Why Conservation in India?

With scenes that range from monsoon forests to the Himalayas to flat plains and awe-inspiring temples, it is difficult to make a generalization about this diverse sub-continent. India fosters a way of life unlike anything we are used to in the West. Even the most mundane tasks, such as eating dinner or taking a rickshaw across town, become an adventure amid bustling streets full of oxen driven carts and goat herders. Come to India and sample spicy dishes presented on a banana leaf instead of a plate; silverware is optional. Escape for the weekend to catch a glimpse of wild elephants in Thekkady; cruise the backwaters of Kerala on a houseboat with other volunteers; barter for fabric in Madurai; and relax on the beaches in Podicherry. The sights, sounds and smells that assault the senses in any Indian town must be experienced to be believed.

Our office is located in Sivakasi, a town famous for firework factories-at least 300 factories are located in this small town. Sivakasi is also known for its printing presses –the largest outside of Germany—and production of safety matches. The town has a history that reaches back more than 600 years and contributes to 80 percent of India’s total safety match production, 90 percent of India’s total firework production and 60 percent of India’s total offset printing.

Volunteering in India

Our conservation project in India is called The Eco-Development Project and is based in the village of Ullar in the state of Tamil Nadu. Volunteers spend the majority of their time on the Model Farm where they practice organic and sustainable farming techniques that are implemented in the local community. Volunteers also spend time planting medicinal and water-fixing plants in areas that have suffered deforestation in the past, and then meet local people to discuss the values of these plants.

Above all, the goal and the best way to make an impact is through increasing environmental awareness. Volunteers show locals new methods of farming and fertilizing that benefit the environment and also provide economic stability.

Why take part in a Conservation project?

Man's negative impact on the environment is more apparent today than ever before. Unsustainable development, a rapidly growing population, exploitation of natural resources, high pollution levels, under-developed area, ignorance of issues, lack of government intervention and regulation and over-hunting of animals are just some of the ways in which man abuses the earth. The consequences of our actions are serious. In destroying natural habitats and causing the extinction of animal species, we are simultaneously destroying our own habitat and causing irreversible damage, the effects of which will be suffered by future generations. An added issue specific to Tamil Nadu is the dry weather that causes various problems throughout the year. Volunteers are asked to keep this sensitive eco-system in mind when undertaking projects.

Taking part in a conservation project will not 'save the world'; however, each volunteer has the power to make a valuable contribution. Your impact and the educational tools you leave behind will last a lifetime. By preserving a part of the natural world, you are preserving an integral part of the network of life.