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Training
and education
WRCT strongly support and
facilitate the communication of information between managers,
professional biologists and the general public. We achieve this
through professional
training/meetings/workshops and the publication of scientific
reports/articles and education materials. |
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Professional training and internships
WRCT's professional training & internship program
offers graduate and post-graduate students a unique
opportunity to gain practical experience in wildlife research and
conservation. This program enables students to conduct research
under the guidance of professionals of WRCT and collaborative
institutions. We also conduct regular workshops and training for the
forest officers and field staff in the survey and monitoring of
wildlife and legislations.
The major activities include:
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Training program on butterfly identification and conservation
Training for the National Park's officers, Forest Department Staff
and Eco Development Committee members was conducted in May 2007. It
was organized in association with Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology
and Natural History under the auspices of Department of Forests and
Wildlife, Kerala. Thirty-two officers attended the class-room lectures and
participated in the field training conducted as part of this
programme. Classes
were conducted at the Forest Information Centre, Mukkali. Dr. T.V. Sajeev
(Scientist, Forest Health Division, Kerala Forest Research Institute), inaugurated the workshop
and delivered a comprehensive lecture on the need of conservation
awareness at local level. Dr. L. Vijayan (Principal Scientist, Conservation Ecology Division, SACON),
introduced the workshop objectives. Presentations on
introduction to ecology and conservation of butterflies and
identification protocols were done by K. S. Anoop Das
(WRCT) and Mr. M. Joshil (Department of Forests and Wildlife,
Kerala). Field work and demonstration of the fruit
bait traps was conducted in Mukkali where the participants learned
to identify butterflies using field guides provided to them as part
of the workshop kit. The training enabled the participants to get
acquainted with the subtleties of conservation programs. The skills
learned and the concepts discussed during the programme would be useful
to participants while working as
tourist guides and while participating in Participatory Forest
Management exercises. |
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Capacity building for
future
biodiversity conservation
In
February 2007, 12 post-graduate students of Zoology from Farook
College, Calicut along with one lecturer participated in our
capacity building programme. This included training on the field
identification of butterflies and different methods used in insect
sampling and monitoring. The students showed great enthusiasm and excitement in identifying the
butterflies. Under the guidance of Mr. Abdul Riyas (WRCT & Farook
college), students took up projects on butterfly life history
stages in their home gardens and they had contacted us with great
eagerness, while explaining the progress of their own observations.
In
September 2007, a group of 27 undergraduate students of Zoology from
Farook College, Calicut, along with two accompanying staff
participated in a training programme on wildlife monitoring and biodiversity conservation in
the tropical rainforests. This programme included class-room
lecturers, slide shows and field training on identification of
rainforest fauna and flora in Silent Valley National Park.
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Scientists
with students
We frequently conduct
classroom presentations in schools and colleges and forest visits of
student groups to impart the conservation message to students.
The major activities include:
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Field trips for the students
In
September 2006, 27 students accompanied by two teachers from Model
Residential School, Mukkali, Palakkad were invited to the Silent Valley National Park. They were
introduced to the fascinating world of butterflies.
By means of direct observation, most of them were
able to collect first hand information on different species of
butterflies and their habitats. We were moved by their eagerness and
excitement while taking observation and scribbling field notes.
In
November 2006, the higher secondary students from the PEEVEES Public
School, Nilambur participated in the awareness campaign conducted by
WRCT at Silent Valley National Park. Apart for the field trips they
were introduced to the establishment of the fruit bait traps and
hands on training in the operation of the traps were also given to
them. The session was followed by a slide show and lecture on the
conservation of birds and butterflies.
In December 2008, a field
visit at the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad was conducted for
students of the Devnar School for Blind in association with Accendas,
a leading MNC in Hyderabad and CEE, Andhra Pradesh Cell. |
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World Environment Day
2009
'Get-together for the
Planet Earth'
In
association with the Department of Zoology, DGM MES College, Mampad,
we conducted a 'Get-together for the Planet Earth' as a part of the
'World Environmental Day' celebrations with the financial support
from
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment. The
programme consisted of scientific sections, environmental quiz
competition, and screening of a film on environment.
Scientific sections
included talks on the influence of global and regional politics in
the environmental problems (Dr. K.M. Jayahari, Winrock
International-India), avian conservation and its challenges in India
(Dr. P. Balakrishnan, WRCT), Mammals of Kerala (K. Abdul Riyas,
Govt. College, Kodanchery & WRCT) and climate change and the
mitigation measures (Dr. T.V. Sajeev, KFRI). Various sessions
were chaired by Prof. O. P. Abdurahiman, Prof. K.K. Abida, Dr. K.
Seethikoya, Dr. K.M. Ismail, Dr. A.R. Nisthar and Dr. K.S. Anoop Das.
Each sessions ended with much heated discussion and interactions
with various scientific experts in the field.
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Conservation education for the community
Community education programs of
WRCT aims to raise local awareness on biodiversity conservation
and implant a sense of responsibility among the people. We act as
a platform for increasing the understanding and
communication between local community, governmental decision
makers and other stakeholders for ensuring long term conservation.
The program will also continue to use our experience to develop
education materials for children and adults about biodiversity of
the region.
The major activities include:
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Nature camp
at the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary
A
nature study camp for the members of the All Kerala Photographers
Association, Kerala, was organized at Muthanga in the Wayanad
Wildlife Sanctuary. The study camp was hosted by the Kerala Forest
Department and Mr. Wahab (Deputy Range Officer, Kerala Forest
Department) gave lectures on the wildlife. The field
trip was lead by Dr. Anoop Das (WRCT) which was followed by slide shows on the
biodiversity of Western Ghats. There was also an interactive session with the local
forest-dependant community to understand their livelihood needs and
cultural values.
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Conservation education materials for children/public
Environmental Activity books for primary classes were prepared for
the Andhra Pradesh State Board. This was done in collaboration with
the Directorate of Andhra Pradesh National Green Corps. The books
await publication.
A
series of booklets, brochures and posters are under preparation
aiming to impart the conservation message among the general public.
These materials will be
disseminated to the schools, colleges youth clubs and the
participants of our workshops and conservation education programmes.
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Digital
resources and photo exhibits
we have large collections of digital resources for wildlife
conservation education, and for climate change education.
The major exhibits include:
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Nature Photo Exhibition at Mukkali
To
stimulate the curiosity and develop the appreciation among the
people on the environment, a nature photography exhibition was conducted
at Mukkali in May 2007. The theme of the exhibition was
montane-shola ecosystems of Western Ghats and their conservation.
The exhibition materials were provided by Rasheed Kottakkal and K.
Hariharan along with photographs from WRCT achieves.
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Collaboration opportunities
To join us in one of our education projects or
workshops and to make use of our digital resources and photographic
exhibits contact at: info@wrctindia.org / wrct.india@gmail.com |
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