| State/Country | No. of Trainees | Sponsor |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1 | MoEF |
| Orissa | 1 | MoEF |
| Haryana | 1 | MoEF |
| Nepal | 1 | SAARC |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | SAARC |
| Bhutan | 1 | SAARC |
| Bhutan |
1 |
GTF |
| (MoEF - Ministry of Environment & Forests; GTF - Global Tiger Forum; SAARC - South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) | ||
trainees joined
the Course: three from the Forest Department of States from India and four from
neighbouring countries.The officer trainees visited Rajaji National Park on a
Orientation tour during September 26-30, 2008.Contact: pratapsingh@wii.gov.in
Collaborative Workshops on “Leadership and organization development for
performance and results” & “Proposal writing and project management”, Dehradun,
July 7-15, 2008. The UNITAR Hiroshima Fellowship for Afghanistan, started in
late 2003, is a long-term initiative aiming at building leadership and
management skills and providing technical and institutional support to a core
group of senior Afghan government officials, academics and practitioners. The
programme’s long-term objective is to build a dedicated Fellowship Community in
Afghanistan which can become a reference for planning and implementing
capacity-building and training activities at the local and national levels. In
order to provide a better learning environment and considering the security
issues, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific (HoAP) requested the Institute to
organize a workshop for Afghan civil servants.
 |
|
Participants of the UNITAR Hiroshima Fellowship. |
The workshop on
‘Leadership and organizational development and performance and results’ focused
on leadership and its impact on performance and results, stakeholders analysis,
role of social capital and team development and facilitation. Workshop on
‘Project planning and proposal writing’ focussed at equipping participants with
a basic knowledge of project planning and proposal writing in order to prepare
them for work on their team projects. Professor Radha Kumar, member of the
UNITAR Board of Trustees & Director, Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and
Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi attended the
workshop’s closing session and gave a talk on the reality of conflicts and their
reasons. The objectives of the workshop were to: (i) enhance participants’
understanding of project planning; (ii) introduce skills in proposal writing;
and (iii) further develop team projects. 40 senior civil servants from various
ministries and departments of the Government of Afghanistan participated in the
workshop. Contact: vbm@wii.gov.in
Teacher’s Training Course in Environment Education, Dehradun, August
7-12, 2008. This training course was conducted at this Institute in
collaboration with the Friends of Doon Society, Dehradun. The objectives of the
course were to: (i) help teachers understand the linkages between environmental
and sustainable development; (ii) equip teachers to use a problem-solving,
activity oriented, participatory approach suitable for their students; (iii)
help teachers acquire those values of responsible citizenship and care for the
environment which will motivate them to take appropriate action where necessary
to protect the environment; and (iv) help
 |
|
Participants of Teacher Training Course with |
teachers to realize the necessity for continued updating of their knowledge and skills. A total of seven participants attended the course.
Six teachers,
from schools of Dehradun, teaching Environment Education to classes’ seven to
twelve participated in the four-day program. The participants were given inputs
on ecosystem & its functions; little creatures; waste accumulation and
management; natural resources and its utilization; impact of human activities on
environment; and healthy ecosystem. They also visited the library &
documentation centre and forensic laboratory of the Institute and learned some
important techniques of identification of animal products. Two films on ‘Work of
Eco Task Force’ and ‘Vanishing vulture’ were also screened for the participants.
They got hands-on experience on recycling paper. Some assignment and teaching
aid were also given to the participants so that they could use them during their
teaching. Dr. V.B. Mathur, Dean, Faculty of Wildlife Sciences delivered the
Valedictory address. Shri S.K. Mukherjee, President, Friends of Doon Society
presented the certificates to the participants. Contact: bcs@wii.gov.in
 |
|
Participants during the classroom session. |
Training
Course on “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Impact Assessment” for ICFRE
Officers, Dehradun, August 18-22, 2008. The course was organized for
the officers of the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education. The
objectives of the training course were to provide a theoretical rationale for
mainstreaming biodiversity in impact assessment and improved decision-making and
the guidance needed for developing an impact assessment framework for
integrating biodiversity; stimulate the importance of integrating socio-economic
issues and economic valuation principles in EA framework for biodiversity; and
facilitate peer-based learning among IA professionals. A total of 24
participants from different institutes under ICFRE participated in the course.
The course was very well received and has created a demand driven need for
conducting specialized courses in future with a focus on specific development
sectors. Contact: ar@wii.gov.in
Summit of ISSC-MAP workshop, Dehradun, August 26, 2008. Summit of
ISSC-MAP
 |
|
Dr. S. Farooque, M.D. Himalayan Drug Co. addressing the gathering |
workshop in
collaboration with the Industries Association of Uttarakhand was organized
at the Institute. The seminar was chaired by Shri Pankaj Gupta, President of the
Industries Association of Uttarakhand. The programme started with a short
documentary showcasing the potential market for medicinal plants, the herbal
wealth unexplored in the world, depletion of traditional knowledge-base in
generations and plants becoming rare in the wild. Shri Pankaj Gupta emphasized
the building of standards for sustainable development. Dr. S. Farooque,
Himalayan Drug Co. spoke about India being the largest manufacturer and
cultivator of medicinal plants in the world.
The procurement of the raw material is the prime concern of the industries and
help in this regard is expected from the administration for upliftment of the
herbal industry. Dr. Khalid Pasha from TRAFFIC-India emphasized on the
objectives of the International Standards for Sustainable Wild Collection of
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP). Dr. B. S. Adhikari spoke about the
medicinal plant wealth of Uttrakhand and the need for building standards for
sustainability. Contact: adhikaribs@wii.gov.in
School in Herpetology, Dehradun, September 1-14, 2008. An
intensive course in Herpetology (study of amphibians and reptiles) called the
“School in Herpetology” was conducted at the Wildlife Institute of India. This
unique programme was supported by the Science Engineering and Research Council,
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. This course targeted
doctoral students and young faculty in Universities in India and neighbouring
SAARC countries. The course was designed to assist the students pursue careers
in Herpetology. In all 26 participants, comprising of 20 students from India,
three from Sri Lanka, one from Bhutan, one from Nepal and one from Bangladesh
were selected for the course. The selection of these participants was made after
advertising the course and screening from 65 applications.
 |
|
Dr. B.P. Singh, Advisor, DST releasing the poster for the course |
The Inaugural
lecture was made by Mr. Romulus Whitaker, Founder of the Madras Crocodile Bank
Trust, Chennai. The course was organised in five modules: (i) Systematics and
Biogeography, (ii) Ecology and Behaviour, (iii) Reproductive and Developmental
Biology, (iv) Conservation and Management, and (v) Scientific writing. The team
of core faculty members comprised of Prof. David Cannatella, Professor,
University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Indraneil Das, University of Malaysia,
Sarawak; Dr. Anslem De Silva, ARROS, Sri Lanka; Prof. S.K. Dutta, University of
North Orissa; Prof. Vinod Kumar, University of Lucknow; Dr. S. Bhupathy, SACON;
Prof. K.K. Sharma, MDS University, Ajmer; and Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan, WII,
Dehradun. Invited faculty included reputed scientists and academicians: Dr. Eric
Smith, University of Texas at Arlington; Prof. B.C. Choudhury, WII, Dehradun;
Dr. Ramesh K. Aggarwal, CCMB, Hyderabad; Dr. Geoff Hyde, NCBS, Bangalore; Dr.
Brij K. Gupta, CZA, New Delhi; and Dr. Khalid Pasha, TRAFFIC India.
The students were also trained in laboratory techniques such as preservation,
curation, morphometry, behavioural observation of amphibian larvae and
regeneration experiments. A field trip was organized to Kaudiyala, Rishikesh in
a riverside camp. The participants were exposed to field techniques in
herpetology and photo-documentation. During the field trip the participants used
various field techniques and recorded fourteen species of amphibians and
reptiles in the riverside camp site. This course will be conducted each year in
different venues in the country for the next five years catering to students and
young teachers in the Universities with support from DST. Contact:
karthik@wii.gov.in
IV-Internal Annual Research Seminar (IARS), September 16-17, 2008;
and XXII Annual Research Seminar (ARS) of WII, Dehradun, September 18-19,
2008.
 |
|
Dr. K. Sankar, Research Co-ordinator breifing about the IARS of the Institute |
The IARS was chaired by Shri V.B. Sawarkar, Chairman, Training Research & Academic Council (TRAC). During the IARS, 25 presentations were made in seven sessions. These included studies on large carnivores, vegetation and habitat, herpetofaunal studies, human and development aspects, avifaunal studies, molecular genetics and forensics, and studies on insects. The presentations were based on recently initiated and ongoing research studies and were made by M.Sc. students, research fellows and faculty members of the Institute. The presentations were evaluated by a panel of judges. The following were adjudged as the five best presentations made and the concerned were awarded book prizes, each worth Rs. 1500/-.
Shri V.B. Sawarkar
chaired the Annual Research Seminar. In total 26, presentations were made in
seven sessions. These included studies on large carnivores, human aspects of
wildlife conservation, vegetation and wildlife habitats, avifaunal studies,
molecular genetics and forensic studies, studies on coastal and marine
biodiversity, and studies on invertebrates. The presentations were based on the
ongoing research studies and were made by research fellows, faculty members,
Fulbright fellow and a Ph.D. scholar of the Institute.
 |
|
Winners
of Best Presentation Awards during |
About 250
delegates/participants attended the ARS that included the Principal Chief
Conservators of Forests (PCCFs), Chief Wildlife Wardens and other senior
officials representing State Forest Departments, representatives of NGOs,
scientists, conservationists, wildlife experts, faculty members, researchers,
M.Sc. students and the Post Graduate Diploma course officer trainees of WII. A
panel including eminent scientists, academicians, wildlife managers and
conservationists judged the relevance and quality of research by the
presentations made. The best five presentations made were given book awards,
each worth Rs.1500/-.
In the concluding session, the significant enhancement in quality of the
presentations in terms of visuals, graphics, scientific content and incisive
analysis was appreciated. It was acknowledged that while some completed projects
may have very useful management implications, others that have contributed to
scientific knowledge and conservation wisdom were no less valuable. Shri Dey
suggested that the findings of research projects as discussed during the ARS
should be compared with the relevant previous studies. Shri Vinod Rishi
suggested that ongoing research projects need not suggest recommendations. These
could await completion of the projects. Shri Khati welcomed the new initiatives
of WII along with IIT, Delhi, on the role of sensor network in mitigating
human-wildlife conflicts. He requested the Institute to take up more studies on
wildlife corridors and especially in wildlife territorial divisions. Shri V.B.
Sawarkar appreciated the efforts made by the researchers and faculty members in
making excellent seminar presentations. He observed that the probing questions
raised and suggestions made by the delegates/participants stimulated
intellectual discussion and made significant contribution to the quality of the
seminar. He summarised the two-day proceedings and dealt at length on the
importance of the various themes, the quality of research and its direction and
attainment of progress. He highlighted the contribution of projects to wildlife
conservation efforts in the country. Contact:
sankark@wii.gov.in
|
Book Awards for Best
Presentations |
||
| I | Mr. Sabuj Bhattacharya | Distribution, relative abundance and micro-habitat use of Royle’s pika along sub- alpine - alpine ecotone in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya. |
| II | Mr. Ashwini Upadhyay | Status, distribution and habitat use by wild ungulates in Changchenmo Valley, Eastern Ladakh. |
| III | Mr. Tapajit Bhattacharya | Distribution and relative abundance of carnivores, ungulates and galliformes in the western part of Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim: Preliminary Observations. |
| IV | Mr. Vinay Kumar Bhargav | Effect of mixed forest stands on the Biodiversity of borers (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). |
| V. | Mr. Krishnendu Mondal | Estimation of population and food habits of leopards in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. |
|
|
||
| I | Mr. Abishek Harihar | Responses of tiger (Panthera tigris), co-predators and their prey to removal of anthropogenic influences in Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand. |
| II | Ms. Ambica Paliwal | A GIS based approach for assessing habitat suitability for select ungulate species in Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve. |
| III | Ms. Sruthi Kumar | Nesting Ecology of three sympatric species of marine turtles in the Lakshadweep Islands of India and distribution patterns in the offshore lagoon and reef habitats. |
| IV | Ms. Sangeeta Angom | Molecular phylogenetics of Sangai Cervus eldi eldi and Hog deer Axis porcinus based on mitochondrial control region DNA sequence: Preliminary findings. |
| V. | Mr. Upmanyu Hore | Diversity of Spiders in Terai Conservation Area: Higher Taxa surrogates and their Efficiency in Conservation. |