A Group Exercise in Experiential Learning

The World Wide Fund for Nature-India has a Conservation Corps Volunteers programme designed to provide opportunities for young men and women who have a commitment to acquiring knowledge and skills related to biodiversity, conservation and environmental protection. Such opportunities are provided by the prospective CCVs in consultation with non-government organisations (NGOs). Various NGOs host the Conservation Corps Volunteers once the work plans are approved.

A structured orientation enables the CCVs not only to gain an understanding of WWF-India’s mission and programmes, but also broadens their knowledge of the development process. This is particularly important since conservation of biodiversity and environmental protection are very much a part of India’s development process.

Eleven Conservation Corps Volunteers, working with communities in different parts of the country, participated in a group exercise in "Experimental Learning" form August 3 to 16, 1992. This exercise had the specific objective of introducing the concept of sustainable development to the volunteers and was based on the principles of behavioural changes in adult education – setting of goals, building on commitments, developing opportunities for practice, and emphasizing positive reinforcement. There was also an element of the "didactic" method of training, employed in sessions on watershed management conducted with the cooperation of AFPRO – Action for Food Production.

Following a session by Mr. Thomas Mathew, Secretary General of WWF-India, on the structure, mission and programmes of the organisation, other staff talked to the CCVs on specific aspects of their programmes – TRAFFIC India, pollution monitoring and control, the status and management of wetlands, and sustainable development through technology cooperation.

The CCVs also visited Development Alternatives and spent time with the professionals there. The various dimensions of sustainable development presented at Development Alternatives were well-received by the CCVs. The presentation also included a case study on using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for land use planning. The CCVs found GIS to be an effective tool for project planning and management.

In addition, the CCVs visited the Environment Wing of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, the National Museum of Natural History and the Delhi Wildlife Sanctuary. In Dehra Dun, the CCVs visited the People’s Science Institute, the Forest Research Institute and the Wildlife Institute of India.

Rajaji National Park, where the CCVs spent two days, was a focus of a colloquim on human conflict in conservation. An opportunity for working with the community was provided when the CCVs visited WWF-India’s Vrindavan Forest Revival Project and planted trees to green Vrindavan’s "Parikhrama".

Discussions on case studies of the projects which the CCVs themselves are implementing were an important aspect of the experiential learning. This not only helps the CCVs to appreciate each other’s work, but also raises common issues, problems and methodologies for community participation in sustainable development.

The orientation programme ended on August 16, 1992, when the group exercise in experiential learning was evaluated and the CCVs presented their concepts of sustainable development. Here is an explanation of sustainable development provided by Milind Kothawade who is working with the tribal community inside Bheema Shankar Sanctuary near Pune in Maharashtra.

‘Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. His is a definition offered by the famous World Commission on Environment and Development in its report, Our Common Future.

But a all of us know, a large proportion of even the present generation cannot meet all its needs – who is going to ensure the rights of future generations?

Are we talking only of the future generations of the rich or also the poor?

For this if anyone wants to think about sustainable development, he or she should take into consideration the meeting of basic human needs, natural resource conservation, equity, building traditional knowledge systems, conflict resolution, diversity, participation of human elements, and human dignity.

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