SPREAD THE WORD
Pledges for Biodiversity Conservation
A joint initiative of CBD, NBA, Paryavaran Mitra, CEE, GEF & Ministry of Environment of Forests, Government of India
Project Name: “Outreach: Two Million Pledges catalyzing actions for Biodiversity protection, conservation and sustainable use of recourses”.
Aim of the project:
The project aims to have the thinking influenced for sustainable lifestyles, create awareness and sensitize the youth that would be the school children and communities by making them sign pledges towards the conservation and protection of biodiversity.
Objectives of the project:
1. Generate awareness and sensitivity in the schools, teachers and students towards the use and conservation of the rich biodiversity in India.
2. Sensitize Youth of India - Tomorrow’s future to protect, conserve, nurture and sustainable use of biodiversity for the current and the future generations.
3. Appraise students on India on the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) COP (Conference of Parties) approach through NBA (National Biodiversity Authority) of India.
Implementation Strategy:
The campaign is being implemented by GEF/SGP, UNDP & CEE with the support from NBA and Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India in all the states of India. CEE through its Regional Cells have developed a strategy. All the team members have been given orientation about the programme. A standard presentation was developed to sensitize the students, teachers and the communities on various issues of Biodiversity Conservation. CEE has been implementing the programme in partnership with different institutions i.e. GEF/ SGP, NGO/ CBO partners, various Academic and Research institutions, other CEE partners, Colleges and Schools. Two sets of MoUs are developed for the project partners and for the schools. Project Partners were selected by all the regional cells and GEF/SGP, Delhi and got oriented accordingly by the respective CEE offices for implementation of this programme in their respective areas. The program is coordinated through the CEE Regional office, (East) based at Bhubaneswar.
1. Implementation in Schools:-
The CEE teams along with their various partners visit the schools; apprise the Principal and other teachers on the various issues related to the biodiversity and its richness in India. To make the wider dissemination of the information, the school agrees a time slot for the CEE team and in turn the information is disseminated to the students. All the students, teachers and communities of practice are encouraged taking the pledge – Save Biodiversity Save Life and for the actions to be performed. In many cases, the School Principal requested the CEE team to take some extra classes for there senior students (e.g. class IX & X) on biodiversity conservation and use and also basic environmental issues.
2. Implementation in Communities:-
Apart from the schools, it was also attempted to create awareness with general public at large and at public places e.g. Zoo, Parks, Science Express - Biodiversity Special Train, and at various meetings, special functions, workshops and occasions. The team also approaches various cross sections of the society (e.g. bureaucrats, politicians, scientists, doctors, academicians, developmental professionals, businessman, farmers, housewives, etc.) to register for the biodiversity conservation and actions to protect the same. These were recorded in various formats, e.g. pledges, small write-ups, interviews, handprint impression, etc.
Regional Cell |
States Covered |
No. of |
No. of NGOs & Institutional |
No. of Schools involved |
No. of Students |
No of Teachers |
Other persons |
Total No. of |
CEE Delhi |
Delhi, Haryana |
26 |
23 |
3551 |
405700 |
8230 |
31520 |
445450 |
CEE North |
UP, Bihar, Uttaranchal, |
33 |
9 |
1960 |
400865 |
14909 |
35762 |
451536 |
CEE North East |
Assam, Meghalaya, |
10 |
4 |
1085 |
70436 |
1917 |
18385 |
90738 |
CEE East |
Odisha, West |
27 |
14 |
1245 |
117410 |
4900 |
68368 |
190678 |
CEE Central |
Chhatishgarh, Madhya |
12 |
7 |
368 |
152976 |
5424 |
103869 |
262269 |
CEE West |
Gujurat, Rajasthan |
10 |
4 |
452 |
66288 |
530 |
10822 |
77640 |
CEE South |
Andhra, Tamil |
21 |
3 |
762 |
254776 |
7439 |
23479 |
285694 |
TOTAL |
139 |
64 |
9423 |
1468451 |
43349 |
292205 |
1804005 |
|
Project Impacts:
1. Students have enjoyed the ‘New Learning’ through this “pledge – Save Biodiversity Save Life campaign. The learning have largely impacted their lifestyles on the use of local foods; Consume more locally grown species of food item and also encourage the growth of diverse species of plants against Mono Culture.
2. The campaign has encouraged students to know more about unexplored areas of Biodiversity Conservation.
3. The learnt how urban settings need to link with Biodiversity Conservation. The importance of Green Spaces, e.g. Parks, Wetlands and Lakes, etc.
4. Students have learnt the threats to Biodiversity Conservation, e.g. Check encroachments to Parks and local Water bodies; Conserving local art & culture. Encourage Tree Plantations and locally used Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
5. Usefulness of the locally grown species of Neem, Amla, Jamun, Custard apple, Mint, Coriander and Tamarind, etc.
6. Respect Nature – Plants of Trees.
Click Here to Download List of Summary../Docs/Pl_Count_Dbase.xls
Examples of pledges taken by people:
1. Let us protect our environment for survival of life in our planet.
2. Our existence is intricately interwoven with conservation of Biodiversity. Environmental awareness is a must for sustaining life on earth.
3. Keep yourself away from use of plastic in day to day life.
4. “Environment – our lovely home” save it.
5. Be green, make green.
6. Best animals, wild animals.
7. Do not cut trees, save trees always.
8. Doing as much as we can contribute towards a greener planet ultimately contributes to our well being.
9. Don’t be cruel on wild animals
10. Don’t cut tree to save the environment.
11. Go green, keep the environment plastic free.
12. Green earth, clean earth.
13. I can die to be green but I can’t go with a green world.
14. I pledge for keep environment clean and green
15. I promise to keep my surrounding environment clean and green.
16. Keep the forest green as it always good for you and world.
17. Let us protect the environment.
18. Let’s spread greenery by planting trees.
19. Love the nature and save environment.
20. Make our world green and safe.
21. No wild life, No Mankind.
22. Plant a tree, save many lives.
23. Plastic don’t decompose! Reduce, Recycle and Reuse.
24. Please save green.
25. Please save our forest.
26. Please stop deforestation.
27. Protect the environment it will protect you.
28. Save animal, save life.
29. Save Earth.
30. Save Environment, Save Earth.
31. Save environment, save life.
32. Save environment, save wildlife.
33. Save one tree that saves your life. Save Forest, Save Earth.
34. Save our environment as save ourself. So keep saving life.
35. Save petrol.
36. Save the biological diversity.
37. Save the world, clean the mind.
38. Save tiger and save environment. Plant more trees.
39. Save tree, live free
40. Save trees and tigers because it is very important.
41. Save trees, keep the environment clean.
42. Save water to keep our earth healthy.
43. Save wetland.
44. Stay Green, Stay Happy.
45. Tiger is a very rare animal, try to protect them with love because it is proud really.
46. Trees are beautiful, Please don’t cut them.
47. We all should be very careful for protection of our environment from this day onwards.
48. We must save our flora and fauna.
49. We will avoid water pollution.
50. World is yours. Conserve, preserve and protect for a better tomorrow.