Kumar Bahukhandi
Representational Image (File Photo )
Raipur : The Chhattisgarh State Biodiversity Board is strengthening biodiversity conservation by linking tribal youth with structured skill-development programmes. Launched under the leadership of Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, and supported by the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Green Skill Development Programme is designed to equip young people living in forest regions with practical knowledge, field-based training and employment opportunities in biodiversity-linked sectors.
A bridge between traditional knowledge, modern skills and new livelihoods
Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap said the initiative, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s government, is helping tribal youth gain skills, awareness and options while strengthening the state’s biodiversity conservation efforts. The programme aims to introduce young people to new career avenues, encourage environment-friendly occupations and enable them to play an informed role in protecting local natural resources.
Training modules covered national park guiding, tourist guiding, natural history interpretation, forest resource assistance, traditional biodiversity conservation practices and various forest-based livelihood skills.
105 youth trained in the first phase
In the first phase, 105 youth from various districts including Janjgir, Katghora, Korba, Jagdalpur, Bijapur and Sukma completed the 10 to 30-day residential training. Offered free of cost, the programme included field exposure, biodiversity identification, ecological sensitivity, forest resource conservation and documentation of medicinal plants.
A notable highlight was the participation of 65 youth from Sukma, who identified 153 plant species and 47 bird species during field exercises. Forest specialists also trained participants in herbarium preparation, biodiversity surveying and the use of scientific equipment.
Preserving traditional knowledge through scientific methods
A key component of the programme is teaching participants how to preserve traditional ecological knowledge through scientific documentation. This approach has increased community awareness and encouraged stronger grassroots participation in conservation of natural resources activities.
Youth now able to identify rare species and access new livelihood options
The training has helped the youth to recognise rare plant and animal species in their regions with greater accuracy. Many trained youth have already found work as eco-guides, nature guides, members of baseline survey teams and in eco-tourism activities. The programme is emerging as a promising model for combining biodiversity conservation with livelihood creation, particularly in tribal and forest-rich areas of the state.
