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FEXTE ASSAM – Exposure visit in France
The exposure visits to France, held from April 9th to April 19th, 2024, was part of the FEXTE Assam project, aiming at promoting sustainable management of protected areas. This project involves three partners: the French Development Agency (funding agency), ONF International (technical coordinator), and the Assam Forest Department (beneficiary).
This visit is the second in a series of three, organized under the FEXTE program, the first of which took place in the Kruger National Park in September 2023. This FEXTE aim at facilitating knowledge exchange and experience-sharing between the beneficiary and park staff of targeted countries (South Africa, Metropolitan France,), with the overarching goal of disseminating best management practices to protected area managers of India.
The Indian delegation consisted in four (4) officers from the Assam Forest Department, four (4) officers from Rajasthan Forest Department and two (2) officers from the Central Level Ministry (MOEFCC – Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change).
The delegation was welcomed on six protected areas National Parks (Ecrins), Regional Natural Parks (Queyras, Luberon, Camargue), National Natural Reserves (Tour du Valat, Contamines-Monjoie), and was also able to visit two research stations inside those protected areas in different ecoregions (Regional Nature Reserve of Tour du Valat inside the Regional Natural park of Camargue and Jardins du Lautaret in the Ecrins National park)
Issues addressed were previously identified through discussions with the Assam Forest Department and French partners. The emphasis was put on governance, tourism, public communication, scientific cooperation, large carnivores and pastoralism, climate change, cross-border cooperation and agriculture.
For this tour, NatureXpairs, the French Hub for Protected Areas and People, was involved as a key partner in coordinating the program with the French protected areas managers and stakeholders, as well as in providing logistical support. NatureXpairs also contributed in the organization of the institutional day on April 10th.
