The baseline survey practical training started a week later than planned because of heavy rain. The survey team includes members of the participating communities, who have taken part in training sessions on plot sampling, design and layout, data collection tools and measurement techniques, among other things. During the practical training, the actual sample plots are selected within the forest buffer zone, where future surveys will be done to monitor the progress of the project. The training is a lot of leg-work, and often cold and wet!