Applications Invited for Tiger Watch Conservation Leadership Program 2013

Tiger Watch, a pioneer in wildlife conservation in and around Ranthambhore, organizes an annual workshop to facilitate the gap between ground conservation work and wildlife enthusiasts. The workshop comprises interactive sessions and field trips and helps participants benefit from an over decade long experience of Tiger Watch in anti-poaching operations, poacher reform projects and conservation models. Each individual can be a leader in evolving better and newer ways in conserving resources and Tiger Watch seeks to involve and engage all such interested and concerned citizens in protecting our national animal.

Environment agencies are working towards this but most of the time, the centralized institutional system does not work at the ground level. For that, there needs to be interaction with people who are working in the field, as they are the ones who have evolved and developed the means and measures to conserve nature with the available resources in the most efficient manner, understanding the ground realities. The motive of this program is to discuss the current scenario and thrash out new ideas and strategies for wildlife conservation in general and tiger protection in particular.

Duration: 11 May to 15 May, 2013

Program schedule:

• Six lecture sessions with prominent personalities who work at the ground level in various fields towards conservation.
• A session with the forest guards hearing about their forest stories
• Two visits to Ranthambhore National Park for understanding the ecology of the tiger
• Interaction with ex-poachers
• Cultural sessions

The Workshop will have speakers from Forest department, ex-poachers and forest guards. In addition to these, the Workshop will specifically have the following resource persons:

Ms Vidya Athreya: Vidya is an ecologist working for the last 8 years on interactions between a large cat (the leopard) and humans when they share the same space. She is interested in understanding the drivers of man-animal conflict in the backdrop of the socio-cultural ethos in India, which inspires tolerance for other life forms.

Dr. Govardhan Singh Rathore: Dr Rathore has more than 20 years of community conservation work to his credit and has helped in reform of several villages. Prince Charles awarded him with the precious Ashden Award for renewable energy. He runs a school for 600 kids of Ranthambhore. He has helped plant more than 500 biogas plants to substitute firewood and reverse the impact of deforestation. Along with the community, he has planted about 4 lakh trees around Ranthambhore. Dr Rathore has also built a state-of-art 100-bedded hospital for villages near the park area. He is a true icon in community conservation.

Nimesh Ved: Nimesh currently works independently and has been involved with conservation issues at remote locations in Central and Northeast India. He was based at these conservation priority locations where he led field teams and nurtured programs. During the recent past, he was based in south Mizoram where he designed, implemented and documented a conservation education program that was locale specific and sensitive to the cultural values of the landscape. Conservation education is his area of interest where he explores platforms to interact with different segments of the society on wildlife issues.

Dr. Dharmendra Khandal: With a doctorate in botany, Dharmendra is the country’s foremost spider expert, and a connoisseur of Rajasthan’s flora and fauna. Dharmendra has been working at the ground level for tiger conservation since the past 9 years. A futurist in anti-poaching and wildlife conservation, he has not just helped governmental agencies get hold of poachers but also established ethics and methodology in anti-poaching strategies. He has religiously taken up the work of rehabilitating poachers’ families.

Program requirements:
Applicants must be 18 years and above. The course is intended for people who are currently involved in conservation, students, wildlife writers or simply those interested in wildlife conservation. The number of participants will not exceed 25. Participants have to make their own arrangements to reach Sawai Madhopur. The participants are expected to be present by noon of May 11, 2013 i.e. the first day of the course.

Course Cost: Rs. 16,000/-*
(including AC accommodation for the course period, meals, park safaris, local travels, field visits and course expenses)
*Fee does not include extra meals/ beverages etc.
* Fee does not include travel charges to and from Sawai Madhopur
* Fee does not include hotel arrangements before noon of 11th May and after noon of 15th May 2013

Mode of Payment: Cheque or demand draft in favor of “Tiger Watch”

Last date for registering:  1st May, 2013

For further information and to register, contact:

Divya/ Tiger Watch
Mobile: +91 9166167005
Email: tigerwatchindia@yahoo.co.in
Postal Address: Tiger Watch, Maa Farm, Sherpur Khilchipur, Ranthambhore Road, Distt. Sawai Madhopur – 322001, Rajasthan

Image by Divya/ Tiger Watch