New community organisers receive two-day training on biodiversity conservation and forest management

GANGTOK, 10 July: The JICA-assisted Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project, Forest Department, conducted a two-day training for the newly appointed Community Organisers at the Forest Conference Hall here on 07 and 08 July.
On the first day of the training, the Community Organisers were informed about the existing Joint Forest Management and Eco-Development Committee constituted under Forest Development Agency (FDA) of the Department and how to assist these committees at the village level, informs a press release.

The training programme started with a welcome address by DFO (Planning & Administrative), SBFP, Rajani Bhandari, while Project Management Consultant/ JFM Specialist, Ganesh Yadav, elaborated the roles and responsibilities of Community Organisers.
Similarly, Additional Project Director-II, Karma Legshey, spoke on the need and background of JFMC/EDCs. The ADP-II highlighted the objectives and aims of constituting these committees in various villages and participatory management of forest, the release informs.
The District facilitating NGOs namely Voluntary Health Association of Sikkim, (VHAS), Eco-tourism Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) and Kanchendzonga Conservation Committee (KCC), (appointed to support the JFM activities of the Project through these Community Organisers) thoroughly taught Community Organisers about Micro planning, PRA methods and tools.
Nima Tashi Bhutia and Kinzong Bhutia represented K.C.C. and RP Gurung and Dr. B B Rai represented ECOSS and VHAS respectively.
The first day training concluded with an interaction between Community Organisers and APCCF-cum-Project Director, (SBFP), FEWMD, Dr. A Mainra, wherein he informed that the Community Organisers are the back bone of the project as these Community Organisers are the link between Village Communities and Forest Department.
Employing these Community Organisers is a new strategy of the Forest Department under the Project who could play a vital role in strengthening the JFMC/EDC. The Project Director also urged the Community Organisers to carry out their jobs with sincerity and honesty, the release adds.
The second day of training on 08 July, began with a review of day one exercises wherein valuable comments and observation were given by the trainers. During the 2nd day programme, the trainees were exposed to various PRA tools and planning of various activities on the field.
 Ganesh Yadav (PMC) gave a briefing on field work preparation. The trainees were taken to Ranka to interact with Ranka, EDC. The main aim behind the field visit was to actually carry out various exercises on Micro Planning on the field and to interact with EDC members.
During the interaction the EDC members informed about the system of JFMC/EDC and its role in conservation and protection of the forest. The members of Ranka EDC also informed about the various activities being taken up by the committee.
The two-day training programme was co-ordinated by DFO (S/W), SBFP, Blen T Targain, who  appreciated the Community Organisers for being highly qualified and for their enthusiasm and youthful energy, the release further informs. He observed that with such a strong background the desired output/objectives of the project will be achieved.