RCE Lucknow-2014

1. Name of RCE : 
RCE Lucknow
2. Continent: 
Asia-Pacific
3. Country: 
India
4.RCE Contact Details
Main RCE Contact: 
Preeti R. Kanuajia
Secondary RCE Contact: 
Sanjay Tiwari
General RCE Email: 
preeti.rawat@ceeindia.org
5. Project Title: 
ESD through Mobile Exhibition on Biodiversity
6. Thematic area/s addressed by the project
Biodiversity
7.Project Partner Contact Information Provide information about the main contacts for the project. : 
Organization: 
Centre for Environment Education - Northern Regional Cell (CEE North)
Role: 
Lead institution
Main Contact: 
Preeti R. Kanaujia
Organization: 
University of Lucknow
Role: 
Formal Partner Institution
Main Contact: 
Dr. Amita Kanaujia
Organization: 
Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board
Role: 
Government Partner agency
Main Contact: 
Ms. Pratibha Singh
8. Project type
Capacity Development
Community Engagement
Other (please clarify): 
Engaging Schools and Youth
9. Project Description Provide a short description of the project including regional challenges it addresses, its aims as well as project activities/strategies Allow text field (character count 500 words): 
Biodiversity is usually seen as technical subject when it comes to common masses and schools. To conserve our rich natural heritage, it is critical that people especially young children learn about biodiversity of their own region. Usually curriculum of school covers certain aspects linked to biodiversity while understanding this that diversity is all around us is missing. Knowing about biodiversity would not only bring increase in awareness and appreciation for it but will also lead to sensitization which would certainly lead to conservation actions. It is envisaged that education and communication about biodiversity is the area which could associate a larger number of people in documenting and protecting the biodiversity. United Nations has declared the current decade (2011-2020) as a decade on Biodiversity and generate awareness on its status and conservation. In response to it, India had chaired the Conference of Parties (COP 11) to the Convention of Biological Diversity at Hyderabad in October, 2012. To respond to this, RCE Lucknow partners decided to initiate a mobile exhibition on biodivesity of the region.
10. Project Status
Open
Description: 
CEE North as lead RCE agency closely worked with University of Lucknow and UP State Biodiversity Board to plan out the project. A bus name Prakriti (means Nature) has been decided to developed to promote ESD through biodiversity education and conservation. The project involved development of an exhibition bus to reach out to large number of schools and community. Based on extensive research and consultations with experts and institution, CEE team along with RCE institution developed the exhibition in Hindi. Exhibition has been put up on a bus which has 22 panels. Bus was inaugrated on 2 August 2014 and now moving to schools and villages.
11.Provide references and reference materials (possibility to upload additional documents (up to 8mb): 
12. Duration of the Project Start Date: End date:: 
Friday, May 9, 2014
Describe Coordination and management of the project. Please also reflect how the RCE as a network organization has contributed to the project and the challenges involved, if any. Character count 400 words : 
Coordination and Management is being done by CEE North. University of Lucknow has contributed technically in developing the content and also planning of visits to various locations. Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board has financialy supported this project.CEE team includes three educators/communicators who travels with bus and explain the exhibition, conduct games and activities.
14. What are the current results of the project in terms of outputs (e.g. publications, developed practices, course materials)? Character count 300 words: 
Biodiversity Bus has visited 40 schools where more than 12,000 students, teachers, community members, youth etc. have visited the exhibition. An orientation on biodiversity of the region, threats faced and conservation measures have been given. A campaign on documenting biodiversity of school campus has been announced to invite schools to prepare school biodiversity registers. A set of material has been developed in Hindi invluding brochure, booklet, poster and oath for schools.
15. What are the expected/confirmed outcomes (e.g. impact of the project) Character count 400 words: 
It is expected that this mobile exhibition would be able to create appreaciation for biodiversity wealth among visitors Apart from creating awareness, it would also sensitize people to save biodiversity. Documentation and observation of biodiversity around us would be promoted. This could be linked with various action projects by students.
16. Are there any unexpected/unplanned results achieved by your project? If yes, briefly describe or list them . Character count 200 words.: 
Bus is an innnovative educational resource which is also reaching out to poor students who could not afford to visit any museum or exhibition.
17. What are the remaining challenges and/or limitations for further development? Character count 300 words.: 
Sustaining what has been discussed during the visit of the bus would be bigger challenge for the RCE Lucknow.
18. What is the project’s contribution to innovative and transformative educational processes for sustainable development (especially regarding formal and/ non-formal learning/research)? Character count 500 words: 
The project is contributing to non formal learning on a specific theme of biodiversity. It brings direct contact to children and bring focus to conservation. It is also able to assess local understanding level about biodiversity.
19.How can you scale up and mainstream ESD and SD practices of the project and enable it to contribute to the implementation of the Global Action Programme (GAP) as proposed by UNESCO? (max 300 words): 
Mobile exhibition on biodiversity is reciveing oveewhelming response from schools and masses. This could be replicated easily and is also being planned with varied focus areas.
20. How does you project contribute institutional and policy reforms as part of sustainability change? Character count 500 words: 
Project is meeting the objective of biodiversity conservation policy of the region. State Biodiversity board works with the mandate of reaching out to wide number of people who are aware of biodiversity around them.
21. How does your project further improve capacities of various partners and stakeholders on the theme? Character count 500 words.: 
Regular feedback on the project and discussion would help in taking this pilot run at next level.
24. What is the significance of this project for the region? How important are its results for its particular project category? Character count 250 words.: 
Being UN decade on Biodiversity, this project would significant contribution. This brings regional perspective as how local efforts can contribute to larger global efforts.
Region: 
Asia-Pacific