>  Training  >  In Service Training

In Service Training

Introduction

Another area of focus in the Directorate is organizing the In-service training courses for serving State Forest Service (SFS) Officers and Forest Range Officers (FROs). These courses are aimed at updating the knowledge; improving the skills polishing the attitude and orienting the participants towards the latest developments in the forestry sector worldwide. Usually six to eight In-service training courses are conducted in an academic year in each Academy. Under JICA project improved training-cum-workshop modules had been developed for the In-service training.

These one week training-cum-workshop focus on specific themes like Legal issues in Forestry & Wildlife, Training of Trainers, Wildlife Management, Human Resource Management and Community Forestry & JFM. A one week General Refresher Course is also conducted for the RFOs inducted into SFS.

The General Refresher Course is designed in a way to refresh the professional skills of the in-service officers and also to help them keep abreast of the sector at all levels, including regional, national and international issue e.g. Protected Area management, bio-diversity conservation, global warming etc. in forestry and related disciplines. This one week course is generally recommended for promoted officers of SFS / FRO cadres.

The ever-increasing population is bringing pressure on space and resources of mega-cities. The smaller towns have also started feeling the pinch. The forest, its resources and wildlife are no exception to this phenomenon. Often, violation of various provisions of Acts, Rules and Regulations governing forest, protected areas, wildlife, etc. are seen and they are showing an increasing trend.

Apart from prevention and early detection of various forest and wildlife offences, it is also imperative to achieve the maximum penalty on the offenders. Ultimately, effective prosecution of offenses in present and as in the past, is the biggest deterrent for future offenders. This scenario is throwing open a challenge before the personnel manning the forests and wildlife to upgrade and update their legal knowledge and acumen. These aspects including knowledge, skills and right interpretation of extant Acts, Rules and Procedures have been kept in view while preparing this course.

The success of training depends upon identification of training needs to make it demand-driven, scientifically design suitable demands of change, deliver effectively with learner centered approach and monitor/ evaluate for further value addition. In addition, mentoring and facilitation has become an integral part of functioning. All these aspects and latest trends in training have been kept in view while preparing this course.

There is an ever-emerging challenge of capacity building of the trainers who join the State Forest Training Institutes from organization postings. It is proposed to respond to this need of Training of Trainers with a systematic approach to training which has been spearheaded by the Department of Personnel and Training of the Government of India, for more than two decades now.

For achieving effective management of the forest resources one of the important issues to be analyzed is existing human resource capabilities and how to build upon them. The performance in Forest Departments of the States depends on the collective contributions of all the officers/officials.

The approach for capacity building of the forestry personnel for protection, conservation and sustainable management of forest resources, using appropriate technology at the same time developing an attitude of working with the stakeholders, is required to be institutionalized. It involves judicious use of authority and keeping the workforce motivated for the effective management of resources.

The ever-increasing human population is mounting pressure on natural resources including forest and wildlife since long. It is of paramount importance to conserve and sustain the wildlife for the existence of mankind.

Though it is very difficult to envisage co-existence of man and animal in present socio-economic human controlled environment, but the exclusive domain of wildlife can be maintained in these natural ecosystems.

The importance of the social dimension of forestry in today's world need not be overtly emphasized. With human population exploding across the globe, the pressure on forests for meeting the needs of fuel wood, fodder, timber has proportionately expanded. The stresses on natural ecosystems due to anthropogenic pressure have assumed dimensions of war not struggle for survival for the natural ecosystems and its myriad inhabitants.

A recognition of the human dimension of forestry led to the implementation of Social and community forestry programmes in the 1970s and 1980s. A further recognition of the people's rights on forests and their role in forestry came in the form of Joint Forest Management (JFM) resolution in 1991.

The Government of India supplements the efforts of State Governments for capacity building of the Frontline Forest Staff (Deputy Rangers / Foresters / Forest Guards) by providing funds to organize short-term training courses of one-week duration each, for a group of 25-30 participants of the concerned State Forest Department where the course is organized.

The State Forest Department provides the infrastructure facilities (e.g. lecture hall, hostel accommodation etc.) and the resource persons to organize these courses. The total duration of the course should be for 6 days (4 sessions / day), out of which 1 day may be devoted to field tours / excursions exercise.