The broad mandate of this group is to convert the extensive knowledge base of FRLHT into educational products. These products are to form a wide array that can then position themselves to meaningfully enter into institutional libraries, NGO extension programs, mainstream media, schools and college syllabi, as well as academic forum. These products also assist the in situ, ex situ and research components of the organisation. The various communication products that the unit has produced thus far include books, posters, slides, videos and CD ROMS. In time, we hope to develop enough flexibility to develop a whole line of products that cater to a wide range of user need.

Designing and developing need-based conservation training and educational courses

In order to address the emerging training and educational needs of the different target groups involved in the implementation of medicinal plant conservation initiatives, different training and educational programmes were organized. These training and educational programmes, on one hand, have served as effective means for capacity-building among the audience, while on the other hand, they have served as a common forum for interaction with fellow colleagues and the FRLHT team.

Training courses for the forest officers from the MPCAs and MPDAs
Under the in-situ component of the DANIDA project on medicinal plants conservation, the training programmes emphasized the need for internalising the MPCA programme and continuation of MPC initiatives beyond the project period. Therefore the training programmes assumed the form of combined workshops and TOT programmes. Accordingly, the programmes were structured to address the issues such as medicinal plants conservation, sustainability and internalization of the MPCA programme, training and communication skills, and simple extension activities for the forest field staff. Following are the training events organized for the different target groups under in-situ.

Training courses for the MPCP agencies
In the case of the programmes designed for the MPCP requirements, it was the outreach audience associated with the MPCP programmes that became the target group for training initiatives. These programmes addressed the select teachers from the higher secondary schools located near the MPCPs in Tamil Nadu. These programmes were organized to sensitise and make them appreciate the role of teachers in the conservation education activities in the schools. Following are the training events organized for the different target groups under ex-situ.

Training literature set
Appropriate reading material in Kannada for the use of the field staff from the MPCAs and MPDAs of Karnataka has been develop to be used as post learning material.

Training module packages
Five training module packages were developed for the use of field trainers in the Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS) associated with the implementation of World Bank programme on medicinal plants conservation in Andhra Pradesh. The following were the module packages developed.

• Vegetation Monitoring by Village Botanists
• Diversity of Medicinal Plants of Andhra Pradesh
• Identification of Medicinal Plants and Raw Drugs
• In-situ Strategies for Medicinal Plants Conservation in the Village Forests of Andhra Pradesh.
• Propagation Techniques of Commercially Important Medicinal Plants

Trainer’s Handbook
A Trainer’s Handbook on Medicinal Plants Conservation (Kannada) for the use of field trainers from the MPCA & MPDAs of Karnataka has been developed. This document is expected to serve as a ready- to-use and reliable reference tool for trainers and others who are engaged in training, education and extension activities in the MPCAs and such other conservation initiatives, who are looking for clarifications, cross-referencing and supporting information.

KHG Extension package
KHG Extension material has been developed in vernacular (Kannada) for the use of SHG groups and other rural audience around the MPCPs and MPCAs. Drafts of about 10 chapters for the manual and 4 charts were prepared.

Teacher support packs
A teacher support pack called BIOFUTURA on conservation education was developed for the use of teachers of higher secondary schools. The package contains teacher deliverable lessons, field exercises, Do-yourself activities, exploratory studies and data entry formats for students and teachers. These activities are designed to cover the subjects related to basic principles of conservation science, environment and local biodiversity, medicinal plants– diversity, their uses and importance, local health traditions.

Interpretation panels
Different Interpretation panels supported by hands-on activities and activity tools were prepared for installation at the childrens corner in the Interpretation Center, forest headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala. These illustrated panels were exclusively designed to cover the following themes:

• Medicinal plants diversity,
• Genetic diversity of medicinal plants,
• Medicinal trees of Kerala,
• Distinguishing morphological features of medicinal trees,
• Student environmentalists,
• Conservation corners in schools.