Women are the real conservator in grass root level because conservation mostly depends on them. Women are responsible for firewood collection, grass collection, grazing and fulfill the household's basic need of natural resource. When a woman became educated, it can influence whole family thereby community and finally nation. So, local institutions use to provide the environment / conservation education to local women. Only one way education delivering approach will not keep meaning in teaching learning process so it is indeed to empower them through different activities.
On the occasion of Teej festival, an interaction programme was organized to introduce new appointed chief conservation officer of ChitwanNational Park. Through this programme, local women could share problems with officer directly. Women also got chance to learn about conservation ways from chief warden. Cosnervation based dramas were also played during the programme.
In previous year, women used to celebrate this festival by taking part in singing programme but this time they celebrated with new way.
Focus Group Discussion
Among the local conservation stakeholders, focus group discussion was made to strengthen anti-poaching programme. Programme was held in the training hall of Mrigakunja User Committee in the direct involvement of Bufferzone User Groups, Forest User Committee, Anti-poaching Unit, Bird Education society, Ecological Farmers Forum, Hotel Association, Wildlife Conservation Society etc. Discussion highlighted the current problems for organizing quick action in anti-poaching operation. Similarly, forum made a common understanding to boost the anti-poaching action and meet with park staffs for increasing efficiency.
School teaching
School teaching programme was also organized in 5 schools to educate students about the environment, ecology, biodiversity and wetland conservation. Altogether 343 students of different grades got change to be aware about current issue and possible role of students in conservation. Teaching highlighted "how can students contribute for nature conservation and minimize currents threats of biodiversity?
Institution Empowerment
PARC/Nepal has been supporting different institutions in different ways like; proposal development for community based organization, technical inputs in forest conservation, resource person for training, financial assistance for local clubs to organize conservation activities etc.
Similarly, one resource person was sent to support Lother User Committee to train nature guide about climate change and solid waste management. This programme was organized by Lothar User Committee in order to produce eco-tourism based guide. The main objective of the training is to aware guide for promoting eco-tourist in and around the ChitwanNational Park.
Institution Empowerment
PARC/Nepal has been supporting different institutions in different ways like; proposal development for community based organization, technical inputs in forest conservation, resource person for training, financial assistance for local clubs to organize conservation activities etc.
Last time, PARC has provided resource person for TSBC/Nepal and Siswar User Committee in order to train local user groups about the rhino conservation. Totally 4 sessions were taken by representative of PARC/Nepal.
Cosnervation Based Quiz Contest
Children are the future driver and management responsibility of each and everything will go on their hand near future. No doubt, responsibility of conservation will also go to them. If we do not empower and sensitize them on time, continuity of any task and existence of any living being will not be any more in the world. It is utmost need to produce such type generation who can give continuity of today's success story and evolve new approach.
PARC/Nepal always focuses age group and sex wise activities i.e. children/adult/old and male/female because single / one type of awareness activities will not fit to all age and both sex groups. It believes that educating children can impact for more time and knock parent's negative activities. Therefore PARC/Nepal and other institutions have been conducting school, village, sector, user group level, group activities in several areas.
To evaluating impact of previously conducted activities one hand and judge the change in children knowledge about conservation, conservation based quiz competition was organized amongst eight school of Bufferzone area in Mrigakunja User Committee, Seminar Hall. Quiz contest was organized in the key responsibility of Anti-poaching Youth Awareness Campaign (YOPAC) MUC, PARC/Nepal. The Chief Guest of the programme was Purna Bahadur Kunwar, TAL/WWF. Financial support was arranged from Savingrhinos.org and Rufford Small Grant for Nature Conservation (farmland Bird Conservation Programme). All participated schools were presented with token of love "Rhino Statue".
Student Empowerment / Beeshazar Lake Cleaning
BeeshazarLake is the biodiversity hotspot. Due to biological richness and its ecological importance, it was nominated as Rasar Site in 2003. This lake is famous for wetland birds and globally threatened mammals and reptiles. Recently, due to invasive species and the haphazard casting of waste from tourist (domestic / foreigner), the lake became polluted day by day. This has been creating huge problem to biodiversity. MUC in the financial support of UNDP/GEF/SGP, EGP, WBC/Nepal is organising lake conservation programme.
To enhance MUC working style and generate more participation, PARC/Nepal encouraged students of Institute of Forestry, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Nepal to contribute in lake cleaning programme. Snacks were supported to students for one day and students took part as practical work of their curriculum.
Eco/Nature Club Formation
Children are future driver and management responsibility of each and everything will go on their hands in near future. No doubt, responsibility of conservation will also go to them. If we do not empower and sensitize them on time, continuity of any task and existence of any living being will not be any more in the world. It is utmost need to produce such type generation who can give continuity of today's success story and evolve new approach.
By realizing above fact, Chitwan National Park Bufferzone Lothar User Committee and PARC/Nepal jointly formed eco-clubs in three local schools in order to mobilize students in conservation works. The main expectation from this programme is; students will stand against illegal activities in one hand and play role in awareness creation at local level on the other.
Field Visit
The invasion of invasive species including Mikania micrantha is the mojor problem in the park and Bufferzone forest. Invasive species has been replacing local plant species which are the preferred species wild herbivores. This pressure is increasing day by day so apposite action should be organized to reduce the invasion. These invasive species can be utilized for different purposes i.e. compost making, bio-briquette. So, local forest user groups should be trained for this action. Otherwise it may emerge as epidemic in near future.
Field Visit
During the field visits, huge grazing was observed in the Bufferzone community forest and the Chitwan National Park of Eastern sector. People used to leave their cattle in the park and involved for firewood and fodder collection. Due to conventional practice of livestock rearing is the major problem in the Bufferzone area. So, these communities should be educated about improved livestock rearing and stall feeding with fodder species plantation in wasteland, alley, roadside etc.
