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pair of all animals with him inside the ark traditional livelihoods. There are oppor- Convention on Biological Diversity story-telling about ecosystems and
before the floods. The purpose was to tunities for scientific research too. This is the most significant inter- the Biosphere (all age groups)
restore the Biosphere. national treaty in the past 30 years. It Ø Encouraging students to write short
There are more than 750 Biosphere makes it mandatory for countries to essays and term papers on topics
Scientists are well aware of the value Reserves spread across 134 countries at develop exclusive strategies for related to the Biosphere (seniors)
of earth's biodiversity (the sum total of present. The Government of India has conservation and sustainable use of the Ø Taking students on exposure visits to
variations in living organisms) and the established 18 Reserves covering the earth's living resources. As a Party to the protected areas and listening to the
biosphere that they sustain. They also biodiversity rich landscapes in the Convention India has enacted the Bio- managers on the various conser-
acknowledge the fact that the biosphere Country. logical Diversity Act 2002 and esta- vation challenges (seniors)
is rapidly deteriorating due to the blished the National Biodiversity Auth- Ø Encouraging students to take up
unprecedented loss of species and their Ramar Sitess ority. projects on the school campus and
habitats triggered by mindless human Fifty years ago leaders of various adjoining areas where they can
action. Recognizing this, there are countries met at a place called Ramsar in Education and Capacity Building enumerate birds, butterflies, trees,
manifold efforts to restore earth's Iran. The outcome of the meeting is an Teachers play a vital role in orienting etc. (seniors)
biosphere. However in the face of intergovernmental treaty to identify and students to the worldwide efforts in Ø Exposing students to web-based
human population growth, industriali- conserve wetlands of global significance. restoring the biosphere. The seeming platforms such as India Biodiversity
zation and climate change it appears as if Wetlands identified under this global differences between faith and science Portal, eBird and iNaturalist where
we are fighting a losing battle. scheme are called Ramsar Sites. In India should not be allowed to confuse young they can post their observations and
75 wetlands have been designated as minds. Keeping this in mind I have photographs (seniors)
Worldwide consensus is that rest- Ramsar Sites. They serve as important shared my views on both faith and Ø Encouraging students to create scrap
oration of the biosphere is the only habitats for aquatic species especially science and on ways to balance the two. books in which they can paste
solution for protecting humans from an birds and fishes. My hope is that the teachers who have newspaper clippings on topics related
imminent catastrophe. But this cannot read this article are no longer in a state of to the Biosphere (all age groups)
be achieved by science alone. It needs World Heritage Sites dilemma in teaching Creation to their Ø Visiting zoos, aquariums and bota-
the active participation of people of This is one more initiative of UNESCO students. The earth 'groans'. It is time nical gardens to expose students to
different cultures and faith. For Christ- wherein landscapes rich in biodiversity that the stewards stepped in. appreciate diversity of species (all age
ians who believe that God created the and unique in one or more ways are groups)
earth and its biosphere this is a major designated as World Heritage Sites. In A Teacher's Guide Ø Orienting students to nature art (all
responsibility. We need to work towards India World Heritage Sites have been I have introduced teachers to some age groups)
the integration of science and faith demarcated in the Western Ghats and in of the more important worldwide Ø Putting up a bill board in the campus
putting behind the apparent differences the northeast. initiatives to restore the Biosphere. where students can fix slogans,
in ideology. More details can be found in the informative news and photographs of
Protected Area Networks internet. It will help if the teachers read plants, animals and their habitats on a
Biosphere Reserves Throughout the world nations have the available information and get day to day basis (all age groups
UNESO launched the Man and set aside important habitats to protect equipped. They can then orient the
Biosphere Program more than 50 years plants and animals. These protected students by involving them in one or
ago. Under this program, governments areas ensure that the species living more of the following activities.
of various nations established Biosphere within them are not harvested or
Reserves to conserve biodiversity. hunted. In India more than 900 Ø Organizing talks by experts in the field
Biosphere Reserves are designed in such protected areas have been set aside of biodiversity and ecological resto-
a way that they contain core areas that covering different habitats. These have ration (all age groups)
serve as refuges to plants and animals been designated as National Parks, Ø Screening of short documentaries
and areas that serve as buffers to the Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation and video clips on plants and animals
refuges. They also allow humans to live Reserves and Community Reserves of India and other parts of the world
within the Reserves and sustain their based on differences in the systems of (all age groups)
Dr. R.J. Ranjith Daniels
management. Ø Involving students in role plays and Co founder and Trustee, Care Earth Trust, Chennai, Tamilnadu.
ETF chalk and chai JAN-MAR 2023 10 ETF chalk and chai JAN-MAR 2023 11
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