CREATING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY CONSERVATION INITIATIVES IN ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Community Conservation Initiatives is one of the areas, which needed more attention, time and money with good and interested volunteers (including organizations). Several CCIs have gone unnoticed, but still documenting all such good practices and bringing them to limelight is the most important and vital thing to realize the objective of creating space for them.

The spirit of Article 51 A of our constitution can be strengthened through this activity and the final goal of the activity should be to Promote the Culture of CCI by many communities across the nation covering different types of resources. Towards this, advocacy also is necessary before developing protocols for recognizing and rewarding the CCIs. 

 The aspect of space in curricula, informally some of the most familiar CCIs are taught and discussed in different subjects at schools, colleges and PG studies. However, the way they are dealt with is only for information sake, but in no way they can motivate or inspire the students (future citizens) to think of practicing some of these relevant to them, or their communities. Thus, there is a need to reorient the way of handling the subject in the curricula is important. The learning’s should motivate to Promote the Culture of CCI.

1.current curricula talk only of govt Protected Areas as conservation initiatives, or worse, they speak of local communities only in terms- where 'biotic pressure' comes from, or whose 'needs' have to be met, then they cause a prejudged bias in students' minds against CCIs.

2. Not only does formal curricula need to change in the above way (removing gaps and biases), but also the way teaching takes place, needs to change to give space to indigenous/community teachers, to incorporate non-formal, oral traditions of learning, etc. In other words, if traditional or community initiatives need to be respected and integrated into academics, the practice of academia needs to respectfully incorporate different ways of learning and teaching, including those that are used by the conserving communities. As a simple example, students could be taken to one or more CCIs to learn from active community members. 

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2386906

[Rutuja Dhamale]

Hello Sir, thats really nice to know that we have realised the need for improving the academic status of CCI.
I being a student of environmental sciences can really understand the need for it. currently i m working on the subject Environmental Psychology which will improve the approach of people towards the environment. But it is not enough as we need to make a lot of changes in our work processes too.Its a very interesting topic n have seen some successful case studies due to this approach.The basic aim behind sharing this with u is that we really need to change the typical text in textbooks which highlights only the basics,if we are able to make a difference in their thinking then only we can be successful.

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Dear Mr. Ratuja Dhamale,

Thank you so much for your interest and response. Its a pleasure to know that you have already identified the gaps and recognized the need to rework on the education curriculum. Our organization has done some preliminary studies on CCIs in Odisha and I'm here with enclosing the link for your reference, kindly check this link http://cciori.org/ to learn more about them. I will be more than happy to receive your feedback. I would like to know whether we can team up to work on this? Kindly let me know your opinion on this. Thank you once again for your interest.

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Dear Ms. Rutuja Dhamale,

I'm sorry for mentioning your title as Mr. and for misspelling your name too! Plz forgive me for this mistake, may be I was too haggard from my field work. Plz excuse me for this mistake. Thank you!

[Rutuja Dhamale]

Sir, really sorry for the late reply. I did go through the site n believe me; its an amazing work. Will surely like to team up and work, but after i finish my last semester. Thank you very much sir. Its something that can change the perspectives of people for CCI.

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Dear Ms. Rutuja Dhamale,

Thats wonderful! I'm trying to move things at my organization as well. It was learned that similar issues were raised at a conference at Bangkok which the Exe-Director of our organization has attended recently. We had a brief discussion over it. I'm in discussions with a couple of my colleagues who have a lot of work on these issues.

I wish you all the best for your semester exam. Keep in touch.