Guwahati, May 5: The Department of Forestry at The Assam Royal Global University has recently organized a Training Programme on Quantification of Forest Ecosystem Services (FES), integrating field-based learning with hands-on exposure for
students.
The programme was conducted by renowned forestry expert Dibakar Deb, IFS (Retd.),
former Silviculturist of Assam, along with his experienced team. The initiative aimed to
bridge theoretical knowledge with practical application in the emerging and crucial
domain of ecosystem service assessment.
The training focused on introducing students to the conceptual framework of forest
ecosystem services and familiarizing them with globally accepted classification and
quantification approaches. It also emphasized hands-on exposure to field-based data
collection methods and demonstrated techniques for quantifying and valuing ecosystem
services.
Special attention was given to the relevance of FES in climate change
mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and environmental planning.
Participants included students from B.Sc. Forestry (4th Semester) and M.Sc. Forestry
(4th Semester), who actively engaged in a comprehensive learning process.
The programme adopted a blended mode of training comprising classroom lectures, interactive sessions,
practical demonstrations, and field-based exposure in nearby forest ecosystems.
Additionally, students were guided through data analysis and interpretation exercises to
strengthen their analytical skills.
The course content covered key areas such as an overview of forest ecosystem services
from global and national perspectives, classification frameworks, and field
methodologies for assessing biomass, carbon, soil, hydrological, climate stabilization,
cultural, and provisioning services. The program also introduced valuation approaches
and key indicators used in ecosystem service assessment.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Deb highlighted the growing importance of quantifying
ecosystem services in policy-making and sustainable forest management. Drawing from
his extensive experience in forest management, carbon monitoring, biomass estimation,
and ecosystem valuation, he provided valuable insights into real-world applications and
scientific documentation practices.
