The new year has brought about renewed awareness about the conservation of Goa’s diverse flora and fauna, with the ‘Greener Side Campaign’, a month-long event consisting of a line-up of activities and workshops, highlighting the importance of the sometimes-overshadowed facets of Goa’s diverse ecosystems like mangroves, bees, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies and birds.
The Greener Side Campaign follows a recent curtain-raiser event, ‘Ensemble of the Wild: An Evening of Art, Culture, Music and Meaningful Conversations Around Conservation’ that raised awareness about the ecological significance of the Western Ghats and Goa’s rich biodiversity via two panel discussions featuring experts from the field of conservation in Goa.
The campaign is an initiative by Echoes of Earth, India’s greenest festival, which aims to shine the spotlight on the Western Ghats and raise awareness about the importance of conserving Goa’s rich biodiversity.
On January 13, Snigdha Sehgal, Fellow, Youth Conservation Action Network, will be conducting a workshop titled ‘Science & Storytelling in Nature’s Lab’ at the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) campus. Participants will learn about nature through storytelling, activities and experiments.
On January 14, participants can learn about the significance of the vital mangrove systems during a guided walk conducted by Khoj-aao! Adventures Goa, an organisation that curates offbeat experiences for nature lovers. The nuances of nature journaling will also be taught. The walk will take place along the Siolim river trail.
On January 18, those interested in beekeeping can learn about the importance of bees, their habitats, role and conservation through an educational show-and-tell session titled ‘Beekeeping Educational Workshop’. The session will be curated by Vitthal Joshi at the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).
On January 19, renowned ecologist Parag Rangnekar will educate participants about the fascinating world of dragonflies and damselflies during a wetland stroll along Carambolim lake.
On January 25, Rangnekar will once again take participants on a guided walk, this time teaching them about the ecological significance of butterflies in Goa’s biodiversity. He will also teach people how to create a butterfly-friendly habitat. The event will be conducted at the GSPCB premises.
The final event will be held on January 27 at the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Chorao. Mandar Bhagat, President, Goa Bird Conservation Network, will take participants on a bird-watching tour in a boat titled ‘Feathers Afloat: Birdwatching in a boat’ to observe various avian species within their natural habitats, deepening their understanding of Goa’s rich avifauna.
Participants in the series of campaign events can garner an in-depth understanding of the importance of Goa’s rich ecology with the help of experts from the field for a nominal fee.