Environmental Education & Capacity Building Programme

This is one of the society’s long-term programs continuing since its     inception.   Well trained educators of the society have been involved in conservation education for different target groups like students, youth, teachers, journalists, policy makers and others regarding preservation and restoration of ecological balance. In order to create awareness among the populace it has organized.

Salient activities carried out so far are -

• More than hundred numbers of environmental education camps in different   parts of the region including schools, colleges and fringe villages.

• Three (2005, 2006 & 2007) State level teachers training on environmental education in collaboration with Regional Science Center, Khanapara.  

• Workshop on Restoration Ecology conducted in 2005 to provide hands on skills to researchers, students on restoration ecology.

• During the period, Aaranyak actively participated in National Children Science Congress by guiding and coordinating students’ project. Dhrubojyoti Kalita of Aaranyak offered his services as district coordinator for Kamrup.

• Eighteen programmes were organized in collaboration with or on facilitation by other organizations and institute like Gauhati University, Center for Environmental Education northeast, WWF India etc.

• Seven awareness campaigns conducted under Manas Conservation Alliance (a collaborative initiative of six organization viz. Aaranyak, Ecosystems-India, WWF-India, Dolphin Foundation, Center for Environment Education and Wildlife Trust of India. 

• Conducted day long Children’s Festival and Exhibition of indigenous flora, seeds and eatables on 5^th February 2006 at Deepar beel in collaboration with Assam Science Technology and Environmental Council.   

• Five budding interns worked with Aaranyak during 2005-2007. They worked in various ongoing conservation activities where they got exposure to knowledge towards exciting career. They were Plabita Barman, Rashi (Department of Environment Science, Gauhati Univerisity), Prantik Mazumdar (Department of Mass Communication, Tezpur University), Pankaj Sarma (Department of Law, Jodhpur University), Lauren Nicole Core (University of Berkeley, California) and Martina D Fonso (Imperial College, London).  

• Education material published, Book- Jal Sampad Aaru Manuh, Dhemalir Sole Sole Paribesh Siskya, Amar Hallou, Indian Rhinos in Protected Areas of Assam; Poster- Dolphin, Hoolock Gibbon.

EE for students: Aaranyak targets the students of different grades to make them aware about environment and garner their support to conserve the biodiversity. Module to teach the school children have been developed to pertain EE through audiovisuals and field based programmes. Educators of Aaranyak organize approximately 40-50 school programmes every year in different parts of the region.

EE for teachers: Aaranyak has providing environmental education training to teachers of different parts of the region to improve EE in schools, thus preparing the next generation children to face environmental problems boldly. Aaranyak has trained 299 teachers (188 males and 111 females) during 2000-2004, covering 14 districts of Assam. Total school cover during this course of time was 130.

EE for civil societies: As the role of the civil societies are well acknowledged in conservation of biodiversity and preservation of environment, hence, Aaranyak's educators take all opportunities to make the civil societies aware about environmental concerns. Programmes (audiovisuals and field based programmes) are organized in collaboration of grass root level organizations as well as community organizations in different parts of the region.

In-house expertise of Aaranyak on EE: Aaranyak has a strong in-house expertise in EE. Senior educators of Aaranyak viz. Bibhab Kumar Talukder, Rathin barman and M Firoz Ahmed have received International training on Applied EE in USA and Thailand offered by well-known International Institutions.

Capacity Building: Capacity building for conservation in the region has been a priority of Aaranyak. Initiatives have been taken to tap skills of selected young and educated youth of the region to nurture them to lead applied environmental education programmes in the region. A number of short training programmes have already been organized for this purpose and more such programmes are planned in collaboration with international and other local organizations.

1. In 1992, a course on EE was organized in collaboration with International Center for Environmental Education, London to educate 20 teachers to lead EE in schools of Assam.

2. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Training Programme of Smithsonian Institution was organized in Guwahati in 1999 to train 20 participants (including 10 local young professionals) in applied wildlife conservation and management. The training was able to improve the conservation research scenario in the region by far as most of the local trainees now still practice conservation research in the region. The training also gave opportunities to the local youth to share conservation experiences with international participants and helped them in broadening their visions.

3. Two professional level training programmes were conducted by Aaranyak on "Conservation Beyond Boundary’ and ‘Conservation in Diversity’ two training programmes for young conservationist of the Northeast Region conducted in year 2006 (22^nd Feb- 28^th Feb) and 2007 (9^th Feb-13^th Feb) respectively in collaboration with British Council, British High Commission, Tropical Biological Association, Bodoland Territorial Council and Assam Forest Department.

4. Most of the research coordinators and senior office bearers of Aaranyak have received international training in conservation and its applied fields to improve the quality of output of research and conservation activities at per international standard.

Internship: Aaranyak offers internship to and guidance to local, national and international students under guidance of its senior conservationists to carry out dissertation work in conservation and its allied field so that their skills can be nurtured further in their professional pursuit. During the last five years more than 10 students have received internship training in Aaranyak. For more information of internship programme please write to Bibhuti P. Lahkar, Programme Secretary, Aaranyak (bibhuti@aaranyak.org)