BNHS CEC launches certificate course in Biodiversity Conservation
Course Date : June, 2016 - February 2017

BNHS CEC launches certificate course in Biodiversity Conservation
Whether hobby or career – course will be of interest to all nature lovers

Most of us today live in a fast paced, technology intensive and increasingly urbanized world. In this race, the world of nature is often forgotten in our daily hectic schedules. But, nature is never far from us, whether it is the good old Peepal tree or the dainty chirping House Sparrow. Moreover, no matter how “advanced” and sophisticated our lives have become, we are incomplete without the divine beauty and magnanimity of Mother Earth, who provides for all our needs, including “peace of mind”.

BNHS Conservation Education Centre (CEC), Mumbai, is all set to begin the 2016-17 batch of its all time popular Leadership Course in Biodiversity Conservation (LCBC). This is a good opportunity for all those who love the natural world, even as they are caught in their daily routine, to reconnect with the realm of plants, animals, birds and butterflies as well as their habitats.

LCBC and its benefits

This hybrid part-time certificate course has online and field components with the content developed and thoroughly revised from time to time by BNHS scientists. The course will be equally interesting to those who are already acquainted with the natural world as well as to those who are totally new to this field. Course benefits include the following.
o A certificate from BNHS and grades based on performance and participation
o Good insights into India’s biodiversity, habitats, conservation issues and sustainable living
o Opportunities to interact with naturalists/scientists from BNHS and other organizations, during camps, field visits and chats
o Opportunity to document and learn local biodiversity, which may even result in publication of articles or an opportunity to work part time as a resource person with BNHS CEC
o Possibility of participants taking up some leadership role in their own career areas for conservation through sustainable practices

Eligibility

Anyone with an interest to learn about the biodiversity of India and its conservation is welcome to apply. The basic qualification is 10th standard (any board). Other requirements include basic understanding about use of computer and internet (and access to the same) and ability to regularly dedicate at least some part of the weekly routine to course work.

Course syllabus

The course includes chapters and assignments that cover topics like biodiversity, ecology, plants, insects, marine life, reptiles/amphibians, birds, mammals, conservation issues & sustainable development, environmental impact assessment and environmental law. The chapters will be illustrated with relevant pictures/diagrams and written in simple English.

Course schedule

The course duration is nine months (June 2016 to February 2017). The monthly online assignments and chapters will be shared in the first week of every month. Online platforms including email, Face Book and Google Talk will be used for interactions. Field trips will be usually held on Sundays or public holidays and field camps will also try to include weekends. The inaugural camp will be in CEC Mumbai in the first month, while the wrap-up camp will be in the last month. Apart from the camps, field visits and chapters, assignments will include e-updates, online research, field reports, chat sessions, eco days and project work.

Course fee

The course fee is Rs 10,000, which includes BNHS expertise in the online and field components, chapters, assignments, evaluation and food/refreshments in the inaugural and wrap-up camps. The field camps at other locations will be charged separately. BNHS members will get a 10% discount on the course fee only.

Registration

The registration form can be downloaded from www.bnhs.org or requested/submitted on email to [email protected]. Payment of fees can be done by electronic transfer, cheque or DD. For further details, please call on 022-28429477 or 9594953425 during office hours.