Port Blair, Dec. 18: The Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair has successfully organised a Five-day training course on Para Taxonomy Including People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) sponsored by Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Islands to train the frontline staffs during 13th to 17th December, 2022.
Shri Kamal Datta, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Andaman & Nicobar Islands was the Chief Guest, while Dr. S. Senthil Kumar, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), and Shri Kuldeep Sharma, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Mill Division), Department of Environment & Forests were the Guests of Honour. The programme was also attended by Officers from Department of Environment & Forests, Anthropological Survey of India, Pondicherry University, IGNOU and District Mobile Forensic Unit, A & N Police. The ceremony started with a prayer song and lighting of traditional lamp. Total of 34 trainees from different division of Department of Environment and Forests have participated.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Guest, Shri Kamal Datta, IFS appreciated the initiative taken in providing skill training under this course. He indicated how this course will be advantageous in capacity building and imparting knowledge on Biodiversity of island ecosystem. He showed his appreciation to ZSI/ANRC, Port Blair for organizing this knowledge-based capacity building program and informed that the next course will implement all the stratified comments in the feedback. He encouraged the field training and offline classes for the trainees to have a better interaction with the experts.
In his felicitation address, guest of honour Dr. S. Senthil Kumar, IFS admired the present course and its proposal for serving trainees in procedure of developing and solidification the skills, predispositions, aptitudes, procedures and resources that governments and publics need to be cultivated. He mentioned about the formulation of training programmes and seminars for all level of staff to strengthen their knowledge on modern techniques and so they can use this conservation of nature for the future generation. He congratulated the trainees and showed his appreciation for the trainees who came with flying colours and emphasized the role of forest rangers as a regulator of assortment of proposed biological resources which should not affect the sustainability of the resources; entail any environmental impact; shall not pose any risk to ecosystems; adversely affect the local communities.
Shri Kuldeep Sharma, IFS, DCF, Mill Division, in his address began with a gratitude towards Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Port Blair and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests for employing these kinds of courses. He stated that this form of course implants the knowledge in capsule mode on relevant issues and inspire trainees for a better experience which will be put out through interactions with the notables. The speaker mentioned about the need for detailed taxonomic and surveying techniques in preparation of PBRs.
Dr. C. Sivaperuman, Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Port Blair in his welcome address mentioned how the institute has developed this course for the front-line staffs. The main objective of this course was to inform the duty personnel on how to prepare the People Biodiversity register through standard procedure. He emphasized the role of Zoological survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional centre, Port Blair. He said how these unplanned visits to the nature has developed a keen in the forest officials for bird watching and observation of nature. He accentuated about the fourteen lectures which has been offered during the course work. Many topics such as, flora and fauna of ANI, mangroves, aquatic insects, spiders, techniques on preservation and documentation and curation of insects have been dealt by lecturers from online and offline. He mentioned how the trainees have been benefitted by a half-day lecture on preparation of PBR by the expert. Besides, one day field trip was organized for the trainees where they were given a glimpse of Intertidal marine fauna at Burmanallah viz. Ascidians, Coral, Coral associated Crabs, Sea Anemones, Sponges, Sea cucumbers and other molluscs. In addition to this terrestrial field training was conducted at Chidiyatapu Reserve Forest, Sippighat and Ograbraj where they were taught to identify both forest and wetland birds as well as insects and spiders. In his course report he mentioned that 90% of trainees scored more than 60% in their evaluation. He extended his gratitude to the Department of Environment and Forests for the support and insights they have given in performing a well organised course. The participation certificates were distributed to the trainees by Chief Guest and Guests of Honour of the programme. The valedictory function conducted with vote of thanks.