Abstract submitted to AWS 2008 - Hanoi.

EMPLOYING CONSERVATION EDUCATION TO SECURE THE
PALAK LAKE ECOSYSTEM – MIZORAM (INDIA)

NIMESH VED, S Lalramnuna, Arpan Sharma and T Azyu.

Conservation education for a variety of stakeholders is pivotal to achieving wildlife conservation. To make education, worthwhile interesting and effective, it needs to be open yet focused; structured yet flexible; thematic yet spontaneous and directional yet participatory (Trivedi et al. 2006). A review of current trends in environment education internationally confirms that the main driver of change is the transformation in the mode of knowledge production (M L Ampofo–Anti 2007).

Palak Lake locally referred to as Pala Tipo, an IBA (Birdlife International 2007) is situated within the Mara Autonomous district Council (MADC) region in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, The forests are rich in palms, rattans, dense cane-brakes and reeds along the lake margin (Birand and Pawar 2001). 136 species of avifauna and 19 species of mammals have been confirmed from the lake and its surrounding forests including the endangered Phayre’s leaf monkey and Western hoolock gibbon (Datta-Roy et al. 2007). Principal threats to this unique site emerge from potential land use changes, unsustainable extraction of resources, and greater access to the area through the construction of roads.

Samrakshan Trust and the MADC Forest Department are working on a collaborative initiative towards conserving the Palak Lake ecosystem. Efforts under the arrangement currently focus entirely on conservation education and awareness; laying the foundation for a long term intervention. These activities are undertaken with educational institutions and other institutions like youth clubs and village councils, to sensitize decision makers at the local level. Interactive sessions with participants ranging from 5 to 15 years form the fulcrum of the programme where film screenings on similar ecosystems and presentations on values of the Palak Lake lay the base for the discussion sessions. Attempts are also being made to reach out by adopting practices accepted in the local culture like handouts to ensure that the participants not only absorb but also react, similarly we seek to assimilate into our endeavour the many local myths and legends associated with Pala Tipo.

The initiative has triggered a keen interest within the stakeholders and the participants have reacted positively to the film screenings and discussions strengthening our premise that an innovative conservation education programme will go a long way in securing the Palak Lake Ecosystem.

Contact: nimesh.ved@gmail.com