Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 19 October 2025
A week-long compulsory training course on ‘Natural Resource Management and Conflict Resolution Skills for Forest Management’ for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, organized by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre, concluded recently at Sea Shell Coral Cove, Minnie Bay. The programme was sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
IFS officers from various States and Union Territories participated in the training, which focused on equipping forest officers with advanced skills in sustainable resource management and effective conflict resolution within forest ecosystems.
Delivering the valedictory address as the chief guest, Dr. Suvarna C., IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) & HoFF, Government of Telangana, expressed her appreciation to the organizers. She lauded the course as an excellent opportunity to “grow, learn, and rejuvenate,” highlighting the importance of such platforms for professional exchange and collaboration among officers across the country.
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, also addressed the participants.
Throughout the training, eminent resource persons delivered lectures on topics such as sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem-based approaches. The programme also included field visits, allowing officers to gain first-hand exposure to the distinctive ecosystems and conservation challenges of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Earlier, Dr. Sivaperuman, Course Director and Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, welcomed the gathering and set the tone for the week’s proceedings.
