By IUCN CEM Member on 20 April 2019.
The more we can focus attention on the wonders and realities of the universe, the less taste we shall have for destruction—Rachel Carson
‘Surya-Kunj’ in GBPNIHESD established as an Arboretum and later evolved as a Nature Interpretation and Learning Center, on one hand, attempts to ensure ex-situ conservation of Threatened and Endemic species and on the other acts as a site for nature exposure and learning. Dr. Indra D. Bhatt discusses the prospects of this centre on the light of a Nature Camp organized from 25 to 27 March 2019.
Nature camps have been conceptualized as an uninterrupted cyclical process of visiting nature, learning, understanding and teaching about it. This train a cadre of well-informed youth responsible for nature. With the objectives of connecting children with nature, developing their affection and to learn from the nature to understand its complexity and linkages, improve awareness on the life support and protection values of nature, Surya-Kunj of G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), organizes nature camps twice a year.
Camp Activities included first-hand learning of different components of nature, their importance and their inter-linkages; plants and their morphology; different birds and animals; wild fruits and their importance; plant-animal interactions. Visit, Observe and Learn was the mantra of this programme with various session helping participants to appreciate nature, natural resources and its connectivity with mankind, including an emphasis on the forests and their importance.
There was a dedicated session ‘Fun in the Forest’ aiming to make participants enjoy different activities in nature, such as pegging the tents and knowledge on field equipment, bird watching, drawing, painting, poetry, and interaction with experts. Reflections of participants were immense with Group discussions among them, presentations and sharing new experiences they have gained.
Surya-Kunj has already conducted 12 camps in five years since its foundation with the participation of 556 students with good gender equality with 237 girls. Prospects of this programme are high with an aim of sensitization of the younger generation in a multiplier mode, multi-locational information collection in lesser time and resources. The programmes in character are a speedy extension and propagation of nature conservation messages that develop a functional network of confident and innovative thinkers of tomorrow. The Nature Camps are hence serving as the practice grounds of a more resilient future and a nation that appreciates the environment.
This article is composed from inputs by Dr. Indra D. Bhatt, IUCN CEM member and Theme Head (EP), Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Management (CBCM), GBPNIHESD, Uttarakhand, India