Definitions of Extension

 Extension is generally viewed as a non-formal educational process aimed at creating

desired changes in the knowledge, attitude, skills and behavior of relevant clienteles
(FAO)
 Roling (1988) defines extension as a professional communication intervention
deployed by an institution to induce change in voluntary behaviors with a presumed
public or collective utility
 Forestry extension could be defined as a system of non-formal education designed to
develop among forestry public favorable attitudes toward, and desired capabilities
for, forest conservation. (Rebugio 1978)
Other Definitions

 Extension is an informal educational process directed toward the rural population.

This process offers advice and information to help them solve their problems.
Extension also aims to increase the efficiency of the family farm, increase production
and generally increase the standard of living of the farm family.
 The objective of extension is to change farmers' outlook toward their difficulties.
Extension is concerned not just with physical and economic achievements but also
with the development of the rural people themselves. Extension agents, therefore,
discuss matters with the rural people, help them to gain a clearer insight into their
problems and also to decide how to overcome these problems.
 Extension is a process of working with rural people in order to improve their
livelihoods. This involves helping farmers to improve the productivity of their
agriculture and also developing their abilities to direct their own future
development.
Planning Forestry Extension Program
Planning is a process of decision-making in that it seeks to provide answers to problems like:
What is to be achieved? Who will be responsible for achieving it? How will it be achieved?
What resources will be needed? etc. Planning is generally regarded as a method for
delineating goals and ways of achieving them (Ahmed 1991). The result of the process is a
document known as plan or program. Planning is a pre-requisite for any kind of
development program to:

 Ensure what is to be done and why?

 Identify actions to be taken,
 Distinguish desired/intended and undesired/unintended goals and objectives,
 Allocate resources to achieve goals,
 Ensure continuity of the project activities in case of staff changed, and
 Accomplish jobs in cost-effective and time-effective manner (Ahmed 1991).
The planning process in forestry extension consists of six steps or stages. The feedback
system in the planning process is an integration of the decision model for goal-oriented
communication and andragogical process model for decision-making and designing of
extension activities. Fig.2. discusses the functions and analysis of resources under six stages
in planning process. These steps are:
  Policy and resource analysis
 Assessment of needs/analyze clientele behavior
 Formulation of objectives
 Designing of program/project plan
 Implementation of program
 Evaluation of results/outcomes

Difference between formal education and extension/informal education

Formal Education Extension Education

The teacher starts with theory first and The teacher (extension workers) starts with
then practical. practical first in which they live and work then
notes are made for basic understanding.

It is a formal education. i.e it comes under It is informal education. i.e out of school and
school and college. college.

There is fixed syllabus or course of study. There is no fixed syllabus or course of study.

Basically, students study the problems. Farmers study the problems.

Teaching is limit under the walls of the Teaching is largely outside the walls of the
institution. institution.

It has all pre-planned and pre-decided It has freedom to develop programmes, which
programmes. are based on the needs and desires of the
people.

It is rigid. It is flexible.

Teacher only teaches the students. The teacher teaches the learners as well as
learns from the learners.

Teaching is only through instructors. Teaching is also through local leaders.

What is a forest policy (FAO)?

 A negotiated agreement amongst the government and relevant stakeholders on a

shared vision and goals for a country's forests and trees, adopted by government;
 A way of addressing society's needs and development goals while balancing
various stakeholder interests;
 Strategic guidance for managing and using forest and trees;
 A comprehensive framework setting up adaptive implementation mechanisms for
diverse contexts and changing conditions.

How to develop a forest policy (FAO)?

 Ascertain if the timing is right for initiation of policy development;
 Ensure political support and cooperation;
 Communicate information regularly, broadly and transparently;
 Engage stakeholders and nurture joint ownership and responsibility;
 Negotiate to set priorities and address conflicts;
 Align and coordinate with other national policies;
 Strategize and plan a course of action for implementation.

A policy is that which outlines what a government is going to do and what it can achieve for
the society as a whole. “Policy” also means what a government does not intend to do. It also
evolves the principles that are needed for achieving the goal. Policies are only documents
and not law, but these policies can lead to new laws.

Laws are set standards, principles, and procedures that must be followed in society. Law is
mainly made for implementing justice in the society. There are various types of laws framed
like criminal laws, civil laws, and international laws. While a law is framed for bringing
justice to the society, a policy is framed for achieving certain goals.
Laws are for the people, and policies are made in the name of the people. Policies can be
called a set of rules that guide any government or any organization. Laws are administered
through the courts. Laws are enforceable in which the policies comply.
A law is more formal as it is a system of rules and guidelines that are derived for the welfare
and equity in society. A policy is just informal as it is just a statement or a document of what
is intended to be done in the future.
Regulation. A rule of order having the force of law, prescribed by a superior or competent
authority, relating to the actions of those under the authority's control.
Conference is a event for researchers (not necessarily academics) to present and discuss
their work. Together with academic or scientific journals, conferences provide an important
channel for exchange of information between researchers. It is a much larger gathering,
usually at a large venue, involving a whole series of meetings – generally a mixture of
forums, seminars, presentations of reports, and (possibly) debates – along with
opportunities for even less formal discussions, such as simply being in the same bar as
someone in your field that you haven’t met before.
Convention is similar to a conference, but less formal and usually centered around a mutual
interest rather than a topic for, eg, business or science. It is a gathering of individuals who
meet at an arranged place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common
interest.
Symposium tends to be similar to a conference, but smaller. Symposiums may be more
prestigious than a conference, with an emphasis on experts presenting their work and
occasionally discussing it afterwards (though not to the extent of a seminar).
Forum is a discussion group, where ideas related to a subject ‘under discussion’ can be
raised and evaluated on a (more-or-less) equal and informal basis. It is usually arranged on
a formal basis – arranging the venue, inviting the participants, deciding on the subject to be
discussed – but would normally have an informal atmosphere where anybody can ‘have
their say’. It is a public discussion. It can refer to a meeting, a meeting house or any
conversation that is available publicly.
Round table is a form of academic discussion. Participants agree on a specific topic to
discuss and debate. Each person is given equal right to participate
Seminar is where participants come to learn about a particular topic. These can actually be
any size, but are usually thought of as relatively small groups. Again, there will usually be
speakers and a chair, but contributions from the floor will usually be in the form of
questions only. Formal presentation by one or more experts in which the attendees are
encouraged to discuss the subject matter.
Training is an organized activity aimed at imparting information and/or instructions to
improve the recipient's performance or to help him or her attain a required level of
knowledge, skill and attitude.

How to Organize?
 What are the agenda?
 What are the topics/issues to be covered?
 Who are the speakers?
 Who are the audience?
 Why will people attend?
 How long will the event be?
 Where should be located?
 How much budget will be required and where to source it?
Sustainable Forest Management
The process of managing a forest to achieve one or more specified objectives of
management with regard to production of a continuous flow of desired forest products and
services without undue reduction of its inherent values and future productivity and without
undesirable effects on the physical and social environment

Mitigation consists of activities that aim to reduce GHG emissions directly or indirectly.
Examples:

 Planting trees to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere

 Reduction in the use of fossil fuels like replacing incandescent bulbs with LED
 Prevent deforestation
 Stop burning of garbage

Adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In
human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In
natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its
effects.
The IPCC distinguishes several types of adaptation (IPCC TAR, 2001): ¾

 Anticipatory Adaptation—Adaptation that takes place before impacts of climate change are
observed. Also referred to as proactive adaptation.
 Autonomous Adaptation—Adaptation that does not constitute a conscious response to
climatic stimuli but is triggered by ecological changes in natural systems and by market or
welfare changes in human systems. Also referred to as spontaneous adaptation.
 Planned Adaptation—Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on
an awareness that conditions have changed or are about to change and that action is
required to return to, maintain, or achieve a desired state.
 Private Adaptation—Adaptation that is initiated and implemented by individuals,
households or private companies. Private adaptation is usually in the actor's rational self-
interest.
 Public Adaptation—Adaptation that is initiated and implemented by governments at all
levels. Public adaptation is usually directed at collective needs.
 Reactive Adaptation—Adaptation that takes place after impacts of climate change have
been observed.
REDD+ - Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation – is a mechanism
that is under negotiation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). The objective of REDD is to support activities that enable reductions in CO2
emissions that are caused by deforestation and forest degradation. It also aims to
strengthen and expand the role of forests as carbon pools.

 RED stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation

 REDD refers to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
 REDD-plus includes Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
in Developing Countries; and the role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of
Forests and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks.

Forest Certification is a process that leads to the issuing of a certificate by an independent

party, which verifies that an area of forest is managed to a defined standard.

Information Education and Communication (IEC) is an approach which attempts to

change or reinforce a set of behavior in a target audience regarding a specific problem in a
predefined period of time.