Without the permission of the DG, an academic paper can not be published in any journal. Its another thing, that each journal has its own set of advising peer scientists and editorial board who sift through each submitted paper before publishing it. No wonder most of the scientist Down To Earth spoke to wish to remain anonymous. He claims screening is necessary in order to keep up the technical standard of research and also to check if it has any financial or commercial potential. But scientists claim interviews have not been held for almost two years.
Regulations demand at least four a year.
Floundering research While the skirmishes between the IFS officers and the scientist community continue, research suffers. There is even difference of opinion regarding the focus of research. An ecologist at the forest ecology and environment division adds that the lack of dailogue between the state forest departments and scientists is also the reason for decline in forest cover. He states that the state forest departments do not utilise research conducted although the institution works for them. However Sharma believes the priority is wasteland development.