A Partnership for Environment
Giant Pandas have been the center of attention for quite some time now and for all the right reasons. From being considered as one of the cutest animals in the world, a symbol of peace and harmony, and the ambassador of goofiness and laziness, to being a success story in the relentless effort for its conservation, the Giant Panda has been making quite a few ripples across the world.
When World Wildlife Fund (WWF) chose the Giant Panda as their official symbol, it was not because of what they thought or believed the animal portrayed, but simply because it cost them a significantly smaller amount of money to print an animal that was only black and white in color. Giant Pandas are native to China, and are a special species. There have been countless debate as to where the animal should be placed in the taxonomical classification. While some scientists argue that they are related to the much smaller Red Panda and the Bear category, some call the Panda a living fossil, and say that it should be placed in a category of its own.
The Giant Panda hasn't undergone much change in the course of evolution. It is, as the name suggests, giant and particularly lazy. Although its digestive system is that of a carnivore, the Giant Panda is herbivorous, eating only bamboo, which proves to be a highly inefficient energy source. Because of this reason, the Giant Panda does not hibernate, and eats for about 14 to 16 hours a day and sleeps for the rest time. The Giant Panda's natural habitat is in the Sichuan Province in China. At the Wolong National Natural Reserve in Sichuan Province, Pandas are bred and raised in captivity at the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda. Here, they are given proper care and attention before they can be released into the wild again.
TERRE Policy Centre, an environmental NGO based in Pune (India) work towards providing a platform for objective research and analysis with the aim of developing pragmatic policies and solutions. It is a leading voice for sensible action to address the most pressing global environmental problems. TERRE partners with policy makers, business leaders, scientists and other experts to bring a new approach to a complex and often controversial global environmental issue.
Operation Earth is China's first international field research volunteer organization and one of the 32 members of IUCN. It has supported research projects in the wild including, ecological monitoring of Amazon Rainforest, rescue of Black Rhinos in Great Rift Valley, Arctic Ecology and Climate Change in Alaska, and training and release of Giant Pandas.
Operation Earth, China and TERRE Policy Centre, India have come together to form the India-China Friendship Association for Environment, and as the first project as a part of this association is providing a unique opportunity for Indian students to get the chance to visit the Wolong National Natural Reserve. "We are taking forward the wishes of our leaders, Prime Minister Modi and President Xi further to enhance people to people dialouge", said the joint statement issued in Beijing by Rajendra Shende, Chairman TERRE Policy Centre and Former Director UNEP and Chen Liangzong, Founder CEO of Operation Earth and Former Consultant of World Bank.
Both TERRE and Operation Earth are members of IUCN- International Union for Conservation of Nature. The aim of this association is to create and nurture a 'Youth-to-Youth' (Y2Y) dialogue between the two nations and to arrive at tangible and concrete solutions faced by both the countries. As a part of the expedition, students from India will get the opportunity to visit various Panda training grounds and conservation stations situated inside the Wolong National Natural Reserve and get a firsthand experience of contributing to the efforts undertaken towards conservation and rehabilitation of the Giant Panda into the wild. Throughout the course of this expedition, the students will learn the various aspects of Panda conservation, care of newborn and baby Pandas, and will contribute in the training of Pandas to be released into the wild. They will also get the chance to learn about the efforts taken for conservation of Pandas and what more needs to be done.
The selection process has now reached to its final round of personal interview, the final 3 students will be selected to go on the field research expedition to China in the first week of October, 2018.