A journey of Eco volunteers trained by Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board and Forest Department. We Eco volunteers work on different conservation activities with the Karnataka Forest Department @ WL Sanctuary/National Park/Conservation Reserves/Community Reserves/Tiger Reserves/Zoo etc

1. - a journey……..
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

2. Praveen B Bhagoji
Volunteer No: VTP/BH/1049/14-15
E-mail: natureshepherds@gmail.com
Twitter: @natureshepherds

3. Environmental protection is a fundamental duty of every citizen of this
country under Article 51-A(g) of our Constitution which reads as follows:
“It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion
for living creatures.”

4. To ACT & join hands
with the people
(forest officials,
conservationists, key
policy & decision
makers) who are
conserving our country
biodiversity and
understand the
Scenario to enable
them ACT effectively.
Purpose Strength Dream
 Influence our social
circle for a favorable
action towards
wildlife conservation.
 Greater „self-
efficacy‟.
 Pro-active to learn &
implement technology
for conservation of
wildlife.
 Commitment to
conserve wildlife.
 Protect & guard our
country biodiversity
for our future
generations.
 To learn and
contribute our best
for wildlife
conservation as
amateur
conservationists.

5. S
STEWARD:
Wild neighbours – find out who they are what they need…
Plan & action – identify best management practices, key actions…
SAVE:
Leave it alone – avoid disturbing species & habitats and reduce impacts…
Leave a legacy – protect species & habitat into the feature…
SEED:
Outreach programmes – be local, work with neighbours,
awareness/education to locals…
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

6. ACT
Nature has always been
the companion &
teacher of each life on
this earth. With its „art
of nature‟ it teaches us
about savoring life's
simple pleasures. Thus
it‟s each one of our
fundamental
responsibility to
conserve nature
(environment &
wildlife)
ENOUGH OF
PHILOSOPHY
Nature Conservation,
Habitat Management,
Green Growth,
Sustainable
Development, Wildlife
Corridors, Green Belt,
Eco-Tourism, Eco-
Sensitive Zone, Green
Corridor, Wildlife
Photography Ethics –
ENOUGH OF THESE
BUZZWORDS
Tiger was provoked,
not a man-eater;
Indian Elephant - Scary
Natural Encounters;
Crop-raiding by
wildlife; Bear mauls
Indian farmer to death;
Other side of Zoo : A
Prison
ENOUGH OF THESE
CONTROVERSIAL NEWS
HEADLINES
Ignoring precaution,
MoEF clears a project
which has been
categorically rejected
by majority Standing
Committee of the
NBWL; MoEF clears
NHAI project road
blocks; SC issued
notice to Union MoEF
to put on hold projects
cleared by NBWL –
ENOUGH OF THESE
NEGLIGENT
BUREAUCRATIC ACTS
Shoot-at-sight order for
Tiger; Stop the capture
of wild elephants;
Indian train kills
elephants crossing
tracks; Road kill of
wild animals by
highway traffic; IUCN
Red List of Threatened
Species – 12 animals
from India
ENOUGH OF THESE
INNOCENT SACRIFICE

7.  Conservation Reserves
 Community Reserves
 Wildlife Sanctuaries
 National Parks
 Zoos
 Tiger Reserves

8. “Crowd
Management”
- huge traffic inflow
during the long
weekend holidays
Initiative by:
Supported by:
~ 500 Vehicles
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

9. “Conservation
Awareness
Campaign ”
- for safari visitors
Initiative by:
Supported by:
~ 500 Visitors
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

10. “Forest Fires ”
- assistance to frontline
staff in preparations of
fire-line
~ 500 hectare forest area
Initiative by:
Supported by:
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

11. “My Pledge”
- a campaign for forests
& wildlife conservation
Initiative by:
Belagavi Forest
Division
In association with:
Supported by:
17 Colleges, 05 Schools
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

12. “Chinnara
Vana Darshan”
-nurturing wildlife &
nature conservation
stewardship
Initiative by:
Curated by:
Supported by:
~30 Schools, ~1000 Children
Dept. of Public Instruction
Belagavi Forest
Division
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

13. FREE “Health
Checkup
Camp” - for
frontline staff & family
Initiative by:
Belagavi Forest
Division
Supported by:
~375 Staff & family members
In association with:
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

14. “Installation ofWildlifeWarning Sign Boards to reduce wildlife
road kills” - attempt to influence driver behavior
Initiative by:
Belagavi Forest
Division
Supported by:
100 Wildlife Warning Sign
Boards - Belagavi - Chorla
(SH-31), Alnavar-Ramanagar
(SH-34)
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

15. “Wildlife Crime
Prevention &
Detection
Workshop” - focusing
on frontline forest staff
Initiative by:
Belagavi Forest
Division
In association with:
Supported by:
FG – 25, DRFO – 20, RFO – 12,
ACF – 03, DCF – 02, CPI (Police) - 03,
PSI/ Inspectors (Police) – 05,
RP (legal) – 03, Asst PP - 02
WCCB Volunteers
South Region
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

16. “Nature & Wildlife
Conservation
Awareness
Campaign”
Initiative by:
In association with:
Supported by:
~25 Schools, ~2000 Children
WCCB Volunteers
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

17. “Conservation
Talk”– topic ‘Human-
Wildlife Interactions’
Initiative by:
In association with:
Supported by:
~55 Foresters, ~100 Villagers
Belagavi Forest
Division
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

18. „Rewards &
Recognitions‟ –
exclusively for frontline
forest staff
Initiative by:
SAVE
SEEDSTEWARD

20. Neha Sinha (Wildlife conservationist)
I am very enthused to see the vision for eco volunteers - this is amazing and this is exactly what conservation needs. I see you have a host of committed people and there is very little I
can say to make it better - which is great! One small suggestion I have is that volunteers often like to be involved in something which is scientifically robust. More citizen science is
wonderful. For some it increases interest, for other volunteers it is about perhaps choosing wildlife science as a career.
Anish Andheria (President - Wildlife Conservation Trust)
I am glad individuals like yourself are playing an active role in transforming their passion into conservation action.
Upasana Ganguly (Programme Officer- Wild Lands Division @ Wildlife Trust of India)
It was indeed very nice to meet you at the SCCS and know about the wonderful and important work you and the other Eco-volunteers are carrying out in and around Bhimgad WLS.
Usha Tummala (fellow Eco Volunteer)
I had a wonderful experience at Bhimgad WLS last week at Belagavi. Am glad our friend Praveen contributed and made the wildlife week possible. The respect he commands among
the Belagavi forest department is a matter of pride for us Eco Volunteers. Thank you for making it possible. Looking forward to more and more contribution as fellow Eco Volunteer.
Giri Prathivadi (fellow Eco Volunteer)
Friends, I would like to thank Praveen for giving us the opportunity to be part of health care camp at Belagavi. It was a great learning experience out there. Most importantly the
kind of relationship that Praveen has created with FD and he has created a great platform for VTPians to carry out lot of conservation activities. I have been the eye witness for the
same. There is lot of work to be done in those regions. Once again, thanks Praveen!
DN Sreenivasa (fellow Eco Volunteer)
It was wonderful fellow VTPians and exchanging some of the good work done by others. Thanks for providing the opportunity and look forward to attend many more events.
Deepa Mohan (fellow Eco Volunteer)
I agree that under your stewardship, Eco-volunteers have done a lot in the field of conservation! Congratulations on the sustained efforts.

21. • Wildlife Crime Prevention & Investigation Workshop - focusing on
frontline forest staff.
• Rewards & recognitions - focusing on frontline forest staff.
• Conduct regular snare combing walks outside protected forests. i.e.,
fringes.
• Conservation awareness campaigns @ PA fringe villages – to address
human-animal conflict issues.

22. • Conduct regular snare combing walks outside protected forests. i.e.,
fringes – jointly with forest dept. & college students
• Grooming the unique naturalist skill sets - focusing on frontline
forest staff.
• Budding nature/wildlife enthusiasts | Symposium and awareness
programme - focusing on school & college students.
• Improve the socio-emotional incentives (e.g., status, opportunities
for advancement, etc.) - focusing on school & college students of PA
fringe villages.

23. “Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless”