Youths to get conservation lessons from Similipal staff

Bhubaneswar: Authorities at Similipal Tiger Reserve decided to impart lessons to budding environment enthusiasts and school students about the rich flora and fauna of the place as part of a process to instil conservation ideas among youngsters.
Deputy director (Similipal north division) Sai Kiran said environment-related awareness from students days should lend positive motivation so that they begin to love nature. “Such educative sessions can also help check wildlife crime, illegal tree felling and smuggling and poaching as students raising their voices have tremendous impact on their parents and others in society,” Kiran said.
The Similipal authorities have also decided to involve school, college and university students in a massive awareness drive in the reserve periphery areas to check forest fire. “The involvement of students in awareness drive has greatly helped check forest fire this summer. Through them, we have expanded the horizon of awareness so that the message penetrated loud and clear,” Kiran added.
The senior forest officer said 15 colleges were also involved in the special drive meant for sensitising villagers on forest conservation. The Similipal officials also organised bio-diversity assessment and conservation training to its field personnel at Chahala.