The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Royal Manas National Park (RMNP) under the support from project – Tiger Conservation in Greater Manas, is in a drive to provide Environment Education (through EE camp) to some 16 schools located in and around its jurisdiction.
The EE camp is being conducted on the theme, “Educate Youth to Conserve Tigers across Generations.” The park identified these schools for which the nature club members are participating which totals to more than 400 students and 33 teachers. As of May 31, EE camps has been completed for 11 schools and while remaining five schools is being pursued.
According to the press release from the park, the EE camp is being conducted to create awareness to the students on environment conservation with central theme “Save the Tiger.” Such camp is also aimed to establish networking among park and its resident schools to collaborate conservation education program.
“Our park is a living classroom from where teachers and students can learn a great deal in terms of environment. Hence, through the camp, we are trying to exhibit just that,” said Ugyen Tshering, a park official.
When the camp ends, officials expect that those teachers and students who participated in the camp will help them advocate about tiger conservation to their friends, family and village mates. The press release also states that students will continue to possess interest and show desirable behavior towards conservation program. This is in addition to making conscious decision regarding conservation policies and plans in the years to come.
The program is primarily designed as an outdoor activity with its curriculum focused on activity-based learning and exploring nature with forest officials. “All the activities are carried out in outdoors including teaching lessons on tiger. The lesson teaching is conducted by making participants to act and talk as well,” the park official said.
Park Rangers made a brief presentation about protected area system in Bhutan and significance of Royal Manas National Park. The presentation talked about the potential and threats for the park.
The tiger lesson has been adapted from “Teachers for Tiger manual. The lesson has been confined to the tiger biology and its ecology that has relevance to primary to middle secondary school. “Most of the lessons were activity based which required physical involvement in addition to the theory class,” stated the release mentioned.
The Royal Manas National Park harbors 25-35 Royal Bengal species Tiger.
