CEE at the Winter Carnival
CEE, along with the UNDP GEF/SGP partners the Chatrasal Seva Sansthan, Mahila Haat and Samarthak Samitij participated in the Winter Carnival held on December 16 by the I.C.S/ I.A.S Officers Wives Association.
The efforts and products of CEE and the UNDP GEF/SGP partners were appreciated by all including the chief guests.
The UNDP GEF/SGP CEE stall attracted over a thousand people. The visitors were sensitized towards the need to protect and to conserve biodiversity. Products from groups such as Food for Life – Vrindavan Society, Jagriti, Yerala Project Society, Wayanad Social Services Society and TVS Foundation were put on display for sale. Since most of the products on display were biodiversity-based livelihood products a very strong message went out to the public at large. Even electronic media was used to spread the word on conserving and protecting Biodiversity. In an interview to the local media channel Kalash TV, the CEE team explained the importance of Biodiversity based products and the need to conserve and protect our biodiversity.
Happenings at DéCee : CEE's Information Facilitation Centre
A one-week programme was organized for the Jr. and Sr. Kinder Garden students of Delhi Public School (DPS) Bopal. 500 students visited Centre for Environment Education (CEE) as part of their field visit trip. Every batch enjoyed two hours of fun filled activities which included making cards from dry leaves and flowers, nature walk and pottery. Children were happy to carry back a card and a small pot which was made by them.
Transforming dry leaves into creative cards.
Ms. Rashmi Nakra, a teacher and educator appreciated the programme "DPS being a green school itself, there could have been no other place than CEE for an educational trip.CEE gave us an excellent opportunity to bring children close to nature. The activities done were age appropriate and children enjoyed the hands on experience on the potter's wheel, and the craft activity"
55 students of grade 1 from Anand Niketan School visited CEE to understand different types of plants. Children walked through the 14 acre green urban forest to observe and understand the classification of plants. Children sang songs and danced trying to depict herbs, shrubs, creepers. The session ended with a presentation on how we could save our natural resources.
41 first year students and three faculty members of the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai visited CEE to understand and study the building design and planning. This was as part of the study programme where students undergoing the 5 year degree course in architecture travel to different parts of the country to see and study buildings of architectural merit.
Workshop on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation "plus" (REDD+)
CEE is working with the Gujarat Forest Department on Clean Development Mechanism Project on 'Afforestation and Reforestation sector', and also a project on 'Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation' (REDD). Mr. Praveen Prakash, Programme Coordinator, CEE attended an Interactive Workshop on REDD+ organized by the Climate Change Department, Government of Gujarat and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun on September 27-28.
This REDD+ workshop aimed at capacity building and presenting methodological issues to facilitate wider understanding and implementation of REDD+. The objective of the workshop was to enable forest officers from Government of Gujarat to have a better understanding about various technical aspects related to implementation of REDD+.
Mr. Praveen Prakash delivered a lecture on REDD+ initiatives in Gujarat where he discussed various issues related to deforestation in general as well as for Gujarat; identified possible deforested areas in Gujarat; various methodologies and standards for REDD+; identification of methodology which can be used by Gujarat to develop REDD+ and status of REDD+ project of Gujarat. Ms. Pooja Dave, Project Officer, CEE also attended this workshop.
Other speakers at the workshop included Mr. Anil Purohit (Asst. Project Executive, GEDA), Dr. C.N. Pandey (Add. PCCF, Gujarat), Mr. E.Vikram (IFS, DCF(GIM) H.P Government), Dr. Jagdish Prasad (IFS, CCF Social Forestry Circle, Ahmedabad), Mr. Rajesh Kumar ( Sr. Dy. Director FSI), Dr. T.P. Singh (ADG Forest and Climate Change ICFRE), Mr. V.R.S Rawat (Add. Director Forest and climate change ICFRE).
International Mountain Day Celebrations in Indian Himalaya
The 10th anniversary of International Mountain Day (IMD) was celebrated by CEE Himalaya and partners in the states of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Uttarakhand. Over 300 students, 50 teachers and concerned citizens shared their views on challenges and concerns pertaining to sustainable mountain development and ecosystem services.
Skit by students of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
In Uttarakhand the day was celebrated in collaboration with ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu) at Dehradun. Resource persons included experts from ICIMOD; Centre of Aromatic Plants, Dehradun; State Medicinal Plant Board, Dehradun; and National Service Scheme. In Himachal Pradesh, the event was held at Hamirpur in partnership with the HP Department of Education. In J&K, IMD was celebrated in collaboration with the J&K Education Department at Ganderbal under the Regional Centre of Expertise, Srinagar banner.
The topics of discussion at the three sites revolved around issues of migration; subsistence mountain agriculture; impacts of climate change; need for cross-boundary cooperation; ecosystem services of the Himalaya; local biodiversity and food insecurity. Students participated in activities like poster-making, essay-writing, slogan-writing, painting and skit competitions, debates, nature games and cultural shows. Students of HP also participated in the Handprint Campaign. All participants pledged to conserve nature and natural resources to contribute to sustainable mountain development.
Science Express – Biodiversity Special at Ahmedabad
The Science Express- Biodiversity Special (SEBS) train was at the Kalupur Railway Station, Ahmedabad from December 19-21, 2012. This was the last stop that marked the end of Phase 1 of the SEBS 18000 kms journey. The train received an overwhelming response from visitors that included 8421 students and 527 teachers from 125 schools.
Around 650 National Green Corps students enthusiastically took part in various platform activities like Web of life, Who am I, Break the Pyramid, Biodiversity Quiz, Brahma's Tower, colour puzzle, tetrahedron, extracting ball from a loop etc. Students also performed small experiments related to basic science and mathematics as a part of the Joy of Science Laboratory activities.
As part of the teacher-training workshop on the train, Mr. Parthesh Pandya, Programme Coordinator, CEE oriented teachers on Education for Sustainable Development and project based learning. During the workshop, teachers also shared their views on the scope of undertaking action projects in schools.
Teachers' training workshop at SEBS Ahmedabad
CEE's Rural Programmes Group also conducted a brief interactive feedback session with eminent personalities and subject experts on the second day. These included Dr. Dinesh Mishra, APCCF (JBIC); Dr. H. S. Singh, APCCF (SF); Mr. Bharat Pathak, CCF & Director, GEER Foundation, Gandhinagar; Mr. U. R. Pandya, (CEO, WASMO); Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat Vidyapeeth; Dr. Rajendra Khimani, Registrar, Gujarat Vidyapith; Mr. Lalji Desai (Director, Marag); Dr. Minoobhai Parabia (Ex head, Dept of Bio-Sciences); Mr. M. T. Shah (Director, GCERT); Mr. T. S. Joshi (Addl Director GCERT), Mr. Pranav Trivedi, and Mr. Ratibhai Pandya. The exhibition was greatly appreciated by the group.
Announcing Winners of the National Level Painting Competition 2012
Creative minds at Paryavaran Mitra Painting Competition 2012
The Paryavaran Mitra Programme conducted a National-level Painting Competition on Energy Conservation in 2012 in partnership with the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA). About 30,000 students participated in the competition organized along the stops of the Science Express Biodiversity Special, at locations near CEE offices across India and at individual schools. The winners were announced recently in the two categories: Group A (Class 3-5) and Group B (Class 6-8). The winners list is available on the Paryavaran Mitra website: www.paryavaranmitra.in
