KARAVAN HERITAGE AND NATURE SOCIETY

CERTIFICATE COURSE IN ONLINE FIELD STUDY OF HIMALAYAN TERAI

A Report

Karavan Heritage and Nature Society conducted an Online Certificate Course in Field Study of Himalayan Terai for graduate and postgraduate students:

• Department of Environment Science
• Department of Botany
• Department of Zoology
• Department of Life Sciences
• Department of Geography

Colleges:

• Allahabad University, Prayagraj
• Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirapalli
• Hindu College, Delhi
• Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow
• JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore
• Kirori Mal College, Delhi
• Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
• Miranda House, Delhi
• Shri Jai Narain Mishra Post Graduate College, Lucknow

The program was held from 4th June to 10th June 2022.

93 students registered for this program.

This program was organized under the guidance of Dr. Alpana Scott, Head of Geography Department, Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow.

LOCATION OF FIELD STUDY:
This study of the geographical treasures of Himalayan Terai was done at the amazing campus of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. This reserve is located in District Kheri and Behraich of Uttar Pradesh on the Indo-Nepal border. It is one of the best-preserved forests of the famous Terai Arc Landscape on the southern edge of the Himalayas.

OBJECTIVES, BENEFITS AND OUTCOMES OF ONLINE FIELD STUDY COURSE:

• Quenches your quest for knowledge about the Himalayan Terai (as a geographer, environmentalist and scientist)
• Provides guidelines for conducting a thorough field study
• Gives an idea of how to prepare a field study  report
• Adds value to your academic work
• Enables you to carry out research work in future
• Builds your association with Karavan for your internship and career-building opportunities
• Provides guidance to pursue careers in eco-tourism and environment education (that is your own field of study)
• Provides stimulus to become an entrepreneur rather than a job seeker

RESOURCE PEOPLE FOR THE PROGRAM:

• DEEPTI: Camp Leader, National Environment Science Camp, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
• ANIRUDH: Camp Mentor, National Environment Science Camp, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
• VIKRANT NATH: Camp Coordinator, National Environment Science Camp, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
• OTHER MEMBERS OF TEAM KARAVAN: LokeshVerma, Govind Kumar, BhikniJi

COURSE CONTENT:
During this weeklong program, we explored the Terai forest in totality. We shed light upon:
i) Geography and Location of Himalayan Terai (Case Study of River Sharda and its flood plains)
ii) Different Eco-Systems in the Terai Arc
iii) Flora of Himalayan Terai
iv) Fauna of Himalayan Terai
v) Tharu Tribal Community (Case Study of Tharu Tribe)
vi) Forest Management and Man-Animal Conflict,
vii) Careers with Karavan.

We delved upon the rivers as the creating agents of the Terai and the creation of habitats; the habitat specificity of flora and fauna in different eco-systems; the interaction of abiotic and biotic components; the importance of habitats for flora and fauna. Diversity of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals; as also their unique sites, field study techniques, behaviour, threats, conservation status and case studies. We also studied the techniques of forest management and resolution of man-animal conflicts. We shade light upon Terai as the sustainer of Dudhwa.

METHODOLOGY:
The entire process was carried out methodologically. Each session commenced with a briefing about factual information on the topic of the day. This was followed by an extensive right-on-the-field exploration done by Deepti (Camp Leader, NEVS Camp). She was assisted by Anirudh Gupta (Camp Mentor), who did the photography and videography. This exploration involved much action and adventure: nature walks, expeditions, bird watching, jungle safari, boat cruises and scientific demonstrations. We made a technical analysis of the fieldwork to get a holistic understanding of the topic. There are many people with immense knowledge about the geography of Himalayan Terai. We held discussions with these people to build a knowledge bank and shared their hands-on field experience of ecology, habitats, flora, fauna, forest management practices and tribal community with our participants.

In the next part of the session, we replied to the questions asked by the participants. We encouraged participants to be analytic rather than just ask us for general info. Each session concluded with a Brainteaser which was an effort to understand the technical aspects of the topics. We concluded the session with a quick re-cap and a self-introduction by the participants. To further stimulate the thinking process, we awarded points for the best question and best response to the brainteaser.

LEARNING OUTCOME AND BENEFITS OF THE COURSE:
This Certificate Course is a unique program that provides participants: an on-the-spot field exposure to the Geographic Importance of the Terai and the diversity and current status of different habitats and their flora and fauna along with the measures taken to conserve them; learning field studies techniques; understanding the critical importance of natural habitats for both biotic and abiotic components, and most importantly we help participants visualize a career for themselves along with Karavan and other enterprises as well. Certificates were awarded to all the participants. This certificate authenticates fieldwork and earns extra credit in academics. The lucky winner received special gift vouchers for free camping with us at Dudhwa while the other selected winners get special gift vouchers for our camp at Dudhwa.

This online course is a stepping stone to motivate participants to conduct an actual geographical study at Dudhwa itself.

SUMMARY OF FIELD EXPLORATION:

1. Geographic Location and Landscape of Himalayan Terai: Rivers as creating agents of Terai (Case Study of River Sharda) and Demonstration of River Meander and formation of ox-bow lakes
2. Habitats:  Wetlands, Riverine, Grasslands and Woodlands
3. Flora of the Terai: How different flora proliferate over different eco-systems(Case Study of Aquatic Flora, Elephant Grass, Vetiver Grass, Shorea Robusta Trees and Medicinal Plants)
4. Fauna of the Terai: Exploring the unique fauna that survives in the Terai (Different species of the Animal Kingdom)
5. Tharu Tribal Community: Human Settlements and Communities in the Terai (Case Study of the Tharus)
6. Forest Management and Man-Animal Conflicts: The importance to conserve the Terai (For Preservation of Bio-Diversity)
7. Careers with Karavan: This course is not just a purely academic study it is a job/career-oriented effort.

Associate with Karavan and other green enterprises.

TECHNICAL CONTENT (DAY-WISE)

Day 1: Karavan Heritage and Nature Society

• About Karavan and its members
•  Benefits of Online Field Study Course

Geography of Terai:

• Geographic Location
•  Himalayan Terai Landscape
•  Field Exploration of River Sharda
•  Discussion with Dr. Jaswant Singh Kaler on the effect of River Sharda on Local Communities

Day 2: Terai Ecosystem

• Formation, Importance, Conservation status and dependent species of different Terai Ecosystem:
• Wetland Ecosystem
• Grassland Ecosystem
• Riverine Ecosystem
• Woodland Ecosystem

Field exploration at Kishanpur Range

• Discussion with Mr Shailendra Singh on Habitat Management

Day 3: Flora of Himalayan Terai

• Diversity of Flora in Himalayan Terai
• Study of Flora of Himalayan Terai: Identification and Morphology
• Important flora found in different eco-systems
• Exploration of Sal Forest
• Field exploration with Bhikniji
• Study of Medicinal plants
• Discussion with Shri Baddal Ram JiRana on Ethno Botany of the Tharus

Day 4: Fauna of Himalayan Terai

• Diversity of insects in an eco-system
• Diversity of fishes and amphibians
• Diversity and importance of reptiles in an eco-system
• Diversity and importance of birds in an eco-system
• Diversity and importance of mammals in an eco-system
• Field Exploration at Gerua River, Sal Forest, Sonaripur Grassland, Jhadi Tal Wetland, Suheli Riverine Forest and Fringe Forest
• Informed Discussion with Dr. DayaShanker, Veterinarian, Dudhwa

Day 5: Village Communities around Dudhwa: Reference to Tharu Community- Cultural Perspective

• Tharu community of himalayanterai:
• Origin
• Region of settlement and number of villages
• Population
• Family type and size
• Village community and social interaction
• Livelihood and occupation
• Landholding and crops
• Annual income
• Language
• Typical village settlement
• Religion, culture and festival
• Knowledge systems
• Government facilities

Day 6:

Forest Management and Conservation Practices at Dudhwa

Management of Grasslands and fire lines

Rhino Rehabilitation Project

Dudhwa Forest as sustainers of this region

• Field exploration to study forest management and wildlife conservation
•  management of grasslands and fire lines
•  management techniques
•  rhino rehabilitation project
•  human-animal conflict
•  conversation with local farmers

Day 7: Careers with Karavan

Build your career with Karavan and collaborate with Karavan

Learn about Karavan Model and Organisation we worked with.

Know about green enterprises

GREEN CAREERS:

• Environment education
• Eco-tourism
• Landscape architecture
• Bee farming
• Dairy farming
• Wildlife photography & cinematography

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OUR REPORT CARD

Based on the 74 feedbacks given by the participants:

YOUR RATING OF COURSE STRUCTURE

•  GOOD (72)
•  JUST OK (2)
•  POOR (0)

YOUR RATING OF THE TECHNICAL CONTENT

•  GOOD (69)
•  FAIR(5)
•  INADEQUATE (0)

YOUR RATING OF OUR COMMUNICATION

•  CLEAR (74)
•  LACKING CLARITY (0)

YOUR RATING OF FIELD EXPLORATION

•  ADEQUATE (73)
•  COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER (1)
•  INADEQUATE (0)

WAS THIS COURSE RELEVANT

•  YES (74)
•  NOT REALLY (0)

HAVE YOU BEEN BENEFITTED FROM THIS COURSE

•  YES, I HAVE GAINED EXPERIENCE (69)
•  YES, I HAVE ADDED A CERTIFICATE IN CV (0)
•  YES, THIS COURSE HAS MOTIVATED ME (5)
•  YES, IT WAS A GOOD TIME PASS (0)
•  NO, I HAVE NOT BENEFITTED (0)