Step 8: Train Group and Begin Timber Harvesting

Action: When the Agreement between the Programme and the Landowner's Group is signed, we then begin training and production as an integrated unit. Our trainers go and live with the community during the training sessions. They work for one month, and then get one week off during which time we pay for their transport back to their home village no matter where it is in the country. The trainers then return for another month, and then get another week off - and so on for a period of up to six months.

All Groups, regardless of what kind of mill they will ultimately use, begin by using a chainsaw (Alaskan) mill. During the training period, we provide all the equipment and the initial stocks of fuel and oil. As soon as the Group sells their first batch of wood, they then become responsible for the running costs of the chainsaws (fuel, oil, repairs).

Training courses are open to all able-bodied men in the community who wish to join (in these cultures, forestry work is not women's work). The composition of the labor force varies from site to site - in some villages there is a core group of men involved in the enterprise whereas in other locations there may be several teams that operate the mill for a fortnight each on a rotating basis. Where there are several clans and teams, we try to mix the clan members so that teams are integrated. In the rare instances where communities have not progressed to the point of being able to run their own enterprise after six months, we have replaced the trainer.

Trainees using an Alaskan mill

Rationale: Having the trainer live in the village helps them gain the trust of the people and understand their problems. Flying them back to their home villages means they are unencumbered by family and are unlikely to find excuses to hang around our camp.

Training is necessary to provide Groups with the skills to run a timber enterprise. We provide the initial materials so that they can learn properly and test out whether they like this type of work without making a huge capital investment. Providing the training lets us control the process. Integrating initial production with training also enables people to learn real skills. It is also important to provide safety training.

Example: An overview of the training modulkes that we cover are provided in Annex E.

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