Planning and Implementation Under this initiative, the partner agencies PSCST, National Green Corps (NGC) and National Environment Awareness Programme of the MoEF mobilised the NGC school network for wetland conversation by creating awareness about values and the importance of wetlands. In Punjab, the NGC school network consists of 5,000 operational Eco- Clubs. Many of these NGC schools carry out awareness and action programmes on wetland conservation. The NGC schools of Tarn Taran, Kapurthala and Ropar Districts are located near three important Ramsar sites, Harike, Kanjli and Ropar, respectively. These schools were the focus of a special initiative in which school wetlands were created to serve as live ecological models to help students better understand the unique and vital importance of these ecosystems. Funds for the creation of wetlands were raised with financial support of NGC, the National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC) programmes, and from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants Programme. The schools constructed wetlands of varying sizes and depths, depending on the available area. Since these wetlands were constructed in the schools, the safety of young children was of the utmost importance; hence, the depth of these wetlands was kept at less than one metre. Well-known aquatic plant species, such as water lilies and lotus, were planted in the school wetlands by the active participation of students. With the active involvement of students, these and other rooted floral species were initially planted in jute baskets half-filled with soil and then immersed in wetland water. To avoid mosquitoes breeding in the standing water of school wetlands, fingerlings of Gambusia gambusia fish, which feed on mosquito larvae, were released. Students are taking care of these wetlands and regularly clean them. In the process of this initiative, Eco-Club teachers-incharge have been trained as Master Trainers about wetland issues and provided with interactive multimedia CDs, brochures and posters on the wetlands of Punjab. Eighty Master Trainers (four from each district) have been trained by partner agencies who, in turn, train teachers within the district. The teachers educate students about the role of wetlands in biodiversity conservation, ground water recharge, and related issues. The trained teachers and students further impart awareness to the communities about the benefits of these ecosystems. These initiatives have motivated teachers and students directly and, through them, local communities are being approached with various activities, such as the celebration of World Wetland Day and World Environment Day. A wetlands yearly planner has been developed and distributed to network partners and a wetlands game, based on the Snakes and Ladders game, has been developed and is played with participants on different occasions. Furthermore, PSCST, MoEF and WII, are working in collaboration to distribute equipment such as binoculars and water testing kits to help increase the interest of partners at the grassroots level. In addition, the partner agencies are also in the process of developing signs for Ramsar sites and life-size models of wetland birds for state wetlands, in an effort to enhance knowledge about the wetlands. Though various initiatives have been undertaken and have been proven successful, there are still some challenges to overcome, such as weed infestation, water hyacinth in the wetlands, and the utilisation of wetland resources for sustainable livelihoods. Results The wetlands established by the Eco-Clubs are used as teaching facilities by schools to demonstrate features of an aquatic ecosystem, such as aquatic food chains, aquatic flora and fauna, and adaptations. These small water bodies have attracted a number of faunal species like insects and frogs. In some schools, students have been able to Planner and Snakes and Ladders game on the wetlands 10 75
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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