Chapter 6: Evoking Eco Consciousness Through Service Learning

Service-learning links students and people from diverse arenas having a wide range of academic and socio-economic status. When the purpose is environmental protection and conservation in the tropical unprotected riverbanks of Southern Peninsular India, it becomes ingenious. Service-learning at selected riverbanks was conducted with the participation of undergraduate and postgraduate biology students to generate data on various aspects such as flora, ecological degradation, cultivation practices adopted in croplands and weed plant diversity. Service-learning helps to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining riverbanks biodiversity, sustainable use of resources, best practices in cultivation, and overall protection of riverbanks. The student groups developed practical knowledge in onsite training and were extremely delighted to receive feedback from the public and beneficiaries. The faculty and environmental activists developed leadership qualities. An Herbarium focused on the local flora became an asset to the host institution as it served as a repository of voucher specimens for further studies and identification for the public and those in the biology stream. The benefitted students learned pedagogical approaches and served as stewards locally.