Midnapore college outreach on forest, wildlife conservation

In the heart of Junglemahal, where forests have long shaped the rhythms of rural life, an unusual dialogue unfolded today at Raja Narendralal Khan Women’s College (autonomous), Midnapore. Moving beyond the confines of classrooms, scholars and students sat alongside forest dwellers to explore a truth too often ignored—that the fate of human communities and the natural world are inextricably bound.

The outreach programme on “Forest & Wildlife Resources,” organised under the ICSSR project of the ministry of education, brought together 60 postgraduate students, 42 forest dwellers, faculty, and research scholars. Jointly hosted by the college’s postgraduate departments of geography and zoology, the initiative underscored how the future of both people and biodiversity hinges on conservation.

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“Forests are not merely green cover; they are life-support systems,” said Dr Arjun Mukhopadhyay, teacher-in-charge of the college, while inaugurating the session. He noted how timber, medicinal plants, fodder, and fruits have for centuries sustained the rural economy, reminding participants that the erosion of these resources could spell ecological and economic collapse.

The day’s sessions brought together a range of perspectives. Professor Debdulal Banerjee of Vidyasagar University spoke on the Forest Rights Act (2006), observing that while the law recognises the rights of forest-dwelling communities, its weak implementation leaves many vulnerable. “Conservation succeeds only when local people are treated as stakeholders,” he said, warning that alienating tribal communities risk not just conflict but irreversible ecological damage.

Adding to this, Dr Suman Pratihar of Sukumar Sengupta Mahavidyalaya painted a vivid picture of Midnapore’s avian wealth. Forests, wetlands, and farmlands, he noted, form critical habitats for both resident and migratory birds. Their decline, he cautioned, is a grim indicator of ecological distress, driven by deforestation, pesticides, and habitat loss. “Saving birds is saving ourselves,” he told the gathering, advocating for community-led bird conservation zones and citizen science initiatives.

The programme also turned the spotlight on the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), once common in Bengal but now under threat. Dr Mrinmay Mandal explained the jackal’s role as both scavenger and predator in maintaining ecological balance. Yet shrinking habitats, road kills, and human conflict are pushing the species into decline. “Without jackals, rodent populations could spiral, causing severe crop losses,” he warned, urging coexistence models that acknowledge the animal’s ecological value.

Through these exchanges, the programme sought not just to disseminate knowledge but to create a shared space where academic research and grassroots understanding converge. For the forest dwellers of Junglemahal, the seminar reaffirmed that conservation is not a luxury for future generations but a necessity for survival today—ensuring fuel, fodder, medicine, and livelihoods remain available in the decades to come.

As urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and climate pressures continue to gnaw at the forests, the voices gathered at Midnapore made one message clear: protecting forests and wildlife is not charity to nature, but an investment in humanity’s own survival.