Education for Conservation (Red Panda)

Communities of Ward no 6 of Subhkalika Rural Municipality, primarily engaged in farming and livestock raising. There are two primary schools and one secondary school in this ward, but there is a notable absence of education regarding the natural and environment. Local textbooks lack information and aware about red panda, led to an increase in killings. Red Panda are found in two community forests within this area, which have seen a surge in activities like hunting, construction, dam building, open grazing, deforestation, and land degradation, resulting in the destruction of wildlife Habitat.

In the Kalikot district, the organization HuRENDEC has been actively involved in a community-based Red Panda conservation project since 2018, in collaboration with the Red Panda Network program. Within ward No. 6 of Subhkalika Rural Municipality, at Shree Chandra Surya Secondary School, an E-Club was established, comprising 25 student members, including 14 girls and 11 boys. The school hosts various public awareness programs, engaging local stakeholders, students, teachers, and staff from supporting organizations, on occasions such as World Environment Day and International Red Panda Day, to educate the community about red panda conservation.

As a part of this project, a water pond was constructed in Hadhlekh to provide a water source for wild animals. Furthermore, 14 officials from two community forests users have undergone training in forest environment protection, biodiversity, and Red Panda research. The project also includes environmental education for 90 students at Sree Chandra Surya Secondary School, with a volunteer teacher conducting classes twice a week. This initiative has involved 10 teachers, 90 students, and 350 parents, all contributing to red panda conservation efforts by disseminating knowledge about these animals which in turn, share this valuable information with their parents. This classroom management approach aligns with local government textbooks and plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, making it socially and technically significant for sustainability. Additionally, it contributes to the preservation of natural resources and forests.

The entire community is grateful to the Red Panda Network and HuRENDEC, Nepal, for their dedicated efforts in conducting environmental classes and promoting Red Panda conservation within both the community and school sectors on various occasions.