Bijbehara May 12 (KNS): J&K Forest Department organized a Two days Training-cum-Capacity Building workshop at South Forest Headquarters, Bijbehara on Forest Demarcation for the forest frontline staff at South Forest Headquarters, Bijbehara. The program was organized in collaboration with Forest Demarcation Division, Kashmir Region in which about thirty five forest officials participated.
At the outset during inaugural session, Conservator of Forests, South Kashmir, Irfan Ali Shah, welcomed all the Forest trainees as well as domain experts and trainers from the Demarcation Division Kashmir. He said that Forests cover about 48% of total land area in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, so demarcation of the forest land is of utmost importance in the present scenario.
He stressed upon maintaining a proper balance between developmental imperatives and ecological needs so that sustainable development could be achieved. Shah informed that traditionally, the Forest Officers alongwith Revenue Officers demarcated the forests using traditional equipment’s but with the advent of modern technology, our Foresters need to adopt themselves with the advanced technologies like GPS, GIS, PDA, formation of KMZ & KML files and even drone technology. He informed that these training programs are a step in this direction. He directed all forest officers to ensure Demarcation of Forest lands strictly in accordance with Forest Records.
The first Technical session was taken by DFO Demarcation Division, Kashmir Region Syed Jawad-ul-Hassan who briefed about the history of demarcation in Kashmir. He also made trainees aware about demarcation maps and Tashrreeh Burjat. Shabir Ahmad Dar, In charge IT Lab, made participants aware about Geo-referencing, use of Global Positioning System and knowledge of KMZ file. Javaid Ahmad Nathkhan, Range Officer South Demarcation Range briefed about land dispute issues and their disposal in the light of rules and relevant laws.
On the second day of training, the trainees were given exposure to various field exercises and skills viz Forest Demarcation in Hutmurra, Manigam Forests of Lidder Forest Division. The programme was coordinated by DFO Kulgam Syed Wasim Gull, who in his address spoke about the Technicalities of Forest Surveying and need for having practical knowhow of Demarcation field work for forest officials.
The programme was attended by Senior Forest officials including Mohammad Iftikar-ul-Zaman ACF, Kulgam Forest Division, Naib Tehsildar Demarcation Division Srinagar, Forest Guards, Rehber e Janglaat Officials from all Forest Divisions of South Kashmir and Forest Protection Force personnel from different Gamma Units of South Kashmir.(KNS)