Shimla, Nov 19 Stressing on a separate forest policy for the Himalayan state, over 100 officials and experts from four hill states today discussed problems facing the forests due to climate change.

The participants in the three-day conference on 'Forestry Solutions' from Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh besides host Himachal Pradesh in addition to experts from the US, which started today discussed in length the problems pertaining to the forest under impact of climate change.

In his key note speech environmentalist NH Ravindranath emphasised on immediate steps to protect forest from adverse impact of climate change.

"Seeing the accelerated impact of climate change there is an urgent need to identify the most vulnerable areas and start dedicated pilot projects to arrest the adverse impact," Ravindranath, Director, Indian Institute of Science, said.

- (Agencies)