C.P.R. Ayar Environmental Education Centre
The C.P.R. Ayar Environmental Education Centre was set up in
1988 to increase consciousness and knowledge about the
environment and the major environmental problems facing country
today. The Centre conducts a variety of programmes to spread
awareness and interest among the public, particularly among NGOs,
teachers, rural workers,women, youth and children, on all aspects
of environment and ecology, with the purpose of promoting
conservation of nature and natural resources.
The important activities carried out by the Centre during
the year were as follows :
- Training programmes were conducted for NGOs in the
States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Kerala, Orissa and
Tamil Nadu to raise awareness about environmental
protection and regenration.
- Training programmes were conducted for teachers and
teacher trainees in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra
Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu
on integrating environmental education in the school
curriculum.
- A six week summer workshop commencing on Earth Day and
concluding on World Envrionment Day was conducted for
300 children who learned to identify the surrounding
flora and fauna, and prepared projects on Madras city's
environmental problems particularly the polluted water-
ways.
- The video van continued to travel in the village of
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu spreading the message of
environmental protection.
- Seminars on "Environmental Protection, People, and Law"
were conducted at several universities and for NGOs in
Andhra and Tamil Nadu.
- Five intensive training programmes on "Integrated
Watershed Management" were conducted for rural NGOs in
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- Two intensive training programmes on "Environmental
Education - Design, Presntation and Evaluation of
Projects" were conducted for NGOs.
- A training programme on "Environmental Impact
Assessment" was conducted in Madras.
- The Centr's staff have been regularly training
Government Official, including revenue, forest and
agriculture on sustainable development, on behalf of
the Anna Institute of Management, Government of Tamil
Nadu, Madras.
- To bring about awareness through action, 14 site were
taken u for conservation and restoration of their
sacred groves, supported by environmental education.
- 25 villages in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were
taken up for rural Eco-Development which included
training in environmentally sustainable technologies,
distribution of saplings and setting up of village
nurseries.
- A Zoo Interpretation Programme at the Arignar Anna
Zoological Park, Vandalur, was undertaken, wereby
animal keeers were trained in communicating with
visitors and in the maintenance and care of zoos and
zoo animals.
- Conservation Education in ecologically important areas
such as the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve included training
for teachers, Home Guards, Block Develoment Officers,
and village Administrative Officers, Besides secific
programmes for students.
- At the tribal village of Bokkapuram in the Mudumalai
forest an eco-development programme was initiated
through the establishment of kitchen gardens, honey bee
colonies and nursery, as well as plantation of fruit
trees. These were supported by awareness programmes and
integrated rural development programmes.
- The workshops for teachers, B.Ed.students,and joint
B.T. students under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Conservation Education Programme, were continued.
- The Centre organised and participated in several
exhibitions during the year: "Your Food and the
Environment" exhibited during the Centenary Flower
Festival at the Botanical Gardens, Ooty, own the first
prize and the specialcentenary award and also the first
prize at the Sim's Park exhibition at Coonoor.
- Exhibitions were also held on "Babes in the Woods" (on
the young ones of animals) in Madras and on "Life
Under Water" at several sites along the south eastern
coast.
The following resources materials were produced by the Centre :
- Manual on Integrated Watershed Management
(in English and Tamil).
- Manual on Environmental Education - Design,
Presentation and Evaluation of Projects.
- Coastal Ecology Package (including an activity book-
"Fun at the Beach", posters on Coral Reefs, Mangroves Eco-System
and Tropical Forests and information pamphlets on the "Sea Shore"
and "Life Under Water" in English, Tamil and Telugu).
- Training booklets for zoo keeers on "Communication" and
on the "Role of Animals" (in English and Tamil)
- Video films on "Animal Welfare", "Birds and Sacred
Groves".
- Research projects such as Ambient Air Quality Survey of
Madras, Fluoride Survey at Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh,
Fluoride Survey at Ennore, an experimental study on different
soil media at Cittannavasal, soil survey at Bokkapuram, and soil
analysis at sacred grove site were undertaken by the Centre.
- Several Water and soil testing kits, developed by the
Centre, were distributed to NGOs and schools.
- A data bank on Sthala Vrikshas in Tamil Nadu, covering
259 temples and their virkshas, has been develoed by
the Centre.
For further information, please contact :
Director
C.P.R. Ayar Environmental Education Centre
1 A, Eldams Road
MADRAS - 600 018 INDIA
Phone # 91-44-4341778, 4346526
Fax # 91-44-450656
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