ENVIS Resource Partner at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun co-organised a “Nature Conservation Awareness Camp” with Chakrata Forest Division, Uttarakhand at Asan Wetland Conservation Reserve, Uttarakhand on 12th and 13th February 2019. It was a two-day event in which students and accompanying teachers from six schools participated. The participating schools were
1) Sishu Vidya Mandir Junior High School, Dhalipur
2) S V M Inter College, Dhalipur
3) A A R Riverdales Academy, Kunja Grant
4) Rajkiya Purva Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Dhalipur
5) Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya, Kalsi
6) A T S School, Haripur, Kalsi
The events included screening of short films, documentaries, popular, talks, bird watching, wildlife quiz and nature walks. The event was facilitated by Mr. J. S. Tomar, Range Officer, Chakrata Forest Division, Uttarakhand.
DAY 1:
The Assistant Conservator of Forests, Mr. S. K. Kala, Chakrata Forest Division, welcomed the participants and briefed about outline of the 2-day camp. He spoke about the wildlife values of Asan Conservation Reserve. The event began with Saraswati Vandana and lighting of the lamp by Mr. Deep Chandra Arya, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Chakrata Forest Division. The DCF then addressed the students and discussed the importance of conservation and why awareness is essential to the cause of conservation. A short film by United Nation Environment Programme on Forests was then shown to the students.
Mrs. Manju Kala, an eminent TV personality and journalist who has been working with school students for a long time, gave a presentation on birds and what we can learn from them.
Ms. Sounika Karmakar, Programme Officer, ENVIS, WII, Dehradun then addressed the students and spoke about how to take up Wildlife, Environment related fields as a career option and what it’s like to work in the forests.
Then the trainees from Forest Guard Training Centre, Rampur Mandi, Chakrata Forest Division, presented a ‘Nukkad Natak’, tales on Urban Pollution. Another short documentary on life of Animals was also screened.
Mr. M.P Bijalwan, Retired. Forest Range Officer and Instructor at the Forest Guard Training Centre spoke about the importance of protecting the environment through a poem
Principal of Rajkiya Purva Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Dhalipur Mr. Muhammad Aquil Chauhan and some accompanying teachers also shared their thoughts on being a part of this camp. Post lunch, the students, were taken around the Asan Wetland Conservation Reserve and shown different trees and birds by the ENVIS Team and Mr. Pradeep Saxena, Forest Beat Officer, Chakrata Forest Division.
DAY 2:
The day started with a visit to Kalsi City Forest where an arboretum is being developed with more than 300 species of plants. The students were shown how trees are planted and they were very excited about it.
A quiz on wildlife was organised in which Eklavya Adarsh Awasiya Vidyalaya, Kalsi emerged as winner. Trophies and Certificates were then distributed to the prize winning students as well alongwith Certificates of Participation for others.
