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

Until a year ago, Tikeshwar Nishad, Kumbhaj Sahu and Narendra Verma were three young Chhattisgarhi men with little appreciation for nature. Nishad had never heard of bird watching, Sahu thought snakes were harmful and should be killed, and Verma was unaware of the variety of butterflies around him. However, the launch of YUVAN, an initiative by the state's forest department, has changed their attitudes in recent months.

YUVAN, which stands for "Yuva" (youth) and "Van" (forests), aims to bridge the gap between young people and nature in a world increasingly dominated by digital screens and social media. The program was introduced at Nandanvan jungle safari in Raipur in 2024 and expanded to Baloda Bazar district the following year.

Ganveer Dhammshil, a former Divisional Forest Officer, explains that YUVAN uses experiential learning to engage young people. Rather than simply lecturing about forests, wildlife, and conservation, volunteers engage in hands-on activities such as tree planting, seed ball campaigns, biodiversity documentation, and community awareness efforts. They also receive training in skills like nature interpretation, wildlife photography, and biodiversity monitoring.

Nishad, now 23, has been instrumental in rescuing a migratory bird from hunters and preventing illegal tree felling in his community. Sahu, 22, has transformed his perspective on snakes, now rescuing them and educating others against their killing. Verma, also 22, has developed an interest in wildlife photography and teaching others about bird behaviour and butterfly conservation.

The initiative has already reached over 500 young volunteers and several hundred school students through regular Saturday activities during the monsoon season. These activities include guided forest walks, biodiversity observation, seed-ball preparation, wetland awareness, and wildlife awareness games. One of the coordinators, Shubhashni K Lal, notes that students initially appear indifferent but gradually develop a strong interest in nature and wildlife, potentially inspiring them to pursue careers in conservation.

By fostering a connection between young people and nature, YUVAN hopes to empower a new generation of conservation leaders who can help communities respond to wildlife-related issues and promote coexistence between humans and wildlife.