The Bandipur Yuva Mitra (BYM) initiative launched to sensitise the local community around the tiger reserve on conservation and environmental issues, will reach out to 200 schools surrounding the forests, during 2024-25.
Launched in March 2023, the Wildlife Awareness Outreach Programme entailed identification of the target audience and provided a snapshot of issues about conservation in Bandipur, the problems arising out of human-wildlife conflict, the importance of forest and wildlife conservation etc.
Ramesh Kumar, Conservator of Forests, Project Tiger, said that the focus is on school students from villages surrounding Bandipur and the local community who are the stakeholders and are among the most affected during conflict or forest fires.
