Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
Management and funding
The centre was established by a very unique partnership of Government an NGO and a corporate house namely Government of Rajasthan, WWF-India and D. Swarovski & Co. WWF was the primary executing organization and D. Swarovski & Co. Austria was the funding agency. Once established the day to day management is taken care of by the Government and the programme (CEPA) is run through the same three pronged partnership, with WWF-India being the primary executant.
The three partners have their own missions and visions however the common theme that binds the three partners for the conservation of the National Park is Water. Conservation and wise use of water resource is the mandate for the programme. The outreach programme which target spreading further understanding of water resource conservation is also called Water for Life.
The centres establishment was funded by the above partnership, whereas the
recurring expenditure of the centre comes from the Government funds.
Annually more than 100,000 visitors come to the Park, of which 50% is from foreign countries.
Founded/opened
The center was finally inaugurated on 17 January 2006 by the H.E. Governor of Rajasthan, Hon'ble Smt. Pratiba Patil in a public function along with several dignitaries.
Description
WWF-India has been involved with conservation activities, primarily education and awareness, in KNP for more than a decade now. One of the most enchanting waterfowl refuges of the world, a Ramsar site* and a World Heritage Site**, Keoladeo National Park (KNP) is home to rich biological diversity. This 29-sq. km. Reserve locally known as Ghana is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps, and wetlands. Keoladeo National Park as any other National park or sanctuary offers excellent opportunities for understanding nature. Realizing the importance of correct interpretation for achieving long-term conservation WWF-India has envisioned such a programme. The location, the characteristics, the importance of the park all makes its requirements very unique as well as very diverse.
WWF India has developed this Interpretation programme keeping in view the exclusive requirement of the Park. The programme is dedicated to late Dr. Salim Ali and titled Salim Ali Visitor Interpretation Centre and Programme. The Programme aims to achieve long-term conservation of the park by increasing awareness and appreciation towards the Keoladeo National Park among visitors as well as local people.
The programme focuses on information dissemination and awareness building through a three pronged approach specifically catering to each identified target group:
Soft ware - Functioning environment information and awareness programme
Hard ware - Infrastructure for the environment information and awareness programme
Capacity - Build adequate capacity to run the environment information and awareness programme
The Visitor centre with the exhibits, developed self explanatory nature trails, trained guides and rickshaw pullers, core team of teachers to carry forward the education programme, website, film on Keoladeo National Park and resource material together would serve the purpose of a comprehensive interpretation programme accomplishing its objectives.
Hall wise details:
HALL I: WATER SOURCE OF LIFE
HALL II: KNP A Wetland of great importance
HALL III: KNP A BIRD PARADISE
HALL IV: KNP A Bird Paradise
HALL V: Conservation
The centre has a total area of 1200 Sq M built up area which includes an auditorium with a seating of 300 persons, library, public utilities apart from the exhibit halls. The centre also houses an open air theatre, a demonstrative passive cooling technology in the open landscaped area.
Key species/features
All the biological details are available in the below mentioned site.
www.knpark.org
General
Interpretation programme with inputs from various experts, aims to achieve long-term conservation of the park by increasing awareness and appreciation towards the KNP among visitors as well as local people. The programme focuses on information dissemination and awareness building through a three pronged approach: B
- Establish a functioning environment information and awareness programme
- Establish infrastructure for the environment information and awareness programme
- Build adequate capacity to run the environment information and awareness programme
Since the target audiences is such a wide group, a very comprehensive and target specific Information and Awareness (I&A) programme was developed, which would address the tourists by means of Audio-Visual programs and guided trips; the local community and school children by means of the Outreach Programme: and the Guides, Rickshaw pullers by means of Training on communication and interpretation. Select Park staff and project staff trained in interpretation and communication skills to enable them to handle the programme. Outreach programme is targeted at sensitizing the local community about the benefits of the programme to the park and eventually to them. A Website on KNP is for attracting international attention. The outreach programme is the local arm of the programme and has been instrumental in involving the communities in developing ownership for the Park. This change in perception goes a long way in building local support for the conservation of this wetland reserve.
Resource material on the park in the form of books, brochures and CD-ROM s to highlight the conservation needs and particularly showcase KNP. The major component of the programme is the centre comprising of the hardware component of the project, with theme based exhibits on KNP and Conservation needs. The centre also has an auditorium and a library to serve the needs of the scientists, researchers and school children. Nature trails with signages' for visitors to get additional information while they are on the trail.
Formal (school and university) learning
Water School: It is an education programme for the school children of age group 10
14, for surrounding villages and the town of Bharatpur, totaling a number of 12,000 children in 3 years. The water school programme also targets the non school going children along with the school going children. The curriculum consists of a three day module in which fist day the water school goes to the school / village, the second day the children are taken on an excursion to the nearby lake / river and on the third day they are brought to the centre for further studies on water resource management and use.
Teachers were trained out of the previous programme and a core group of teachers
has been formed who will participate now and carry forward the curriculum after our
exit in addition to training other teachers. The teachers are involved in the curriculum
development and special training modules are developed for the teachers.
Informal (general public) learning
As part of the programme various resource materials was developed, self guided nature trails (4 in number) have also been developed inside the Park. Regular A?V shows are conducted in the auditorium, special events like the wildlife week, world Wetlands Day, Annual research Seminar etc are conducted from the centre.
Professional
Yes, it is encouraged to host workshops, seminars and symposiums at the centre, and are a regular feature. Any organization working for conservation can use the resources for a nominal fee which is used for Park s upkeep.
Staffing
20 persons from the forest Department are responsible for work from maintenance to Range officer tourism. Park Director in charge of all the activities hosted / happening at the centre. WWF India technically and financially assists the Park management through its Freshwater and Wetlands Conservation Programme.
The CEPA activities are completely managed by WWF-India, with inputs from the Park Director. WWF has an office inside the National Park and it develops and manages the programme form the field office and Secretariat at Delhi.
Contacts
Vidya Soundarrajan
WWF-India Coordinator, Policy and Programme Development, Freshwater and Wetlands Programme
E: svidya@wwfindia.net
Address:172-B, Max Muler Marg, Lodi Estate, New Delhi, India -110003
T: +91-11-41504820 F: +91-11-24691226