Mar 2024 – Present · 2 yrs · On-site

• Working as an IFS officer, I am entrusted with the responsibility of forest and wildlife management in the district. It requires enforcement of various statutes such as Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Forest Conservation Act, 1980, etc. The role requires professional approach towards the management of forests through plantation activities, enforcement of forest protection laws, community involvement and awareness generation, etc. I am also responsible for organizing community engagement activities such as plantation drives, PRA exercises, forest fire prevention, etc. The role requires liaison with the district administration and other line departments for implementation of several welfare schemes run by the government. It also requires monitoring the revenue generating activities of the department such as resin production, timber production, etc. and provide vital inputs for revenue enhancement. Human resource management is also one of the key aspects of the role as it requires active management of the field staff such as Sub-Divisional Officers, Range Officers, Foresters, Forest Guards, etc. as well as the office staff which generally comprises of the clerical personnel. The role also requires alertness and responsiveness towards challenges such as forest fires, human-animal conflict, climate change, deforestation pressures, etc. I have also got opportunities to work for ecotourism initiatives such as Munsyari Eco-Park which aim at providing nature-based sustainable tourism while also providing livelihood benefits to the local people. The role also gives exposure for interaction with border management agencies like SSB, ITBP, Army, etc. and liaison with them for ensuring forest protection.

Jun 2023 – Mar 2024 · 9 mos · On-site

• As the DFO, Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR), I strived for wildlife protection and management at the Protected Area. The role involved end-to-end implementation of the Tiger Conservation Plan. I also managed and oversaw three wildlife ecotourism zones viz. Durgadevi, Pakhro and Sonanadi. Oversaw the adherence to wildlife management principles and ensured regular patrolling was done throughout the area, which was monitored through the MStripes app. Contributed significantly to the successful organization of 'Global Tiger Day' which was presided by the Hon'ble Minister of Forest and Environment, Government of India. Livelihood generating programme were also implemented through the Eco Development Committees (EDCs), which thus led to positive outcome of local people working for forest and wildlife conservation. Significant contribution was also made in the domain of human-wildlife conflict mitigation through engagement of Quick Response Teams (QRTs), which worked relentlessly for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Capacity building programme and trainings were conducted regularly for the field staff so as to enable them to professionally undertake wildlife rescue by utilizing modern technique and equipment.

Jul 2022 – May 2023 · 10 mos · On-site

• As the DFO, I was responsible for enforcement of forest and wildlife protection laws alongside implementing activities as prescribed in the division’s working plan. I was also responsible for providing revenue to the government through various activities like production of resin [and its sale], timber production from dead/diseased trees, booking of forest rest houses, etc. I was also responsible for mitigating human-animal conflict, implementing government welfare programmes, liaising with other line departments for implementation of government programme, involving local institutions, NGOs, in implementation of government initiatives, etc. The role also required oversight of the Private Forest Estates in Mussoorie and ensure strict implementation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. I also endeavored to ensure timely resolution of court cases related to the department. I also strived for the well-being of the subordinate staff by solving their personal/professional issues and HRD related issues.

Dec 2021 – Jul 2022 · 7 mos · On-site

• As the Deputy Director at the Uttarakhand Forestry Training Academy (UFTA), I was responsible for organizing and coordinating the training program of front line staff of the forest department such as forest guards, foresters, range officers, etc. During the tenure, various batches of forest guards and range officers underwent the training at the institute where they were imparted training in forest laws, biometry, field botany, wildlife science, etc. as well as practical aspects of forest and wildlife management. The training comprised of both classroom curricula as well as field tours to form the perfect blend for providing holistic training to the field staff.

Oct 2019 – Nov 2021 · 2 yrs 1 mo · On-site

• This being my first posting as a field officer, I got the opportunity to work for forest and wildlife management with a wide ambit. I ensured strict enforcement of forest protection laws such as Indian Forest Act, Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and wildlife protection laws such as Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. As the Nodal DFO of the Chamoli District, I had to liaison with the district administration for implementation of welfare schemes of the government, I also successfully implemented two CAT (Catchment Area Treatment) Plans viz. Tapovan-Vishnugad CAT Plan and Vishnugad-Pipalkoti CAT Plans, which involved a holistic and multi-faceted approach. They involved implementation of Preparatory Phase activities, Entry-Point activities, Watershed Management Activities, Consolidation Phase activities, etc. The division was one of the leading chir-pine resin producers in the State of Uttarakhand, thus requiring regular monitoring for meeting the production targets and checking illegal extraction. I also successfully organized the 'Birahi Nature Festival' which garnered participation from nature enthusiasts, birding enthusiasts, etc. and gained significant appreciation from one and all. The experience gained as a Natural Resource Manager was highly satisfying as it spread across various domains such as forest protection and conservation, wildlife protection and conservation, natural resource management, human resource management, office management, community engagement, etc.