KNOW YOUR ECOSYSTEM                 

Two day workshop was being organised at Rustom Choksi Hall, IISc Campus on 20 and 21st April 2002 by Karnataka Environment Research Foundation (KERF) and Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science.

The purpose of the workshop is to enhance children's awareness towards their surrounding natural ecosystem. Most of these children are born and brought up in an urban environment with little understanding of their natural surroundings.

We, the city people, pay very little attention to the natural processes present in the city. We are used to seeing water coming out of the faucet and garbage getting carried by the maids and conveniently disappearing from our sight. we spray pesticides and herbicides to grow beautiful gardens and get rid of those plants that we feel are unwanted. Food is something that is readily available in stores as nicely packaged product.

Amongst all this the very essence of our coexistence with other plants and animals within the ecosystem looses its meaning all together as we define and redefine our urban lifestyle. the existence of other animals and plants species, the importance of clean air, water and soil take a backseat to our urban needs.

Now we have an entirely new generation of children whose lifestyle are rapidly changing through globalization and free market economy. If these children are not made conscious of their surrounding natural environment early in their lives - changes are they will further perpetuate current patterns of mindless consumerism and wastages that will worsen the situation and eventually jeopardize their own future survival.

Therefore, this workshop is based on the simple assumption that understanding comes only through learning and learning gives way to love and conservation.
As a teacher of environmental science I feel that every single child should be given the opportunity to understand their surrounding so that in the future they can make an informed choice about their lifestyles.

In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.