Nature Guide Workshop

Nature trail is a walk through nature wherein the participants of trail gain knowledge about the various components of nature like plants, birds, butterflies, spiders, forests, etc. After experiencing nature through nature trail, the participants’ interest in nature tends to increase. This can lead to their active participation in conservation without which it cannot be achieved. They also learn to appreciate the nature around us and its importance in our life.

Conducting nature trail for interested groups

I have been conducting nature trail since 1998 for people of various age groups. Since 2007 I have been doing this at Dapoli. It has been a great and enriching experience for me to have worked as a resource person for nature trail. Interest and enthusiasm of participants of various trails have encouraged me to conduct more trails. It has also given immense satisfaction of being able to create and spread awareness about nature and conservation through this educational programme.

Last week I got an opportunity to conduct one day workshop at Anjarle, Taluka Dapoli for interested participants to work as a nature guide. I conducted 2 sessions during the workshop which covered how to conduct a nature trail and glimpses of biodiversity around us. I highlighted various aspects like need of learning about nature around us as well as being able to present it to the group while working as a Nature Guide in future.

Inaugural function

 

Conducting a session on Be a Nature Guide

This workshop was organised by Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, Chiplun (www.snmcpn.org) under one of their projects with giz, Germany and Forest Department Ratnagiri, Government of Maharashtra.

Shri. Bhau Katdare explained about the importance and scope of being a Nature Guide. He further said that by developing such Nature Guides it can provide a source of income for such guides. While doing this activity conservation can also be achieved since awareness and importance spreads amongst local people as well as tourists. Ms. Supriya explained what is biodiversity, its magnitude and importance.

Both of my sessions during this workshop have been effective due to my experience of conducting nature trail since 1998. Shri Bhau Katdare, President, Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, Ms. Supriya Zhunzhunwala, Project Advisor, giz, Germay, Mr. Dalvi from Forest Department, Maharashtra and Mr. Sandesh Devkar, Sarpanch, Grampanchayat, Anjarle were also present during the workshop. Good support from Anjarle Grampanchayat was received for this programme. Interested persons from Anjarle as well as nearby villages participated in this workshop.

Participants attentively listening to the session

गेल्या अनेक वर्षांपासून मी निसर्ग भ्रमणाचे कार्यक्रम घेत आहे. सुरुवातीला मुंबईतील काही संस्थांबरोबर आणि २००७ साली दापोलीला आल्यावर इथे येणाऱ्या पर्यटकांसाठी तसेच शाळा / कॉलेजच्या विद्यार्थ्यांसाठी हे नेचर ट्रेल घेत आहे. नेचर गाईड किंवा निसर्ग मार्गदर्शक म्हणून काम करताना दापोली परिसरातील निसर्गाचे अंतरंग उलगडून सांगताना ….. पर्यावरणातील अजैविक घटक – हवा, पाणी, माती तसेच वनस्पती, पक्षी, फुलपाखरे, कीटक, कोळी यासारख्या सजीव घटकांची ओळख करून देताना किंवा निसर्गातील विविध साखळ्या समजावून सांगताना एक वेगळाच आनंद मिळतो आणि निसर्गाबद्दलची जाणीव जागृती अनेकांपर्यंत पोहोचविल्याचे समाधानही मिळते.

Practical session conducted during the event

मात्र गेल्या आठवड्यात मला निसर्ग मार्गदर्शक कार्यशाळेमध्ये मार्गदर्शन करण्याची संधी मिळाली. यात माझ्या जवळ जवळ १८ वर्षांच्या अनुभवावर आधारित अनेक मुद्दे मी मांडले आणि ते सर्वांना भावलेदेखील. ही कार्यशाळा सह्याद्री निसर्ग मित्र चिपळूण या संस्थेने giz, Germany आणि वन विभाग रत्नागिरी, महाराष्ट्र शासन यांच्याबरोबर त्यांच्या सुरु असलेल्या प्रकल्पांतर्गत घेण्यात आली होती.

—Jilpa Prashant Nijasure