Pune, February 17: “Women have been there in forest conservation. With my service of over 20 years in forest department, I can easily say that women form about 50% workforce for the forest department. The only thing is that they do not get recognized. If you go to forests and take up any activity, women are there to help you, without women not many works can be done at forests”, opined N. R. Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forests, Pune after he presented the first Jungle Belles award for wildlife conservation to the wildlife conservationist Bhavna Menon during a function held at Seva Bhavan in Patwardhan Baug.

The award is in the form of a citation and cash prize of rupees 50 thousand and shall be given to only the women conservationists. City based contributors to wildlife conservation Hemangi Vartak and Sanjay Deshpande have taken lead in instituting this award. An award selection committee comprising of Sunil Limaye, Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (IFS), Naresh Zurmure (IFS), Additional Chief Conservator of Forests and Anuj Khare, Wildlife Warden and conservationist made the selection of Bhavana Menon for this award. Over 30 entries were received from all across the country for the award.

N R Praveen said, “Jungle tourism has taken shape in the past two decades. Today, if you go to a tiger reserve like Tadoba you will easily find a lady driver to or a guide because they are no less as compared to their male counterparts. In fact in many cases we have found that they are better and communicate more effectively with the tourists. We have experienced that women make better safari guides or naturalists. However, the society has taken a long time to recognize their contribution in this regard and such awards is a welcome step. It will not only acknowledge their conservation work but will also help many other women to take inspiration.”

After receiving the first Jungle Belles awards for wildlife conservation Bhavna Menon said, “It is indeed very special to be the first recipient of this award and it will encourage me to take more efforts. Now, I want to work for conservation outreach, primarily to create awareness about the forests amongst the communities that live around the tiger reserves. I also want to work on ecotourism, which can help these communities for generating income.”

She appealed to the urban tourists to go beyond jungle safaris when it comes to jungle tourism. “When you visit a forest, try and go beyond safaris, visit local villages, meet the members of the local community understand their life and support alternative livelihood by reducing their dependency on jungle for livelihood. Buy their handicrafts and support the small local entrepreneurs there. It will make a huge difference”, Menon added.