Training held for JFMC and EDC members

GANGTOK, 19 Feb [IPR]: A two-day capacity building programme on “Management Of JFMCs and EDCs”  was conducted for JFMC and EDC Presidents and Member Secretary and other frontline staff of Forest Department on 17 and 18 February at the State Institute Of Rural Development, Karfectar, Jorethang under the JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project.
Representatives from 23 Initial Intervention Villages/ JFMCs and EDCs from South and West District participated in the training programme. The programme was inaugurated by DFO-cum-Project Coordinator, South and West Districts, Blen Tshering Targain. He expressed the need for capacity building of JFMC/EDC members to increase the efficiency and effective implementation of project activities in the field. Four such trainings were planned under JICA assisted Sikkim Bio Diversity and Forest Conservation Project for the year in South and West District inclusive of two trainings conducted earlier in the month of June 2011 at State Institute of Capacity Building, Karfectar.
The JFMC and EDC members residing in various forest fringe villages in Sikkim who are actively engaged in protection, conservation and management of our precious forests, learnt skills of motivating communities and effective communication for strengthening Joint Forest Management activities. Emphasis was given on financial management of JFMCs/EDCs wherein R.O.(T) Namchi, Tsheten T. Lepcha made a presentation on book keeping, cashbook and importance of financial management.
Similarly, Nima Tashi of Khangchendzonga Conservation Committee, DFO (LU&Env,South) Udai Gurung and DFO(WL), South, Nischal Gautam spoke on Microplanning, Entry Point Activities and Forest Protection respectively. As such, the participating trainees or members of JFMCs/EDCs were exposed to every aspect of participatory forest management and their roles and responsibilities in management of JFMC/EDC vis-a-vis- conservation and management of forest.
Mr. Targain informed that during the current financial year 23 JFMCs/EDCs have been selected in South and West District under the project as Initial Intervention Villages and another 23 such villages will be selected in next financial year as Spread Effect Villages. Further, the SBFP shall cover 180 such villages throuhgout the state during the project period and 540 Self Help Groups i.e., three SHGs under each JFMCs/EDCs.  
During the training, JFMC/EDC Presidents from different villages also shared their experiences, constraints and opportunities in Joint Forest Management. They were in view that the response of members of JFMCs/EDCs and panchayats have been very positive while planning village development and forest development activities under the project.
The training was conducted by Training Coordinator, Project Management Consultant, Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project, Sudarsan Dey. The training concluded with vote of thanks by DFO, SBFP, South and West District.