Delhi (2019), and Dr Ravi Prabhu, CIFOR, ICRAF, Nairobi (2020).
The function was held in the virtual space and Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR was the Chief Guest of the function. One hundred participants, including eminent scientists in the subject, retired and served from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and International Council of Agroforestry, Nairobi, and many other international scientists participated in the function.
