Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 17: The one-week compulsory training course on “Natural Resource Management and Conflict Resolution Skills for Forest Management” for Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officers conducted by the Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre from 13th to 17th October, 2025 culminated on 17th October 2025. The training programme is sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, total of 30 IFS officers from various States and Union Territory, including AGMUT, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal participated in this programme.
The valedictory function was held today at Sea Shell Coral Cove, Minnie. Dr. Suvarna, C., IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & HoFF, Government of Telangana was the Chief Guest; Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Department of Environment and Forests, A & N Islands, and Dr. P.S. Easa, Former Director of Kerala Forest Research Institute, Thrissur was the special guests.
The course has been designed to include both classroom sessions and practical field exercises, aimed at equipping officers with in-depth knowledge of resource management and conflict resolution approaches, particularly in sensitive and ecologically fragile landscapes. Four technical sessions comprising eight expert talks were held on the theme of the training course. Renowned resource persons delivered insightful lectures covering various aspects of sustainable management, conservation practices and ecosystem-based approaches. In addition to classroom sessions, field visits were organized to provide participants with hands-on exposure to the unique ecosystems of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As a part of field training, the participants visited Rani Jhansi Marine National Park; Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Baratang Mangroves & Lime Stone Caves, Chidiyatappu Biological Park.
Dr. Suvarna in her valedictory address, conveyed her profound appreciation to the organisers for giving her the chance to take part in the training course. Despite the enormous number of participants and logistical problems, she praised the organisation of the training program.
Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan in his address, greeted the participants warmly and emphasized the particular climatic and infrastructure difficulties faced by the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He praised the organisers for making sure everyone had a comfortable stay and that the training program ran smoothly. He concluded by encouraging the participants to cherish their experiences in the islands and carry forward the learnings and connections built during the programme.
Dr. P.S. Easa in his address, expressed gratitude for the training program’s overall management and the chance to interact with participants from all across the nation. Additionally, Dr. Easa highlights participants giving brief (5–10 minute) talks on important conservation concerns specific to their states. In addition to improving peer-to-peer learning, he said, this will highlight a variety of regional experiences and solutions. Also, he expressed gratitude to the entire team for organising a meaningful and impactful training programme.
Earlier, Dr. Sivaperuman, Course Director and Officer-in-Charge, welcomed the gathering. He outlined the training course’s goals and reports in his welcome speech. Additionally, he highlighted how the Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, organises various training courses at different levels. The session ended with a vote of gratitude when the Chief Guest and Special Guests gave the trainees their certificates.