In the picturesque village of Yangse, located in the Bana circle of East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh, a Eco-Adventure Park with a Nature Interpretation cum Training Centre has been unveiled. Mr. Ankit Kumar, the Divisional Forest Officer of Seppa Forest Division, spearheaded the initiative with the aim of raising awareness about nature and wildlife conservation among both the local people and visitors, particularly the children.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, the IFS officer shared details about the park which has been build around a ‘Jungle Book’ theme.
JUNGLE BOOK THEME
The project boasts of a unique theme inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic ‘Jungle Book’, which emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of humans and wildlife. The park features life-size models of characters from the book, each representing qualities like courage, friendship, and family bonds. The intricate trails lead visitors through various exhibits that showcase the essence of these characteristics.
“The landscape here is very suitable for making such kind of a park wherein awareness can be created and certain activities which can foster learning can be added. So, with this intention in mind we created the Eco Adventure Park cum training centre,” the officer shared.
NATURE INTERPRETATION CUM TRAINING CENTRE
Additionally, the Nature Interpretation cum Training Centre within the park aims to foster creative learning and knowledge-sharing. Experts and educators will be invited to conduct sessions, particularly for children, to educate them about nature and environmental preservation. The centre will also house a library and provide a platform for training sessions across different domains, including art, music, dance, self-defence, and disaster response.
Sharing further information about the training centre, the officer said that the state has trees, bird, orchids and flowers which are endangered. So, to start with, the officer has kept all the infographics in the centre to teach the kids about the conservation of their state symbols. Additionally, he has requested all the HoDs of health, education and other sectors to use the centre as a mode of training.
“Everything that is related to nature will be taught there, but we will expand its scope to other sectors as well,” he added.
ENTRY FEE
The project has been funded by the state forest department planning head. Currently, entry to the park is free for the children of East Kameng district, with a plan to introduce nominal fees in the future for maintenance purposes.
The entry for the park and centre will be free for lifetime for students from the orphanage that inaugurated the park.
FEEDBACK
The response to the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from the children. The park has attracted a substantial number of visitors, leading to the need for crowd management strategies. The project has successfully introduced many to the world of ‘Jungle Book’ and its conservation-oriented themes.
FUTURE PLANS
Looking ahead, the officer has ambitious plans to expand the park’s offerings. He said that if they get suitable land, they are going to add a medicinal or herbal park, eco-huts, and adventure sports facilities. The vision for the centre, known as Bana Bhawan, extends beyond nature education, encompassing various training programmes and advanced learning opportunities.
“We believe, with the dedication of the Eco-Adventure Park and Nature Interpretation cum Training Centre to the public, we will be able to meet the larger objective of building an informed and aware citizenry which can strengthen the relationship between human and nature,” the officer said in conclusion.
