WEBGIS portal refresher training held in Kohima

Dimapur, Sep. 20 (EMN): A three-day “Refresher training on use of WEBGIS portal and mobile application” on participatory rural appraisal (PRA) map exercise was held at forest office complex in Kohima from September 8 to the 10^th under the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP).

Addressing the participants on the first day of the training, Rajkumar M, DFO and DMU head, Kohima, stated that every individual have to update themselves with the ever changing and progressing technology. He also emphasised that “unless we update ourselves with the emerging technology, we will not be able to catch up with the rest of the world.”

He, therefore, requested the trainers to make the training simple and elaborate as the main purpose of the training was to make the trainees understand and grasp the concept. The DFO also urged all the participants to raise any doubts and utilise the training so that they could transfer the knowledge they have gained to others.

Resource persons Anurag Verma and Dr. Limasanen Imsong described about the WebGIS application and the changes incorporated to the mobile application.

The second day of the training was conducted at Zhadima village under Chiephobozou range where all the participants under the supervision of the resource persons entered data in to the mobile application.

PRA map exercise was also conducted wherein Anurag Verma, GIS expert, explained the importance of the exercise for selection of different treatment areas under NFMP project. He also stated that different types of maps would be helpful the village communities to identify and prioritise the site selection.

On the third day of the training, the uploaded data gathered from the field on the second day using mobile application were reviewed and discussed. The participants also gave feedbacks and suggestions on further improvement of the mobile application.

It may be mentioned here that WebGIS portal is used for evaluation and monitoring of activities under NFMP project, while mobile application is used for field data collection along with PRA map exercise.

Participants from Kohima, Phek, Wokha and Kiphire Divisions along with field management unit heads and staffs and FNGOs under NFMP took part during the three days training.