# Forest Department Launches Educational Drive in Bharatpur Wetland to Train Schoolchildren as Nature Guardians

> The forest department has initiated the Keoladeo Mitra Abhiyan at Bharatpur's renowned national park, offering schoolchildren hands-on education in biodiversity and wetland conservation.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-10-03 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/bharatpur-ke-ghana-men-skuli-chhatron-ko-paryavarana-snrakshaka-banaega-vana-vibhaga-ka-naya-abhiyana-42145 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Forest Department, Wetland Conservation, Biodiversity, Keoladeo Mitra Abhiyan, Environmental Education, School Students

Educational tours to Bharatpur's globally acclaimed Keoladeo National Park, popularly known as Ghana, are no longer limited to routine birdwatching or capturing scenic photographs. In a concerted effort to connect young minds directly with environmental stewardship, the forest department has rolled out a dedicated outreach programme titled 'Keoladeo Mitra Abhiyan'. The initiative is designed to offer school students an in-depth understanding of rich biodiversity, wetland preservation, and ecological balance, helping them evolve into environmentally conscious citizens.

## Transforming Field Trips into Practical Learning
Ghana DFO Chetan Kumar explained that the primary motivation behind the initiative is to cultivate environmental sensitivity among children from an early stage. While classrooms provide theoretical concepts of ecology, interacting directly with a thriving wetland brings those lessons to life. Through guided exposure to the landscape, participating students observe how delicate ecological chains sustain wildlife. By engaging actively in practical field exercises centered on wetland management, youngsters develop a mature, responsible perspective toward conserving natural habitats.

## Over 400 Students Reached in the Opening Month
The ground-level impact of the drive has been evident since its inception. Within the first month of launching the programme, more than 400 students representing seven different schools have already taken part in the field sessions. Inside the tranquil sanctuary, experts introduce students to the diverse varieties of resident and migratory avian species, indigenous flora, and the complex mechanics of wetland ecology. Instructors place particular emphasis on the indispensable role of water bodies, explaining how wetlands act as biological filters, replenish groundwater tables, and provide essential feeding grounds for migratory flocks arriving from distant continents.

## Ambitious Plan to Involve 25 Regional Schools
Under the phased operational roadmap charted by the forest department, the initial stage aims to onboard a total of 25 schools across Bharatpur and adjoining localities. Students from these institutions will undertake comprehensive guided circuits through the park. To ensure sustained interest and creative expression, the curriculum incorporates interactive outdoor formats including nature walks, painting competitions, and environmental quizzes designed to reinforce foundational ecological knowledge.

## A Living Classroom for Conservation
Forest authorities emphasize that instilling conservation values during formative school years yields enduring social benefits. Children who witness the vulnerability and beauty of fragile ecosystems firsthand often serve as persuasive ambassadors of green habits within their families and communities. Through this structured engagement, Keoladeo National Park is stepping beyond its identity as a regular tourism getaway to function as an open-air laboratory for biodiversity education.

## What this means for you
This program bridges classroom environmental science with experiential learning, turning an internationally recognized wetland into a practical conservation laboratory for youngsters.

- **In Bharatpur:** Local school students gain direct access to guided field visits, quizzes, and nature trails across the sanctuary. With 25 regional schools slated for the first phase, hundreds of children will receive structured environmental mentorship.
- **Across India:** The initiative offers an adaptable blueprint for protected sanctuaries nationwide to integrate local school curriculums with park management. Other state forest departments can replicate this student-centric model to protect threatened wetland ecosystems.
- **For students:** Participants gain hands-on ecological insight into wetland biodiversity and migratory bird patterns beyond textbook theory. Early field immersion nurtures lifelong civic accountability toward local natural resources.
- **For teachers and parents:** Schools receive an organized framework to make annual field excursions educational, interactive, and environmentally impactful. Educators can utilize the sanctuary visit to illustrate environmental challenges and habitat preservation clearly.

## Why this happened
The forest department established the program after recognizing that conventional school visits to the sanctuary were predominantly treated as casual outings rather than substantive learning opportunities. The initiative aims to bridge this gap by offering structured ecological education directly in the field.

- **Superficial engagement during visits:** Student excursions traditionally focused on birdwatching and photography without cultivating an understanding of complex habitat dynamics. Authorities launched this dedicated drive to replace passive touring with active conservation learning.
- **Growing need for wetland stewardship:** Fragile water bodies require sustained preservation, making it essential to teach younger generations the ecological role of wetland systems. Protecting these marshes is fundamental to sustaining groundwater resources and migratory flyways.
- **Fostering long-term civic accountability:** Park officials identified early childhood as the most effective stage to instill lasting environmental responsibility. Youngsters educated on ground realities can influence their households and wider communities toward sustainable practices.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What is the Keoladeo Mitra Abhiyan?
It is an initiative launched by the forest department at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur to provide school students with hands-on education in biodiversity and wetland conservation.

### 2. How many students participated in the first month?
More than 400 schoolchildren from seven different institutions participated during the opening month of the campaign.

### 3. How many schools will be included in the initial phase?
Under the department's roadmap, a total of 25 schools across Bharatpur and surrounding areas will be covered in the first phase.

### 4. What activities are arranged for the visiting students?
The program features guided sanctuary circuits, nature walks, painting contests, and interactive environmental quizzes.

### 5. What is the primary objective outlined by DFO Chetan Kumar?
He stated that the goal is to nurture environmental consciousness from childhood so students grow into responsible citizens who actively protect nature.

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