City-based organisation Wildlife Orissa on the eve of the World Earth Day held a conference to deliberate on “Environmental Education in the State of Odisha,” here on Friday.
A number of crucial recommendations emerged from the conference like the need for making environmental education practical oriented in schools, the devoting of more hours on the subject, need for elaboration on linkage between wild species and ecosystem and adequate space for schools for undertaking plantations and observing biodiversity.
Besides, the speakers recommended conservation of biodiversity including wild animals, birds, reptiles and insects and need for inclusion of competitions relating to environment and wildlife in the school curriculums.
Further, the speakers said children need to be explained about indigenous plant species and about their regeneration, schools need to be associated in wildlife conservations programmes and community level environment protection initiatives, said the speakers.
The proceedings of the conference will be presented to the Government for implementation, informed the organisers. Former DGP Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, former Home Secretary Sanjib Hota, former Chief Conservator of Forests Saroj Kumar Patnaik, IIIT Director Gopal Nayak, INTACH’s Anil Dhir, WWF India State director Michael Peters, chief spokesperson Wild Orissa Kulamani Deo and Wildlife Orissa vice chairman Nanda Kishore Bhujabal were, among others, present. Wildlife Orissa secretary Monalisa Bhujabal coordinated the event.