COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management delivers community outreach that is practical, inclusive, and co-created with local stakeholders. Its teams organize seasonal field clinics in districts adjacent to key ecosystems, offering hands-on training in restoration, community forestry, and sustainable harvest techniques. Citizen science programs equip youth, teachers, and cooperatives with simple protocols for monitoring birds, pollinators, and water quality, linking mobile data collection with classroom lessons and local decision making. The Centre also runs demonstration plots and school eco-gardens where farmers compare indigenous species, soil amendments, and low-cost erosion controls. Extension officers translate research into vernacular guides, radio segments, and open days that showcase tools such as seed banks, herbarium vouchers, and bioindicator dashboards. By combining scholarships, internships, and mentorship for students with small grants for community innovators, outreach activities reduce barriers to participation and build a pipeline of conservation leaders rooted in place today.