Kultali, 8^th October, 2024: Two Sundarban Education Centres (SEC) or Prakritishala have been established in the Sundarbans, in collaboration with the West Bengal Forest Department, to sensitize locals and provide information about Sundarban’s flora, fauna and their importance. The centres are functional in Madhya-Purba Gurguria Adarsha Vidyapith (MPGAV) school and in Ambikanagar Haripriya High School of Kultali block. Alongside the centres, a children’s group, formally called the ‘Tiger Scout’, have also been formed. This group, along with the SEC’s, aim to engage locals in activities that are centred around wildlife conservation, with a key focus on the habitat protection of the Bengal tiger.

Tiger Scouts at Sundarban Prakritishala | Photograph by Prosenjit Sheel/WTI

The underlying aim of the Prakritishala and the Tiger Scouts is to enlighten and engage local residents in understanding the sustainable use of natural resources and protect local wildlife. The program, a part of WTI’s Sundarbans Tiger Project, involves local youths, fisherman and the forest dependent community to own the responsibility of safeguarding the distinct wildlife and consequently, the ecosystem of the Sundarbans, while minimizing the chances of negative interactions between human and tiger. The SECs aim to engage students and local youth through access to a conservation library. It is also meant to act a connection point for teachers, students and Tiger Scouts from local schools to help plan and design community-based conservation education and awareness interventions.

WTI works hand in hand with Tiger Scouts, as part of the education and environmental conservation initiative, under the project which is supported by the IUCN-KFW. Back in January 2024, around 50 students were selected for nature orientation trainings from the MPGAV School. After more than 4 months or training, 18 Tiger Scouts were identified from the school, based on their interests and skills. Similarly, 17 more Tiger Scouts were identified from the Ambikanagar Haripriya High School in July 2024. Through interactive activities and field trips, the Tiger Scouts program also fosters leadership and stewardship among the young generation.

Tiger scouts explaining human-tiger conflict mitigation at Sundarban Prakritishala | Photograph by Santra Karmakar/LRRM

Between June and August 2024, the SECs and Tiger Scouts have hosted more than 10 events and have engaged about 8000 locals through a range of activities including clean-up drives, plantation drives, street plays, painting competitions and more.

WTI has played a significant role in supporting SEC’s efforts. “As a leading conservation organization, WTI’s involvement adds considerable expertise and resources to the centre’s programs. WTI’s collaboration with SEC involves various initiatives, including the provision of technical support, educational materials etc”, says Mr. Prosenjit Sheel, the lead of the project. “The partnership focuses on integrating conservation education into the curriculum, ensuring that students and local communities understand the importance of the Sundarbans’ ecosystems. Additionally, WTI’s involvement helps in organizing workshops and training sessions that enhance the capacity of tiger scouts and volunteers in delivering effective conservation messages”, exclaims Sudip Maity, principal, Ambikanagar Haripriya High School. “Over the past months, I see my students are doing great work as Tiger Scouts and they have managed to create an impact, not only in the school, but also the community” adds, Mr. Maity.

community awareness event led by Tiger Scouts | Photograph by Samrat Paul/WTI

The Prakritishalas, developed by WTI, have been handed over to the respective school authorities. Management Committees represented by school authority, local forest offices, JFMC members and local Panchayats has been formed, to take the initiative further.

This project is supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank.