Snippets from Session 5 – UNLESS
After a rain-hit Saturday, we were left with a wet garden and open spaces, forcing us to make quick changes to the planned activities for Session-5 on Sunday.
Sunday morning was cool with sun shining and we were assured of a session without any rain hiccups. We started on time with a nature walk where participants were asked to look for any seeds that they could find on the ground during the walk. Some of our participants came in a bit late and joined the nature walk as they came in.
As the participants came back into the hall, they were divided into 4 groups for another activity that would introduce today’s topic of “Conservation – What, Why and How”. Images of a few endangered species were hidden around the room and the groups were asked to find the images. Once they had found the images, they were to collect the information card on that species from the table and read more about it – its habitat, characteristics, its importance to the ecosystem and the current threats to this species.
Along with the participants, all of us learned how the endangered Green Sea Turtle keep their ecosystems clean and healthy by grazing on algae and sea grass and further releasing the digested material as nutrient into water to help plants grow. We leant how elephants play an important role in seeds dispersal or how snow leopards are tracked and studied by scientists as indicators of climate change impacts. We further learnt how pangolins aerate the soil with their claws to aerate the soil and mix the soil to spread its nutrients… There was so much new to know why these species need to be saved and conserved to maintain the balance of nature and to allow natural cycles to continue uninterrupted.
After listening to each group about their endangered species and why it needs to be saved, we moved onto the meaning of conservation and looked at a video of a girl from Tamil Nadu who cleans rivers as she dives and also conducts awareness drives on the need to save marine animals who we generally do not see or hear. The need to save and conserve was also linked back to the example of vultures that we have used many times in our previous session to make the point about interconnectedness in nature and how disruptions can be costly to human beings.
After a short reflection and short snack break, we started with a few examples of what the governments are doing to save some species, specifically Asiatic Elephant, Tiger and some more through various conservation projects. We also looked at the different National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries that the government has notified to keep these “umbrella species” safe. This allowed us to talk about one of the sanctuaries in Gujarat and their importance.
Conservation is not only about wildlife and animal species but also about all natural resources. This point was also made by showcasing some examples of individuals and what they are doing at their level to save/replant forests (Thulasi Gouda) or to save water and rejuvenate rivers (Rajendra Singh).
We ended the session with a group activity asking participants to write down one thing that they would want to do towards conservation. Amongst many diverse responses we received from the participants, some were about cycling more, planting trees and saving trees, making others aware about the need of animals and plants in our life.
Nidhi shared that she wants to grow the vegetables and also compost waste when she can. Our friend Mariya who had joined us today shared how she has been restricting her purchase of clothes for her children to just 4 pairs every six months, while ensuring that earlier clothes are shared with someone in need. Thereby ensuring conservation of resources. Ritesh shared how he would love to start a small seed bank towards conservation efforts.
Of all the things that we could talk about, share and discuss, probably one important thing that we missed out was about the connection of nature, forests, wild life and tribals (indigenous people or adivasis) who have lived there for centuries. They are the true examples of how we can live in harmony with nature and without destroying it.
Thank you to all who could make it today… The next will be on November 10, Sunday… same time, same place. See you then 🙂
