MoEF & CC Sponsored Training on 'Biodiversity Conservation & Nature Education' for Eco Club teachers.

IFGTB through Extension division imparted 3 day training on the theme "Biodiversity Conservation & Nature Education" to the teachers of Eco-Club schools of Coimbatore district. The main objective of the training was to develop biodiversity consciousness, and impart action oriented biodiversity education methods, hands on activities and exposure visits to the Eco club teachers. The training was sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India under the Umbrella Scheme of "Forestry Training & Capacity Building - Training of other Stakeholders. The three day module was attended by 32 Eco-Club teachers of Panchayat union schools, Government high schools in and around Coimbatore district nominated by the office of Chief Education Officer, Coimbatore district.

The technical sessions of the training had inputs on "Over view of biodiversity conservation in India" "Wetlands Biodiversity", "Birds & Butterflies" .An exclusive one day field trip to Baralikadu Ecotourism was organized as part of training to learn on the community initiatives in biodiversity conservation. Dr. Mohit Gera, Director IFGTB delivered a talk on "Biodiversity & Climate Change" and he also showed a film on Climate Change to participants. Hands on exercise for the participants on Herbarium techniques and demonstrated the methods in the Fischer's Herbarium were also given. Later the participants also visited Gass Forest Museum in IFGTB to learn importance of Natural History as education tool.

Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS, Director IFGTB felicitated Smt. R. Sathy, Head Mistress, Panchayat Union Primary School, Malumichampati, Coimbatore & National Award winner for best teacher 2017 for her achievement and contribution to excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities in the school. Smt. R. Sathy also shared her experiences with all the participants on the efforts taken by her and her team in bringing visible changes in making villages open defecation free. A training manual on "Biodiversity Conservation and Nature Education for Eco Club Teachers" was released by Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS, Director, IFGTB. Shri. Ayyannan, Chief Education Officer and Smt. Geetha, District Education Officer graced the inaugural and valedictory session of the training respectively.

MoEF & CC Sponsored Training �Popularizing Trees Outside Forest� to the KVK Scientists

IFGTB through Extension division imparted 3 day training on the theme "Biodiversity Conservation & Nature Education" to the teachers of Eco-Club schools of Coimbatore district. The main objective of the training was to develop biodiversity consciousness, and impart action oriented biodiversity education methods, hands on activities and exposure visits to the Eco club teachers. The training was sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India under the Umbrella Scheme of Forestry Training & Capacity Building- Training of other Stakeholders. The three day module was attended by 32 Eco-Club teachers of Panchayat union schools, Government high schools in and around Coimbatore district nominated by the office of Chief Education Officer, Coimbatore district.

The technical sessions of the training had inputs on "Over view of biodiversity conservation in India" "Wetlands Biodiversity", "Birds & Butterflies" .An exclusive one day field trip to Baralikadu Ecotourism was organized as part of training to learn on the community initiatives in biodiversity conservation. Dr. Mohit Gera, Director IFGTB delivered a talk on "Biodiversity & Climate Change" and he also showed a film on Climate Change to participants. Hands on exercise for the participants on Herbarium techniques and demonstrated the methods in the Fischer's Herbarium were also given. Later the participants also visited Gass Forest Museum in IFGTB to learn importance of Natural History as education tool.

Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS, Director IFGTB felicitated Smt. R. Sathy, Head Mistress, Panchayat Union Primary School, Malumichampati, Coimbatore & National Award winner for best teacher 2017 for her achievement and contribution to excellence in academic and extra-curricular activities in the school. Smt. R. Sathy also shared her experiences with all the participants on the efforts taken by her and her team in bringing visible changes in making villages open defecation free. A training manual on "Biodiversity Conservation & Nature Education for Eco Club Teachers" was released by Dr. Mohit Gera, IFS, Director, IFGTB. Shri. Ayyannan, Chief Education Officer and Smt. Geetha, District Education Officer graced the inaugural and valedictory session of the training respectively.

IFGTB through Extension division imparted 3 day training on 14-16th November, 2018 on the theme "Popularizing Trees Outside Forest" to the KVK Scientists. The main objective of this training is to popularize and scale up the concept of Trees Outside Forests and for wider dissemination of forestry research and technologies to the farmers. The convergence of IFGTB's forestry research expertise coupled with larger field network of KVK scientists would pave way for wider dissemination of technologies to farmers. The training was sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India under the Umbrella Scheme of 'Forestry Training & Capacity Building- Training for Personnel for Other Services'.

The three day module was attended by 24 KVK Scientists nominated by the office of Directorate of Extension Education, TNAU, Coimbatore and other KVKs of Tamil Nadu. The module included technical sessions on Clonal Technology of important tree species, Agro forestry models, industrially important indigenous species, Advances in clonal propagation of trees, Carbon sequestration potential of trees outside forests, integrated pest and disease management. The participants also visited Vegetative Multiplication Garden in IFGTB to learn new methodologies in clonal propagation of tree species.

An exclusive one day field trip to Tamil Nadu Newsprint & Papers Limited (TNPL), Karur and farmer field was organized as part of training to learn significant impact of industrial agro forestry in increasing farm income. They also visited a farmer's field in Chinnamaruthur village of Nammakal District wherein the comparative growth of clones of IFGTB viz., CH5 and CJ9 of Casuarina were seen.

Dr. H. Philip, Director Extension Education graced the Valedictory session of the training. Dr. Mohit Gera highlighted that the recent Memorandum of Understanding of ICAR and ICFRE to promote and accelerate progress in research and training in various disciplines of forestry and agro forestry research, education and extension is forward step to bring in institutional mechanism for convergence. All the participants were given certificates during the valedictory session.

Junior Rangers - Connecting Students with Nature" for students of Kendriya Vidyalaya

Indian Council of Forestry Education & Research (ICFRE) and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) had entered into long term cooperation and mutual understanding in areas of awareness, education and extension through a student-scientist connect programme called 'PRAKRITI'. As a part of this MoU, Extension division of IFGTB imparted 2 days (26-27th December 2018) training on the theme "Junior Rangers - Connecting Students with Nature" for students of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), Sowripalayam, Coimbatore. The main objective of the training was to develop nature and environment consciousness, and impart action oriented learning methods, hands on activities and exposure visits to the students, This training programme was exclusively organized for students from 6th to 9th classes. The two day module attended by 20 students included inputs on role of forests and its conservation, Wetland biodiversity, Birds & butterflies and activity based learning. The participants visited Singanallur lake, Gass Forest Museum in IFGTB and Insect museum of TNAU, Coimbatore.

"Talk to Scientist" module was arranged during programme, wherein the students had a chance to interact with Dr. B. Nagarajan, Scientist G of IFGTB on the role of forests & its conservation. Dr. Mohan Prashanth, Expert on butterflies spoke on the butterflies-their role and significance as pollinators. The "Junior Rangers" also released a "Butterflies - Calendar 2019" designed by Dr. Mohan Prashanth during the occasion.

An exclusive field trip to Singanallur Wetland in Coimbatore was organized as part of training to impart wetland conservation and its pivotal role in landscape ecosystem. The multi agency coordinated approach of Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Center for Urban Biodiversity Conservation & Education (CUBE) and Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) in wetland conservation was highlighted to the students during the exposure visit. IFGTB is giving its technical expertise in setting up the Herbarium for Singanallur Lake, first of its kind for a wetland in Tamil Nadu. Dr.C. Kunhikannan explained to the students on the wide variety of herbs, shrubs, Trees, climbers and medicinal plants in the Singanallur wetland. Ms. Kalaivani, Researcher CUBE took the students on stroll for 1.2 km nature trail to observe the biodiversity and learn from the interpretive signages developed by CUBE as part of their nature education strategy.

The training also included a group activity, wherein four groups were formed to work on themes viz., Seed Art, Wetland modeling, scrap to wealth and Leaf art for activity based learning outcome. Students were exposed to collection methods, preservation techniques and trained for creating small projects on nature conservation. Students presented their group activity explaining the theme, methods used, experiences and actions they would initiate in future. "Nature Quiz" was organized for the students on the lessons learnt and prizes were given to the winners. A certificate, saplings of indigenous trees and booklets on plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians published by IFGTB was distributed to the students.