Our basic approach is based on a community conservation model. This primarily involves dealing with villagers, helping them with their basic development and livelihood issues while retaining focus on wildlife and forest conservation.
Responsibilities:
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Grassroots conservation work – soil, moisture and water conservation activities, wildlife protection by assisting Forest Department in anti-poaching activities, fire fighting activities, build up an intelligence network to keep track of poaching.
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Village development activities – community conservation activities – village development though integrated micro-plans (where available, help in implementing, where not available, help in designing plans). Act as a bridge between villagers and official agencies entrusted with development.
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Education – raise awareness of environmental issues and need for conservation. Classroom activities, nature camps and trails, involving school children in conservation activities and using such activities to spread awareness among larger village population.
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Livelihood activities – assist villagers in shifting from basic forest-dependent lifestyle to one which puts less pressure on forests. This can be by helping unemployed people to shift away from forests by helping them to get jobs elsewhere or to provide programmes which will promote self-employment activities within the village itself. But care should be taken that such activities fit in with the overall conservation philosophy.
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Trust-building activities – Assist in the conducting of medical camps and any other suitable activity which will help build the Foundation’s image among villagers as well as inspire trust and confidence among them
Liaise with Forest Department and other Government agencies.