Aaranyak, Samagra Shiksha Assam hold teachers' workshop on biodiversity conservation

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 9 (ANI): Premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA), Baksa district of Assam conducted a day-long teachers training workshop on Biodiversity conservation and sustainability education in Baska district recently at Nikashi High School. 
The workshop aimed at making students and teachers understand the importance of biodiversity in and around their institution can help them contribute towards its conservation. Such efforts at the micro-level are very important for the conservation of biodiversity in a bigger area. 
In the workshop, the senior manager of Aaranyak Jayanta Kumar Pathak emphasised the importance of scientific approaches to address the various environmental issues starting from preserving traditional ecological knowledge, mitigating Human Elephant Conflict (HEC), preserving water sources etc. Pathak also conducted a couple of participatory activities with teachers.

He underlined the need for immediate action to conserve the rivers and tributaries of BTC, which are the lifeline of thousands of people.
Pathak highlighted that the practice of sustainability is not a new phenomenon for the indigenous community of BTC and cited the example of worshipping the Siju tree in the Bathou religion as the community believes that the five branches of the tree represent the sun, earth, and air, water and sky, which are survival of life on earth.
Pointing out the ecological uniqueness of the northeastern region of India and the new educational policy, the District Programme Officer, SSA, Baksa district, Pranab Jyoti Kalita highlighted the increasing roles and responsibilities of teachers and the necessity of collaborations with knowledge partners of the different arenas.
He also discussed the possibilities of different activities of Youth and Eco-Club in shaping students' critical thinking, and creativity with the practical applications to help them become environmentally-conscious human beings and responsible citizens.
Aaranyak official Tanvi Hussain stressed upon the importance of sustainability education in the school curriculum and understanding biodiversity, natural resources and waste management for sustainable living and livelihoods.

Documentation of traditional knowledge on judicious exploitation of natural resources and its requisite incorporation with modern science is the key to overcoming the challenges of resource scarcity and fulfilling the SDGs, she said.
Aaranyaks official Rabiya Daimary interacted with the teachers on the issues of HEC in the Baksa district and other regions of BTC and importance of co-existence with wild elephants for its conservation and the initiatives taken by Aaranyak in the region for reducing HEC and damage to lives and property.
Aaranyak official Wasima Begum demonstrated various components of the sustainability education programme with hands-on activities on campus biodiversity mapping, and species diversity calculation using the quadrat method to gain comprehensive knowledge of the surrounding flora and fauna.
Priyanath Basumatary of SSA, Baksa also attended the program and interacted with the teachers. Manna Singh Brahma, Principal of Nikashi High School facilitated the entire program and played a vital role in its successful completion.
The workshop was conducted with support from Wipro Earthian and SBI Foundation where a total of 28 persons actively participated which included 22 teachers representing 22 schools of nine clusters under Baksa district. (ANI)