Turning a Forest into a Classroom

In every child's binoculars, an eco-activist sees the forest saved

- By TEJ PRAKASH BHARDWAJ

Every Sunday morning, Sunil Harsana stands at his usual spot—the edge of the Mangar Bani forest—waiting patiently for the village children. Slowly they arrive. A few come ready with their binoculars, bottles and bags, while others just join their friends for a stroll in the forest on a misty morning.

Giving binoculars to the new participants, Harsana instructs them briefly about the day and the group of some 10 children sets out for a walk in the Mangar—sacred groves on the Aravalli mountain range on the outskirts of Gurugram. "Pay attention and observe, you have to spot and write the names of at least 15 bird species," says 35-year-old Harsana, a conservationist and walk-guide for the day. He has been running the Mangar Eco Club for almost a decade.