Objectives of Advanced Forest Management Course

    After the National Forest Policy 1988, the forestry sector required a transformation within the forest service to a new way of working, redefined our roles and the development of a service capacity with attendant systems, structure, technology, skills, knowledge and attitudes. In this regards, a project named “Forestry Training Project” was submitted to DFID in 1999 and was approved in 2000. The project proposed a specific Action Plan for MoEF with DFID to initiate improvements in forest service training. The grant was given by DFIDI for developing infrastructure to start the training. Besides providing infrastructure like Administrative Building, Local Area Network, Library and Computer facility and Executive Hostel by DFID, the Academy was given the status of Staff College. But without waiting for infrastructure to complete Advanced Forest Management Courses were started from 2000 onwards at three levels i.e. 10th year, 17th year and 20st year.

    The idea to train in-service officers at three levels is that during this particular time they change their roles/duties such as at 10th year they are at the executive level, at 17th year supervisory level and at 21st year they are at the policy or decision making level.

 

Objective of AFM

 

    The basic objectives of this type of training are :-

 

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To help the participants to update their knowledge, sharpen their skills and develop expertise for the recent transformation in forestry sector.

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To foster in them positive attitudes and values appropriate to the country’s socio-economic goals.

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To enhance their administrative capability and to make them more responsive to the needs of the people.

 

The courses are being designed keeping in view the seniority of the participants at different levels who have worked in the fields in different capacities and at decision making level also. Initially, the selected thrust areas were

 

  1. Computer Application in Forestry, Remote Sensing and GIS

  2. Human Resource Development

  3. Bio-diversity Conservation and Wildlife Management

  4. Policy and Legal Issues

  5. Core Forestry Contemporary Issues

 

    The topics are being selected broadly related to these five categories of Forestry Sector.  The topics are being updated keeping the target group in mind and also as per the latest developments in forestry sector and from feedbacks given by the participants of earlier courses.

Objectives of AFMC at 10th Year

    It is at this stage that officers have completed one or two division charges and are poised for taking higher responsibilities. These officers are required to take tasks of planning and frontline activities in managing forest areas.

 

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Updating their professional knowledge and skills with a latest development in the forestry sector.
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  To cover their different orientation like planning orientation, research orientation and integrated development.
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To opt for a particular specialization of their choice like protected area management, watershed management, extension activities, project formulation, GIS and Computer applications in forestry etc.

 

    Initially a training package of four weeks (now three weeks) was designed keeping the objectives in mind.

 

Objectives of AFMC at 17th Year

 

    The officers with 16th year of service are normally promoted or are likely to be promoted as Conservator of Forest. The specific objectives for this course are:

 

  1. Specific job orientation to handle better supervisory roles in their charge

  2. To guide the juniors in day to day activities

  3. Updating their professional knowledge and skills with a latest development in the forestry sector particularly in coordination, financial management, eco-development and participatory management etc.

 

    The emphasis are also being given to the human resource development, planning, managing the change, motivation, leadership and behaviour skills so as to enable them to work more effectively. Also at this level the officers have to manage stress, resolve conflict, express leadership qualities and show behavioural skills to work more effectively. Staff training and development, job analysis and evaluation, monitoring and appraisal are some of the qualities desirable in Conservator of Forests.

 

Objectives of AFMC at 21st Year

 

    The two week course has been designed for the officers after 21 year of service. The officers are at the level of CCFs or are likely to be promoted to the rank of CCF. The specific objectives of this course are:

 

  1. To develop an attitude to visualize issues in larger perspectives/landscapes

  2. To increase efficiency in developing strategies to address future issues

  3. To upgrade their skills mainly in problems solving, policy planning, coordination at senior departmental levels and networking with forestry and related organizations.

    The main emphasis are being given to human resource related skills and issues related to policy planning, envisioning, developing missions, negotiations and essentials of networking. Due emphasis are also being given to review the existing policies and analysis, developing prospective planning, job analysis and evaluations and also performance appraisal.