Dirang, Mar 13:  The second slot of the “Naturalist & Special Interest Guide” training was conducted here in Sangti Village in West Kameng district from March 11-13 which was attended by 45 participants from Bhalukpong, Dirang, Sangti, Thembang, Chug, Tawang, Zimithang, Nyukmadung, Thrizino, M.Camp, Seppa, Jigaon and Naharlagun.

It can be recalled that the first slot was organized for Eastern Arunachal Pradesh between March 5-7 attended by 43 participants from five Eastern districts which started  from Miao, Namdapha National Park in Changlang district. 

The training was a part of the initiative undertaken by the  Department of Tourism with the aim for bringing ‘sustainable development in villages’ with  interference through “Responsible Tourism Policy” and  Sangti Village which is famous for the Black Necked Crane was chosen as the venue. As a part of the training, all villages within the approved tourism circuits were planned with inputs of local, natural and cultural heritage conservation, meaningful education for children in destinations, waste management, community empowerment and convergence in a phase-wise pattern. Several organizations, locally, nationally and internationally had been connected time to time and the vision was led by the Secretary, Department of Tourism Sadhana Deori and implemented under the  guidance of  Deputy Director, Human Resource wing of the Department Bengia Manna Sonam. The initiative was coordinated by Adviser to the Department on Rural Tourism & Homestays Raj Basu and trainings were organized with support from Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT) and Arunachal Pradesh Society for Education Development (APSED).

The training was inaugurated by District Tourism Officer at Bomdila, Tracy W.Thongdok and was coordinated by TIO Headquarter Duyir Buni Yedi and TIO Bhalukpong Eileen Lowangcha. Elaborate technical sessions, both academic and field-based were led by Soumyadeep Datta, a noted conservationist and writer from Dibrugarh and Kolappa Venkatesh, noted Naturalist.  Classes included biodiversity learning and leadership, guiding techniques, making of an Ecotourist, interpretation of nature & culture in field, role of naturalist etc. Introduction to adventure sports and necessary equipment along with wilderness first aid was supported by NIMAS Dirang, under the special care of its Director Col. Sarfaraz Singh.  Bird watching, landscape interpretation, rock climbing, rope hurdles, photography, trail guiding and destination activity generation were arranged for the participants.

The concluding session on Friday was through an Ecotourism destination presentation from Bapu Pema Wange of WWF-India, Tezpur office and Swastik Sarkar from Dhubri. The session was chaired by the Deputy Director of Department of Tourism who also gave away the certificates. The 12 residents of Sangti Village who had gone for a familiarization tour to Chuikhim Village in Kalimpong district in West Bengal for getting oriented with the model of “Healing Village in Tourism” shared their experiences and were also given certificates.