Background

India is a diverse country and the Indian subcontinent harbours three of the global hotspots, viz, the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma and the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka. Increasing levels of pressures due to anthropogenic activities like unsustainable utilization of resources, changes in land use and pressures of development and climate change are the major drivers for changes in biodiversity and is a cause of conservation concern. Preserving the country’s biodiversity is essential for India’s ecological, economic and social security.

Objective

The young minds of the nation need to be oriented and made aware about the significance of biodiversity and its relevance to the ecological and food security of the nation. The children in the schools of Delhi, are generally aware about the current environmental issues but due to a disconnect with nature, they are unable to comprehend and appreciate the significance of biodiversity. Information beyond the text books needs to be communicated through creative techniques that would make the children better understand the intricacies of the web and impending damages in the future once biodiversity is lost.

Activities

Through various activities like lectures, competitions, quizzes, the children of various schools in Delhi are being sensitized towards the need for conservation of biodiversity. The project will also help in the development of a teachers’ training manual which will help in training the school children year after year.