The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has been implementing a Central Sector Scheme of Environmental Information System (ENVIS). Major objectives of ENVIS are to provide scientific, technical and semi-technical information on various environmental issues to facilitate policy formulation and environment management at levels of Government as well as in decision-making aimed at environment protection and its improvement for sustaining good quality of life for all living beings. Recently, the MoEF&CC under its revamped ENVIS Scheme has undertaken a new initiative for Green Skill Development in the environment and forest sector in consultation with the National Skill Development Agency to enable India's youth to get gainful employment and/or self-employment, called the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP). The programme endeavors to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development of the country.
To disseminate information on Wildlife and Protected Areas, Wildlife Institute of India was included as the 23rd Environmental Information System Centre in India, with the focal theme "Wildlife and Protected Areas" in September 1997 by the MoEF&CC, India. This Centre deals with general matters concerning "Wildlife" and specifically those related to "Protected Areas".
WII- ENVIS Resource Partner at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun is organizing Certificate Course on Nature Interpretation for Rural Youth under Green Skill Development Programme at Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam from 8-28 July, 2018. This course for the youth from the villages in the proximity of the Protected Area, is of 3-week duration to empower them so that they could enhance their socio-economic status and conserve biodiversity. The trained person will be a nature guide with knowledge of biodiversity, conservation and good communication skills. He/ She can also be an independent nature guide/ naturalist in his local area or could be part of hospitality industry. The trained person will be able to collect baseline data from the field. This will enable them to be part of forest department, wildlife research NGO's and EIA teams etc.
Course Brochure
An overview of the modularized course
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Module
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Learning Outcomes
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MODULE 1 :
Biodiversity, Environment and Ecosystem Services with reference to Manas Tiger Reserve
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· Understand the concept of biodiversity.
· Basics of biodiversity & environment.
· Understand the biodiversity, environment & ecosystem services of Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Aware of common and threatened plants.
· Aware of common heterogeneity of habitats of Manas Tiger Reserve.
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MODULE 2:
Protected Areas – Significance – Classification – Issues & Challenges
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· Understand the importance of establishment of Protected Area Network.
· The issues and challenges faced in a PA.
· Issues and Challenges in management of Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Understand the management of Manas Tiger Reserve.
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MODULE 3:
Environment & Wildlife Legislation
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· Idea about environment laws of India.
· Air Pollution Control Act 1981.
· Water Pollution (control & prevention) Act, 1974.
· Environment Protection Act,1986.
· Effect of pollution on wildlife & ecosystem services.
· How to prevent environment pollution.
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MODULE 4:
Vegetation Identification
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· Describe characteristics of different plants especially common and threatened.
· Describe various habitats of important plants.
· Understand the process of evolution of certain plants.
· Describe the inter-relationship between plants and animals.
· Develop observation qualities on plants.
· Develop a checklist of species of plants.
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MODULE 5:
Mammals
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· Identify and describe the mammals of Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Describe various habitats of important mammals.
· Signs of mammals.
· Behavior of important mammals.
· Develop a checklist of important mammals in Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Conservation of mammals in Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Importance of Mammals in conservation of Manas Tiger Reserve.
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MODULE 6:
Herpetopfauna
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· Identify and describe the frogs and reptiles of Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Role of herpetofauna in Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Conservation of herpetofauna.
· Behavior of certain frogs and reptiles.
· Ecology of herpetofauna.
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MODULE 7:
Bird & Butterfly
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· Identification of butterflies.
· Economic importance of butterflies.
· Ecological role of butterflies.
· Behavior and ecology of butterflies.
· Conservation of butterflies.
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MODULE 8:
Water & Fire Management
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· Role of fire in Manas Tiger Reserve
· Management of fire in Manas Tiger Reserve
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MODULE 9:
Wildlife Tourism & Nature Interpretation
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· Understand the concept of visitor use management.
· Understand the importance of communication with the visitors and their role in PA management.
· Understand the various components of Nature Interpretation
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MODULE 10:
Climate Change
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· Understand the concept of climate change and learn about adaptation strategies.
· Impact of climate change in Manas Tiger Reserve.
· Role of Manas Tiger reserve as a tool to mitigate Climate Change.
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MODULE 11:
English Vocabulary
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· Communicate and use the correct words while interacting with visitors.
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MODULE 12:
First Aid
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· Learn some basic first aid techniques for crisis management
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MODULE 13:
Field Visit
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· Identify plants and animals.
· Understand signs of different visitors.
· Conduct activities for visitors.
· Develop database on presence and absence of species.
· Understand behavior of animals.
· Report sightings of important animals to the Forest Department.
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MODULE 14:
Group Exercise
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· Develop leadership qualities and team building
· Develop quality of better ‘Nature Guide.’
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Course Registration Photos (9 July 2018)
