Three Days Pilot Capacity Building Training Programme for Biodiversity Management Committees of West Bengal
Three days Pilot Capacity Building training programme for Biodiversity Management Committees of West Bengal was organised by BSI Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP), Programme Centre- Resource Partner on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India. This training, which was held in collaboration with the West Bengal Biodiversity Board (WBBB), took place from February 21 to February 23, 2025, at Krish Villa, Garh Salboni, Jhargram.
The training programme was inaugurated on February 21, 2025, with an esteemed gathering of dignitaries and experts. Dr. H.S. Debnath, the Chairman of the West Bengal Biodiversity Board, was the chief guest for the occasion, and he expressed his views on the importance of building the capacity of local communities for effective biodiversity management. Also present were Mr. Subhrajit Gupta, SDO of Jhargram, Mr. Subhajit Bhar, DPRDO & DNO of Jhargram, Mr. Mridul Srimany, DMDC & DNO of Paschim Medinipur, Dr. J.S. Jalal, Scientist ‘E’ at BSI and Coordinator of BSI EIACP, and Dr. Anirban Roy, Research Officer at WBBB. A total 50 members from BMCs of six districts of West Bengal attended the programme. A special moment during the inauguration was the release of a training manual in Bengali by the dignitaries, which aimed at enhancing the understanding of biodiversity issues among local community members.
The first day of the training focused on enhancing the understanding of biodiversity-related concepts, challenges, and management strategies among the participants. The resource persons, who presented lectures in regional and Alchiki languages (Santali), covered a wide range of topics, including: Biodiversity Profile of India- An overview, Biodiversity threat, acts & rules, biodiversity conservation & sustainable management through flagship programme, constitution of BMC & its operation, documentation & importance of PBR, ABS mechanism & sharing experience of tribal knowledge. The lectures were delivered by various experts, including Dr. Roy, Research Officer, WBBB, Dr. Manoj Emanual Hembram, Scientist ‘C’ at AJCBIBG, BSI, Howrah; Ms. Kalpana Murmu, Assistant Professor at Mahishadal Raj College, Purba Medinipur; and Mr. Purnendu Paul, WBBB.
The second day of the training involved a field visit, providing BMC members with the opportunity to witness biodiversity conservation efforts firsthand. The visit was to the Chilkigarh Biodiversity Heritage Site and the Amlachati Medicinal Plant Garden in Jhargram. Furthermore, the MissionLiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment) awareness programme was conducted on this day. MissionLiFE is an initiative aimed at encouraging sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyles to protect the environment. During the session, all BMC members took the MissionLiFE pledge to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives and promote environmental protection in their communities.
The final day of the programme featured a Panel Discussion on Future Strategies for biodiversity conservation. This session allowed BMC members, resource persons, and dignitaries to engage in dialogue on improving future conservation strategies and the role of local communities in managing biodiversity. Various strategies were proposed, such as enhancing community participation, better implementation of biodiversity laws, and increasing awareness about the importance of biodiversity for sustainable development. All the BMC members also provided valuable feedback on the training programme, sharing their experiences and thoughts on how it could be improved. The day concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony, where all the BMC members received certificates acknowledging their participation and completion of the training programme.
The three-day programme received media attention and was covered by major newspapers, including Anandabazar Patrika and Pratidin, which published reports on the event on February 22, 2025, and February 24, 2025, respectively. The media coverage helped raise awareness about the training programme and the importance of biodiversity conservation among a wider audience.
Soumen Gantait1* and J.S. Jalal2
1EIACP PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India, Howrah 711 103
2Botanical Survey of India, Head Quarter, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 064