While ecotourism remains a domain restricted to the urban populace, its profits don’t always percolate to the grassroots. This coupled with the separation of tribal communities from their traditional resource base, distances the tribal people from all conservation efforts. ‘‘Unless local communities are given a stake in conservation, it will not work,’’ feels Kumar. It was with this motive that the Conservation Education initiative was launched two years ago, in collaboration with the local Education and Forest Departments.

The comprehensive programme focused on three target groups: schools, local communities and frontline staff of the forest department, for fostering greater awareness and interest in conservation. ‘‘Schools were chosen as a major part of this initiative, because through children we can reach out to the public at large,’’ says BVIEER Director Erach Bharucha. To make the environment education more sustainable, the BVIEER team decided to start with the teachers, who could then carry the programme forward. After due brainstorming, an intensive teachers’ training programme was developed, complete with teachers’ manuals, teaching aids and students activity books.

The programme, coordinated from four site offices at Bandhavgarh and Sidhi in MP and Lucknow and Palia in UP, comprised a detailed follow-up on completion of the programme, wherein trainers visited the schools to conduct the pilot sessions and consolidate the teacher’s skills in the classroom. Another crucial aspect of the programme was sensitizing the local community.

Apart from involving them in audio-visual seminars and presentations at the schools, awareness is being generated through training provided to local youth in nature interpretation and conservation. The programme also recognises the need to reduce tribal dependence on forest resources by generating alternate means of livelihood.

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