Journey has just begun……

The drive from Nagpur to Bhaturi village, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra was quite an experience. Tales of 40 lions, as this area  is dedicated to tiger conservation, kept us in splits. Three comfortable Toyota Innovas zipped through lush green fields as we eagerly awaited for the final destination. Finally, we were there and the grand welcome was something that needs a bit of detailing.  School kids welcomed us dancing in two rows and followed us till the entrance of the school. The traditional tika ceremony was followed by a welcome speech by the head Principal and some amazing performances by school children. The excitement of hope in their eyes being fulfilled is something that can’t be described in words. Every individual was honored with a traditional bouquet and a goody bag! We were then taken for a stroll to demonstrate the steps undertaken to improve the quality of drinking water and sanitation. Not only were we pleased but also impressed the way students, teachers are working towards the improvement of quality of life. Students demonstrated immense talent and showcased various processes for purification of water, hand cleansing techniques & home made delicious f&b. The Chief Minister(Head Boy), told us about the vision of the school and they are not far from it, I must say. Woodland’s partnership with UNICEF to raise funds to benefit more than 8,000 children is on its way to a successful journey. The association is a part of Woodland’s Proplanet community that focuses on the conservation of nature and CSR activities. The objective of this initiative is to build awareness amongst the Woodland’s target audience about protecting the Mother Earth.

This partnership is helping improve the water, sanitation and hygiene standards in schools. This is every child’s basic right and Woodland has taken the lead in leveraging the strength of corporate sector. Woodland will continue to impact children’s lives and really hopes to inspire many more corporates by this initiative. Woodland along with UNICEF would like to extend many thanks to the district CEO and administration for extending their support to the program.

Responsible Travelling: Keep the Nature travel-proof!

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." -- Khalil Gibran

Off late, there is much popular and a mandatory requirement for traveling, and that is to travel in an eco-friendly manner. It is we who are dependent on nature. Considering that it is the space of nature that we travel in, and hence etiquettes should be followed to keep the travel safe not only for you but for nature too. 

Eco-tourism is "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." -- The International Eco-tourism Society

Eco-tourism is not widely known in India, but surely the word is spreading all over the country. One can never be late to protect nature, but there is a lot of time between being late and too late. So contribute towards nature and conserve this gifted beauty. Here are some guidelines that you can follow to do your bit.  

• Do not litter. Carry back all non-degradable things such as empty bottles, tins, plastic bags etc and dispose them in the dust bins.
• When hiking in woods, cut down on noise pollution. Do not put on your radios, tape recorders or other electronic entertainment equipment aloud in nature resorts, sanctuaries and wildlife parks.
• In case temporary toilets are set-up near campsites, after defecation, cover with mud or sand. Make sure that the spot is at least 30 meters away from the water source. 
• Clicking photographs for sending postcards is obvious. But do respect people's privacy while taking photographs. Take prior permission, whenever necessary. 
• Do not take away flora and fauna in the forms of cuttings, seeds or roots. Protect bio-diversity of the region at all costs. 
• Do not pollute the water. Using pollutants such as detergents, in streams or springs while washing and bathing can pollute not only the water but will also harm the aquatic fauna. 
• Do not leave cigarette butts or make open fires in the forests. 
• Do not consume aerated drinks, alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicant and throw bottles in the wild. 
• Polythene and plastics are non-biodegradable and unhealthy for the environment and must not be used and littered. 
• Respect the local people, and the culture they follow. Do not intrude in it. 

To avoid the falling into trouble, read travelogues, most importantly read about the customs such as greetings, appropriate dress, eating behaviors, etc. We all are responsible citizens, and should be responsible travelers too. Welcome eco-tourism with open arms, just like the nature amazingly welcomes you on your every trip.