Madanjeet Centre

South Asia Foundation (SAF), with the help of Mr. Madanjeet Singh, a UNESCO goodwill ambassador and the founder of South Asia Foundation has established 12 centres for excellence in South Asia, such as the Madanjeet Singh institute of South Asian Regional Cooperation (MISARC) in Pondicherry, Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, Art College in Pakistan, Environmental institute in Maldives and Water Studies in Sri Lanka. The idea of establishing SAF in Bhutan conceived when Mr. Singh first visited Bhutan way back in 1964 and consequently SAF was established in September 2000 for regional cooperation through education and sustainable development. With the maintenance of a good environment record and forested area never gone below 60 percent, SAF members has unanimously decided Bhutan as a spot to set up the excellence for forestry studies. Eventually, in March 2010, the Madanjeet Centre for South Asia Forestry Studies at Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment, Lamai Gompa, Bumthang was established with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Under this program, MCSAFS at UWICE will offer Diploma, B.Sc and M.Sc courses in forestry in collaboration with the College of Natural Resources, Lobesa, Royal University of Bhutan. The MCSAFS will offer atleast 8 fully paid group scholarship, one each from SAARC countries to study at the MCSAFS. The MCSAFS will also facilitate and conduct research in areas related to forestry with relevance to South Asia. Besides, formal courses in forestry, the MCSAFS will strengthen pluralistic culture through extracurricular activities associated with arts and culture.

Subject to availability of funds, a number of visiting Research Fellowships will be offered to PhD students from SAARC countries for data collection, consultations and field study at any of the Central Universities in India for a maximum period of six months.

Goal

The Madanjeet Centre for South Asia Forestry Studies strives to:

• Create new generation of ecological and environmental leaders to contribute towards the building of a sustainable future of South Asia and the planet as a whole through the promotion of science and education in the field of forestry and environment.
• Foster and promote regional cooperation by bringing together the next generation of forest scientists and leaders.