ANSAB (Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources) is organizing a Forest Certification Assessors' Training from May 1 to 4 2007, that will be held at Dolakha, Nepal for professionals from environmental conservation, sociology and economics background and who are involved with programs or projects in which an understanding of sustainable forest management and forest certification for sustainable rural livelihoods is required.

Dr. Walter Smith, Senior Technical Expert (Smartwood/Forest Stewardship Council) of Rainforest Alliance USA will be the key resource person in the program. The training aims at developing regional capacity in assessing the sustainable forest management and responsible business practices of the forest based industries. The specific objectives of the training program are to contribute to:

• develop regional capacity for the implementation of forest certification (FC) and international standards
• expose participants in internal and external assessment and auditing process and methods of FSC sustainable forest management
• capacitate trainees on assessing the responsible business practices and chain of custody certification
• provide skill and knowledge on group certification assessment and small scale forestry operation

Nominations should be send before April 20, 2007. Please note that the training fee is Rs. 15000.00 for Nepali and $500 for foreigners per participant. Payment is to be made through cash/cheque payable to ANSAB.