FCC Earth Watch Society successfully completes first season of WWF Eco Internship Program
FCC Earth Watch Society successfully completed the first season of WWF Eco Internship Program held at FC College from 16 April to 1 June 2011. The program comprised of five lecture sessions (4 hours each), two presentation sessions by students and two eco tours to Chaanga Maanga. 92 participants including 4 faculty members and 88 baccalaureate students participated in this program. Each session focused on different environmental issues and activities including some informative lectures about photographic skills and energy conservation.
The first session of eco internship was held on Saturday, 16 April 2011. The WWF team gave an overview of environmental issues, biodiversity & ecosystems with a global and regional perspective. The session included a plantation activity at FCC in which over 100 shisham, jambul and neem saplings were planted by 92 eco internship participants as a part of Earth Day celebrations. A documentary about vulture conservation project by WWF Pakistan was also shown to students at the end of the session.
The second session was held on 30 April. Mr Jawad Hassan, Additional Advocate General of Punjab, gave a lecture on environmental laws and regulation.
In the third session, held on 7 May, sustainable development and environmental interaction were discussed followed by survivor training and solid waste reuse activity.
Nature photography and environmental journalism were the main topics of discussion in the forth session which was held on 14 May. Guest speakers in this session included Mr Ghulam Rasool, Nature Photographer WWF Pakistan and Ms Nuzhat Saadia, Coordinator Media Liaison.
Environmental issues mainly water, solid and industrial waste were discussed in the fifth session on 21 May. Experts from WWF Pakistan spoke on the issues and presented various management strategies as constructive solutions. Eco internship participants presented on different topics for their final presentations related to endangered species conservation models in Pakistan. The species included snow leopard, black bear, Punjab urial, Indus blind dolphin, green turtle and vultures.
On 28 May, eco internship participants visited Changa Manga Vulture Conservation Project as a part of their eco tour and learned about the endangered species of white backed vultures.
The participants were encouraged and acknowledged at the Eco Internship Certificate Awarding Ceremony held on 1 June 2011. Dr Peter H Armacost (Rector FCC) was the guest of honor. He distributed eco internship certificates and prizes to eco internship participants. Prof Dr Manzur Gill (Environmental Sciences Program FCC), Earth Watch Executive members and WWF representatives were present on the occasion. Prof Shah Nawaz Cheema (Department of Biological Sciences FCC), Ms Khadija Shakrullah (Department of Geography FCC), Ms Zareen Jamil (Department of Geography FCC) Mr Khurram Waqas Malik (CPPG FCC) also participated in this program.
The program was coordinated by Syed Muhammad Usman Ali (Vice President Earth Watch Club FCC) the objective of which was to create awareness about environmental issues, their solutions, conversation measures, biodiversity and natural resource conservation among students. This internship was a part of Earth Watch Club’s environmental awareness campaign, which aims to promote conservation of environment and engage in environment-related activities to transfer knowledge about environment concerns to peers, family and community.
