Western Ghats

Influencing influencers

Successful conservation projects often have productive partnerships that range beyond the conventional collaborations. Several of our projects would not have seen the light of day if not for the active support of the media, social leaders, and of course, the very communities sharing space with wildlife.  

Journalists can play an influential role in support of wildlife conservation if simple tools are provided to help them understand conservation science
Hands on tools help journalists understand basics of wildlife science
Journalists try their hands on camera trapping
Local children join hands to announce street plays around protected areas undertaken by volunteers
A vast network of volunteers contribute their time to work on public information campaigns
All the public information campaigns are targeted in rural areas carried out solely by volunteers
Some of the religious shrines are located within important wildlife habitats
Religious tourism inside protected areas at commercial scales are no more sustainable
Religious shrines bring in hordes of tourists into protected areas causing extensive disturbance to wildlife
Volunteers succeed in convincing temple authorities and the government to reduce vehicular traffic in parts of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, but also provided alternative ideas to reduce hardship to commuters

Working with the media

Wildlife conservation has sometimes been referred to as an exercise in relationship management. Indeed, without the support of various stakeholders, it would be nearly impossible to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of our projects. 

The media has a wide reach in disseminating conservation messages not only to the public but also to decision makers. We work on capacity building activities aimed at journalists from the state as well as local level, and provide timely inputs to conservation stories. In the recent times, over 200 articles have been published in English and vernacular press to which we have provided scientific inputs, increasing the coverage of conservation issues and bringing them into mainstream consciousness.  

Public information campaigns

Local people living in or around wildlife areas are the most vulnerable and least equipped to deal with their neighbours. Our conservation volunteers have carried out series of public information campaigns in and around protected areas not only to spread the message of conservation, but also to understand some of the hard issues of conservation. Through street plays, movie screenings, posters, banners and handouts, the impacts of certain activities are brought home to the communities in addition to developing an awareness about handling situations of human-wildlife conflict. Volunteers have also worked on creating awareness amongst tourists, particularly those visiting religious shrines inside protected areas. An important activity they have taken up is to work with community leaders and temple authorities to find solutions to reduce impacts of religious festivals carried out inside protected areas. 

Apart from the outreach activities, these targeted campaigns have helped create a network of volunteers from urban as well as rural areas. It also helps build a positive relationship between frontline staff of forest department and local villagers. 

In the coming years we aim to engage more with elected representatives from local governing bodies to build a stronger political support for wildlife conservation and protected areas. 

Also Read: Birds of Cauvery and MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (Kannada) - Pocket guide

Also Read: Birds of BRT Tiger Reserve (Kannada) - Pocket guide