NEWS – ‘Bandipur Yuva Mitra’ earns place in Indian Book of Records

HIGHLIGHTS

• Launch and Purpose:
  • Launched in year 2023
  • Focus on villages near Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
  • Aims to involve local stakeholders for effective conservation efforts.
• Programme Details:
  • Learning-by-exploring approach for underprivileged students.
  • Field visits, curriculum transactions on forests, wildlife, and conservation.
  • Emphasis on understanding forest ecosystem services.
• Local Impact and Scope:
  • Addresses conflict due to anthropogenic pressure near the park.
  • Aims for a positive park-people relationship through education.
  • Involves over 800 government schools, 30 colleges, benefiting around 10,000 students annually.
• Community Engagement and Partnerships:
  • ‘Teacher to child, child to child, child to parents, parents to community’ mode approach.
  • Involvement of UNDP, UNEP, and other donors for Sustainable Development Goals realization.
• Record Achievement:
  • Earned a place in Indian Book of Records for mass wildlife outreach.
  • Covered 8,410 participants including students, teachers, local staff, farmers, and tribals over 162 days.