From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Aaranyak, a premier biodiversity conservation organization recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (SIRO) has devised Nature Orientation Initiative (NOI), to sensitise and train young students living in and around national park areas in Assam about conservation of nature and protection of faunal and floral resources.
For these select groups of students NOI provides a wonderful way to feel and unravel pristine nature so that they get attracted to its resources and get motivated to conserve those for the progeny. “So, far Aaranyak conducted five such NOIs in National Parks of Assam including the famous rhino abode of Kaziranga National Park,” said secretary general of the NGO, Dr Bibhab Talukdar.
The objective of the NOI is to catch the conservation enthusiasts young so that a young pool of conservationists could be created in the region given that Northeast India is one of the only two biodiversity hotspots located in India out of the total 34 such bio rich regions on the globe. So, from conservation point of view the region calls for sustained efforts both at government and non-government levels.
However, the conservation efforts is fraught with the danger of coming to naught unless there is active cooperation from the people, the main stakeholder. Hence, it will be a boon, if there is a sizeable pool of young conservation enthusiasts among us especially among the people living in and around bio-diversity hotspots and wildlife protection areas like National Parks.
The focus of the NOI is to attract young people to conservation efforts so that they can amplify the messages of conservation among the masses besides doing their mite in the entire process. Such an NOI programme facilitates young participants a rare opportunity to stay amid the pristine nature.
During such a programme participants are engaged in various group and individual tasks/assignments, indoor as well as outdoor activities including boat safari on Brahmaputra River that flows by, Gipsy safari inside Kaziranga National Park, environmental games, wildlife film screening, interaction with wildlife conservation experts, etc. They also attend theory classes on wildlife and environment besides gathering practical experience in the field.