HT Bureau
Guwahati, June 27: Aaranyak, the region’s premier biodiversity conservation organisation, in collaboration with the Rufford’s Small Grants Foundation, Orang National Park & Tiger Reserve (ONP&TR) Authority, and the Department of Environment & Forest – Government of Assam, conducted a series of sensitisation programs on the importance of biodiversity conservation in various educational institutions around ONP & TR from June 20 to 24. Over 1,100 students from 7 schools and institutions in the area were reached through multiple outreach activities.
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The objective of this initiative was to educate students residing around ONP & TR about the significance of protecting the biodiversity in their surroundings to preserve the planet’s rich and diverse ecosystem.
The outreach series offered a range of activities for the students, including presentations on biodiversity conservation with a special focus on Orang National Park, interactive sessions, group activities, quizzes, drawing competitions, and distribution of reading materials for libraries. These activities aimed to instill a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the natural world among the students.
The program commenced on June 20 at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Adarsha Mahavidyalaya (PDUAM) Dalgaon, where a day-long workshop on the ‘Applications of Geospatial Technology in wildlife conservation and habitat research’ was conducted in collaboration with the department of Botany and Zoology of PDUAM. Around 80 students from the mentioned departments of the college actively participated.
On June 21, a conservation group activity took place at Keramat Ali ME School, Silbori, with the participation of over 100 students from grade 6, 7, and 8. The group activities revolved around topics such as the importance of wetlands, the use of pesticides and its impact on the environment, biodiversity conservation, plastic pollution, and rainwater harvesting. Student groups presented their thoughts on these subjects. Additionally, on the same day, a drawing contest for grade 6 students and an interaction on wildlife conservation with around 150 grade 9 students were held at Sirajul Hoque High School, Silbori.
On June 22, another drawing competition focusing on nature and wildlife conservation was conducted for approximately 250 students in the primary sections of 2 No Kachari Bhetitop LP School. This was followed by a presentation and interaction session on wildlife conservation with around 200 students at Borsola Higher Secondary School.
Arup Kumar Das, senior manager at Geo-spatial Technology and Applications Division (GTAD) of Aaranyak, who led the initiative, stated, “Biodiversity is the foundation of a healthy and sustainable environment, encompassing the incredible variety of life on earth. It plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance, providing ecosystem services, and supporting human well-being. However, the alarming decline in biodiversity due to human activities, such as habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and other such activities, poses a threat to our planet’s health and the future of our generations to come. Through our initiative, we strive to create a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment with collective effort.”
On day 4, June 23, a presentation and interaction on wildlife conservation, along with an open quiz contest, took place at Sialmari High School, Koupati, with the participation of around 150 students. Another 200 students at Vallabh Bhai Patel Higher Secondary School, Koupati, were also reached through the program.
The outreach series concluded on June 24 in the presence of Pradipta Baruah, DFO & director Mangaldoi Wildlife Division, Orang National
