The International Day of Forest was observed in Balangir and Sonepur divisions jointly on Friday.
Balangir DFO Nitish Kumar formally inaugurated it and explained the purpose of the day.
Among others, Anand Bihari Swain ,who got the best forest guard award in the State, was felicitated.
Foresters, forest guards, schools and VSSs of both Balangir and Sonepur forest division were honoured for their outstanding performance in forest conservation by the DFO Nitish Kumar.
ACF AK Bisi, BCRoul, journalist Sudhir Kumar Mishra, Arindam Parischha and ACF PK Dharua spoke and stressed the need for protection, conservation of forest for a better future.
Later a training session on field veterinarians and forest staff of both Bolangir and Sonepur forest divisions on collection, prevention and despatch of samples to laboratories was held and top veterinary officials imparted training to them.