Capacity building programme held for BMC members

M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in collaboration with the Odisha Biodiversity Board (OBB), Bhubaneswar, organized a one day capacity building programme for 14 Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) members from Boipariguda, Jeypore and Kundra CD blocks of Koraput district. The programme was organized at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Jeypore on October 5, 2018. 77 board members participated in this meeting consisting of  eight foresters, 12 teachers, 14 traditional health practitioners, 12 traditional birth attendants,  13 panchayat representatives and 14 key local knowledge holders. 4 other eminent persons including President Awardee high school teacher, Dr. Om Prakash Mishra of Jeypore region and Mr. Uma Mahesh, ACF, Koraput participated.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. E.D. Oliver King, Director I/C, MSSRF, Jeypore. This training was followed by a series of lectures on BMC formation, aims and objectives of the Biological Diversity Act, and responsibilities of the committee. Dr. Sudhansu Nayak, Coordinator, OBB and Dr. Prasad, Plant scientist, OBB, Bhubaneswar explained about plant diversity and its importance for mankind. Dr. Satya Ranjan Behera, Zoologist, OBB, Bhubaneswar briefed about animal diversity and its importance to the members. Dr. Kartik Charan Lenka, Scientist, MSSRF spoke about the local bio-diversity of Koraput region. There was a discussion to propose Gupteswar Forest Region under Haldikund Biodiversity Management Committee (Guptaswar Saibapitha Jaibabibidha Aitihya Kendra) as a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Odisha Biodiversity Board will extend its support to take it forward. The programme was coordinated by Dr. Lenka.