Chhattisgarh wants to bring youth closer to nature – one bird, snake, butterfly at a time

Three young residents of Chhattisgarh, Tikeshwar Nishad, Kumbhaj Sahu and Narendra Verma, have undergone a transformation in their attitudes towards nature. Formerly indifferent to the environment, these individuals have become advocates for conservation and appreciation of wildlife. The initiative responsible for this change is YUVAN, a project of the state forest department aimed at bridging the growing gap between young people and nature.

The concept for YUVAN was conceived in Chhattisgarh's Nandanvan jungle safari in 2024, expanding to Baloda Bazar district the following year. Its creator, Ganveer Dhammshil, explains that YUVAN is a Youth Volunteer Programme designed to foster experiential learning. Unlike traditional methods, YUVAN emphasizes hands-on experiences such as forest walks, biodiversity observation, seed-ball preparation, and community awareness activities.

As a result of YUVAN, Nishad has been instrumental in rescuing a migratory bird and discouraging villagers from illegally felling trees. Sahu, who initially viewed snakes as harmful creatures, now rescues them and educates others against their killing. Verma, too, has developed an interest in wildlife photography and teaching about the behavior of butterflies.

YUVAN's approach has proven to be effective, with volunteers gaining practical experience in conservation efforts, wildlife monitoring, and community engagement. In addition to the three individuals mentioned, the initiative has created a network of 500 volunteers and has begun engaging school children in nature-related activities, aiming to cultivate a new generation of conservationists.