IBGN- About Indian Botanic Gardens Network - MMPG

Model Educational Programme
(MEP)

MEP-Kodaikanal Botanic Garden
(MEP-KBG)

Introduction || Aims & Objectives || Project Team || Work Progress

Aim:

MEP-KBG aims to -

Create awareness among school teachers, children and village communities about the importance of their native flora and forests and to understand the necessity of using plants sustainably.
Create and strengthen grass roots support for biodiversity conservation efforts with a focus on Tamil Nadu and to safeguard the remarkable and diverse flora and vegetation of this region and in UP.

Objectives:

The main objectives of the MEP-KBG are to-

Develop a MEP and promote the Kodaikanal Botanic Garden as a model for the development of community and school botanic gardens throughout Tamil Nadu.
Highlight the value of native flora and habitats to support sustainable development, for example, by drawing particular attention to plants valuable for fuelwood, medicine, timber, wild foods and fruits, fodder, tourism and other uses, and promoting models and practices for the wise and sustainable management of such plant species in Tamil Nadu and one location in UP.
Establish continued rapport with education department through brainstorming sessions.
Organize four workshops and training courses for teachers and others.
Promote school-level seminars, practical school-based conservation projects, school gardens for education, and drawing/painting competitions on the theme of ‘biodiversity’.
Demonstrate green farming practices; strengthen the educative school gardens.
Organize village-level community participatory meetings to increase environmental awareness.
Initiate MEP-KBG in Barielly, Uttar Pradesh so as to spread the concept in North India.

MEP’s RELEVANCE TO PLANT CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN INDIA

Kodaikanal Botanic Garden is situated in the Palni Hills, a widely recognised global 'hotspot' for biodiversity. The Palni Hills are located in the Western Ghats, which are home to at least 3000 species, of which about 68 species are endemic. Nearly 75% of the total number of species endemic to the whole of Peninsular India are found in the Western Ghats. The Palni hills comprise largely of natural forests (sholas) and grasslands, which have come under threat from the demand for fuel wood and fodder and fire hazards as well as from commercial plantations. However, the Government of India has recognised the importance of the Palni Hills for conservation and in principle has accepted the case for the establishment of a National Park. This proposed project is therefore completely related to the conservation priorities of India. Despite the recognition of how important is the biodiversity of the Palni Hills region at national and international levels; awareness of the importance and value of the native flora and natural vegetation is still limited at the local level. Raising grass roots and community based support, awareness and involvement in practical conservation measures is recognised as of vital importance to achieving its survival. MEP-KBG aims to help bridge the gap between official policy on plant conservation and day-to- day practices amongst local people that is impacting on the status of much important biodiversity and motivate them.

MEP’s RELEVANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR PLANT CONSERVATION

MEP-KBG will provide development of an important integrated model project in conservation, education and sustainable use of biodiversity for the State of Tamil Nadu, thus contributing to national efforts to implement the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The project addresses several of the sub-targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: Conserving plant diversity, Using plant diversity sustainably, promoting education and awareness about plant diversity and building capacity for the conservation of plant diversity.

In particular it addresses the following targets:

Target 14 – The importance of plant diversity and the need for its conservation incorporated into communication, educational and public-awareness programmes
Target 16 – Networks for plant conservation activities established or strengthened at national, regional and international levels

RELEVANCE WITH THE ONGOING WORK OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

There are about 140 botanic gardens in India, of which the following are running extensive education programmes:

Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram education programme is targeted mainly to educate local villagers about the sustainable use of local biodiversity.
National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Botanic Garden, Lucknow education programme is for university students, training them specifically in horticultural techniques.
Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, Kerala education programme is aimed at school children and adults, teaching them about the region's biodiversity and the need for conservation.
Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), Bangalore provides training to the rural and local population in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

The similarities between the proposed project and the above education programmes are that they are all concerned with the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of plants. MEP-KBG will focus on training teachers, which outside the formal education system is not common. It will also engage people at the village level in finding solutions to environmental problems. It will also facilitate replication of this model in UP so that the concept can spread in UP.

POSSIBILITIES OF FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY OF MEP

At the end of the project period over 500 teachers will have been trained in environmental education. The continued practice of environmental education in schools will be unaffected by the end of the financing of the project, as the teachers will have already received training and a teachers’ handbook. It is well known that once teachers are trained they continue to use these skills with subsequent groups of children.

The PI will hold regular meetings with the local education authority to keep them fully informed of the project and involved in its process. The fact that the project will be locally based and relevant to local needs and aspirations should ensure that the local community would want the project to continue.

Introduction || Aims & Objectives || Project Team || Work Progress