Three Ilam-based organisations prepared the contents of the course book

Phidim, February 24

Organisations working in the field of environmental conservation have started designing school textbook on red panda in Panchthar, Ilam and Taplejung.

Organisations such as Deep Jyoti Youth Club in Panchthar, Ilam’s High Hill Herbs Conservation Association and Mountain Protection Programme in Ilam have begun textbook designing to promote biological diversity and red panda protection effective.

The other target is to make aware students from the school level about the need to work for the conservation of the environment and the red panda.

Three organisations prepared the contents of the course book with freelance consultant Anil Adhikary and conservationists.

The contents of the textbook incorporate biological diversity, endangered wild lives, red panda, climate change, alternative energy and wetland protection, among others.

Dipak Lungeli, Programme Coordinator, at High Hilly Herbs Production and Protection Association in Ilam said that after the course book was prepared, it would be taught at lower and secondary levels in the hilly and mountainous areas of the three districts.

Panchthar’s Falaichna, Chyangthapu, Memeng, Prangbung and Sidin, Maipokhari and Jamuna in Ilam and Taplejung’s one dozen VDCs including Kalikhola are home to the red panda.

Lungeli said that the programme on red panda protection was underway in collaboration with Red Panda Network in those areas.

It is said that around 500 red pandas are available in three districts.

Consultant Anil Adhikary said the textbook had contents that were appropriate to local topography and geology.

“This practice has already been implemented in Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts,” Adhikary added.

Deep Jyoti Youth Club Executive Director Sunil Bantawa said preparations were on to design and print the textbook and introduce it from the new academic session.

Panchthar DEO Raj Kumar Biswokarma said it was a very good and positive thing to come up with a course book targeting biological diversity and red panda protection.