A THREE-DAYspecial training pro gramme on “Micro-Management Plan Preparation” has been organised at the Madhya Pradesh State Forest Research Institute (SFRI), Polipathar, from December 9 to 11. The programme was inaugurated by the Director of the Institute, Pradeep Vasudevanavale. During the inauguration, Director highlighted the importance of micro plan preparation and explained that a micro-plan is a five/ten-year devel opment plan that incorporates the expectations of a large number of people, especially forest-dependent communities and various sections of society.

 

He stated that the plan prioritises activities based on available natural and human resources for the overall and sustainable develop ment of the village, enabling joint development of forest areas and vil lages. It serves as a village-level framework for forest management and development. This need-based, location-specific plan utilises available resources to meet rural requirements, ensuring sustainability, balancing community dependence on forest resources, and protecting biodiversity.

 

Subject experts invited from Bhopal, R B Sharma Dhav, Retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Omkar Singh Rana, Retired Deputy Conservator of Forests, shared insights on the concept, introduction, objectives, preparation methods, pre-prepa ration requirements and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies associated with micro-plan creation. Dr Pratiksha Chaturvedi, In-charge of Forest Management Division and Principal Investigator at the Institute, also discussed the utility of micro-plan development.

 

The programme is spon sored by the Office of the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (SVP), Bhopal. Participants in the training pro gramme include Forest Range Officers, Foresters and Forest Guards from Shivpuri, North Balaghat, South Balaghat, North Betul, North Shahdol, Chhatarpur and Jhabua Forest Divisions. Senior Institute officials, S S Raghuvanshi, Senior Research Officer, Vinay Kumar Kori, Nitesh Soni, Dr D K Kuldeep, Satyam Saxena, Vineet Mehra, Anmol Lucky Ekka, Ajay Lavishkar and Priyanka Verma were also present. During the three-day training, participants will be taken for field vis its to receive practical, hands-on train ing to help them prepare micro-plans for their respective areas with greater ease and efficiency.