Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Conservation Leadership Course-2010

Conservation Leadership Course-2010




With 11 years of experience in ground level conservation, anti-poaching, and rehabilitation work, we at Tiger Watch have been able to put together the knowledge that can be invaluable to those making a sincere and serious effort towards conservation.

Conservation Leadership Course 2009 Participants with Fateh Sigh Rathore

Why this program?

India is a land of rich biodiversity; there are various cultures and traditions which have worked in nurturing and preserving its natural wealth. However due to population explosion and its ever-increasing increasing needs and demands, there is increased pressure on the environment. The tradition of conservation is soon becoming extinct. It is not possible to return to those times but we can work on a new culture for conservation from what has been handed down to us since centuries.

The rural population still depends on forest resources, rivers and wildlife commodities for survival. Several species and ecosystems have come under severe threat due to depletion of resources and global warming. Before we reach an irreversible crisis, we need to stop and start working towards conservation with a strategic approach.

Each individual can be a leader in evolving better and newer ways in conserving resources. Environment agencies are working towards this but most of the time, the centralized institutional system does not work at the ground level. For that, there needs to be interaction with people who are working in the field as they are the ones who have evolved and developed the means and measures to conserve nature with the available resources in the most efficient manner, understanding the ground realities. The motive of this program is to discuss the current scenario and thrash out new ideas and strategies…

Classroom Session - with Dr G S Rathore, Ranger Kala, Fateh Singh Rathore, John Singhji and Jay Mazoomdaar

Course Schedule

Duration: May 24, 2010 to May 29, 2010

Program schedule

* Seven lecture sessions with prominent personalities who work at the ground level in various fields towards wildlife conservation

The tigress and her habitat

* Two visits to Ranthambhore National Park for understanding the ecology of the tiger

Trekking in Chambal Ravines


Participants on wallk along Chambal River with Dharmendra Khandal

* A visit to the Chambal river bank to understand the ecology of Gharials

* Visit to the Moghiya Tribe Education Program

*Interaction with Ex-poachers

* Visit to the Prakritik Society

* Visit to a Village of the Moghiya tribals

Ashutosh Mahadevia - Tiger Watch Secretry giving out the Hero of Ranthambhore award during the course

Program involves talks and close interaction with the following personalities.

Fateh Singh Rathore – Fateh has been fighting for tigers for 45 years now, 25 years of which were spent in the Indian Forest Service. Many tiger experts of today have looked up to him as a pioneer and guru. Fateh is heading Tiger Watch and the wealth of knowledge he possesses is a guiding light for us in the field of conservation.

Jay Mazoomdaar – A freelance journalist and a wildlife film maker. Jay’s understanding of India’s environment politics is unparalleled. Ever since he exposed the extinction of tigers in Sariska, Jay has been closely involved with governmental and non-governmental efforts for tiger conservation. He has also provided valuable insights into the future trend of conservation, environmental policies, strategies and impact.

Dr Govardhan Singh Rathore – Prince Charles awarded him with the precious Ashden Award for renewable energy. Govardhan has spent 20 years in community conservation and reformed several villages. He runs a school for some 300 kids of Ranthambhore. He has helped plant more than 500 biogas plants to substitute firewood and reverse the impact of deforestation. Along with the community, he has planted about 4 lakh trees around Ranthambhore. Govardhan has also built a state-of-the-art 60-bed hospital for villages near the park area. He is a true icon in community conservation.

Dharmendra Khandal, PhD – With a doctorate in botany, Dharmendra is the country’s foremost spider expert, and a connoisseur of Rajasthan’s flora and fauna. Dharmendra has been working at the ground level for tiger conservation since the past 6 years. A futurist in anti-poaching and wildlife conservation, he has not just helped governmental agencies nab poachers but also established ethics and methodology in anti-poaching strategies. He has religiously taken up the work of rehabilitating poachers’ families.

Nimesh Ved – Nimesh is associated with a leading conservation NGO – Samrakshan. He has been involved with leading teams at field offices in extreme remote and conservation priority locations of South Garo Hills (Meghalaya) and Saiha (Mizoram). Since moving on Mizoram (where he is currently based) during 2007 Conservation Education has been to his prime focus. The efforts are undertaken with school going students (and their teachers), youth associations, village councils and forest department personnel. Focus has been towards designing a locale specific program that is sensitive to the cultural values of the landscape and document the process with a view to understand the nuances.


Program requirements

Applicants must be 18 years and above. The course is intended for people who are currently involved in conservation, students, wildlife writers, or simply those interested in wildlife conservation.

The number of participants will not exceed 25. Participants have to make their own arrangements to reach Sawai Madhopur. The participants are expected to be present on May 20, 2009 i.e. the first day of the course.

Course Cost: Rs. 9,000/- (including AC accommodation for the course period, food, local travel, field visits and course expenses).

Fee does not include travel charges to and from Sawai Madhopur.

Mode of Payment: Cheque or demand draft in favor of “Tiger Watch”

For registration and details please contact:

Divya – 09166167005

Email: tigerwatchindia@yahoo.co.in

Web site: www.tigerwatch.net

Last date for registering: 7th May, 2010

Postal Address: Tiger Watch, Maa Farm, Sherpur Khilchipur, Ranthambhore Road, Distt. Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan 322001