EVENTS
Wetland interaction program
Volunteers participated in an interaction program, organized on 10th February 2009 at WCN office, Bafal. The interaction program was organized as a formal closing of Wetlands Week Celebration.A documentary on radio program “Footprints” was screened at the beginning of the program, which was followed by a short presentation on a case study at Fewa Lake by Ms. Ritu Gurung. During the program, Mr. Purna Hari Amatya, senior journalist of NEFEJ expressed his opinion on the issues of wetland conservation and shared his experiences about his recent visit to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Chief Guest of the program Mr. Laxmi Prasad Manandhar (Conservation Education Officer of DNPWC) also spoke on the pressing issues of Wetlands conservation. The interaction program was followed by prize distribution to the respondents of WCN radio program “Footprints.” Winner participants of a competition organized on 2nd February 2009 at Taudaha were awarded with the title “WCN scavenger of the day”, by the Chief Guest.
Mr. Laxmi Prasad Manandhar (Conservation Education Officer of DNPWC)
speaking on the issue of wetland conservation during the interaction program
Outreach program in Bhaktapur
ECAP Outreach Workshop was conducted in Bageshwori Higher Secondary School, Bhaktapur from 16th to 19th January, 2009. A total of 44 students of class 12 studying humanities participated in the three day program which was directed towards raising awareness through the use of various ECAP tools. The program was based on the ECAP workshop module with the objective of providing the students hands on experience on the environmental challenges, techniques to raise awareness and practical knowledge.
After completing their respective tasks, each group was made to present their final product and findings. The groups in the presence of their environment teacher and principal presented what they had learned in the workshop along with what ECAP tool they had used and the things that they portrayed in their work.
The students from Bageshwori Higher Secondary School, Bhaktapur
Young leaders in conservation
In order to promote youth and to groom them to become leaders in conservation WCN conducted a sensitization and volunteer recruitment program in Jhapa. It was the first time that such a program was initiated in this area. Twenty seven people attended the program where WCN facilitator deliberated on various wildlife and conservation issues, WCN's program in Eastern Nepal. Different documentaries on wildlife were also screened. The program was fruitful as the participating youth showed their dedication towards wildlife conservation.
Leadership Training Program in Eastern Nepal
Elephant Conservation in Nepal - a one day workshop
In the wake of the recent human elephant conflict in Bahundangi, Jhapa, various concerned stakeholders stressed on the need of developing an elephant corridor and in conducting programs that relate to human and elephant coexistence in a workshop organized by Wildlife Conservation Nepal on July 17, 2009 at Biratnagar. In a workshop entitled ‘Elephant Conservation in Nepal’ the local communities also stressed on the construction of water holes on the elephant routes so that they are restricted to these territories. Water holes constructed by WCN were taken as an example as more elephants were seen around it. It was also realized that due to lack of awareness and techniques, elephants are more prone to incidents like gun shots which is endangering the mega fauna. This needs to be controlled by providing training to the enforcement agencies on techniques that can be used to avoid killing of elephants. Regular maintenance of solar fencing and the crowd outside of the local community that gather in the prone areas also needs to be controlled as the masses seem to intensify the situation more tense.
The speakers during the workshop were Dr. Narendrababu Man Pradhan, Elephant Expert and Chief Warden, Chitwan National Park, Dr, Chuda B Shrestha, Advocate, SLRC and Trustee, WCN, Mr. Nilambar Mishra, Warden, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Mr. Krishna R. Basukala, Regional Forest Directorate, Ms. Renu Shah, Chairman, Buffer Zone Management Committee, KTWR and Mr. Nabin Baidya, Program Coordinator for WCN Eastern Nepal.
WCN since the past one year has been actively involved in creating awareness amongst school students and local communities about how elephants and human can coexist, construction of water holes in the elephant routes for elephants, identification of elephant route and assessment of affected families.
Inspirational and Pedagogical Workshop
To prosper innovative and practical teaching methods in environment education WCN’s Nepal Prakriti Pathsala (NPP) conducted a series of workshops from 23rd to 29th of April 2009. Teachers from leading schools of the valley, representatives from NGOs working in environment education, Department of Education and nature interpreters from the WCN NPP participated in the workshops facilitated by Ms. Eva Skytte, Nature Interpreter from Denmark.
Ms. Eva Skytte introduced Nature Schools of Denmark to the participants through her presentation where Mr. Ukesh Bhuju, an eminent conservation educationist of Nepal acquainted the appropriate ways of bringing positive changes to the attitude of general Nepalese towards conservation.
The participants took part in various outdoor activities which was followed by discussion and mind maps. The mind maps prepared by the participants reflected their ideas and expectations with Nature School on Nepal which will further help in strengthening WCN NPP program in near future.
Participants during the workshop
