Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project

October-December | 2025
Global

Protection of Biodiversity

Link To Project:   Click Here

The project engaged in citizen science and community outreach activities, international knowledge exchange, and local capacity building, including biodiversity awareness events, participation in a global leadership programme, and hands-on training for women members of self-help groups on biofriendly mushroom cultivation.

Project Updates

Citizen Science Initiatives (Kamrup Butterfly Walk 2025) - 11th Oct 25

NEWS team participated in the Kamrup Butterfly Walk 2025 which was jointly organized by the Assam Tourism Department and Assam Skill University, with support from Wiki Loves Butterflies and Big Butterfly Month. Held on 11 October 2025, the program aimed to promote butterfly watching, conservation awareness, and community engagement. Around 40 participants, including students, faculty, and local youth, joined a three-hour field walk despite adverse weather. Guided by experts, participants documented over 40 butterfly species, including the Golden Birdwing, along with diverse birds and mammals. The event highlighted Assam’s rich biodiversity and reinforced the importance of collaborative, community-driven conservation efforts.

International Climate Action Day 2025 - 24th Oct 25

NEWS celebrated International Climate Action Day with the SHG members of Deepor Beel Community in Kalitapara, Mikirpara, Chakardo. Focus was put on highlighting Global Warming, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, groundwater scarcity and threats to biodiversity. A few documentaries were also screened to explain these scientific phenomena due to the release of greenhouse gases dating back to the Industrial Revolution in the 1990s. A documentary on Greta Thunberg, a global environmental activist was also presented detailing her contributions in the environmental sector.

A climate action poster was distributed among the participants sharing individual efforts to fight climate change. To conclude the event, the participants took pledges to avoid practices that contribute to climate change, such as deforestation, excessive use of natural resources and plastic pollution.

4th Sustainable Leadership Journey 2025 Villa de Leyva, Colombia - 16th to 22nd Nov 2025

NEWS participated in the 4th Sustainable Leadership Journey 2025 on the theme “Sacred Lakes” organized by the Fundación Humedales in Villa de Leyva, Colombia from 16th to 22nd Nov 2025. A week of learning, exploration, and global collaboration through training workshops, excursions and dialogue forums were conducted in Villa de Leyva, the Muisca Observatory, Iguaque National Park, and the Fúquene Lagoon.

Ms. Ajanta Dey, Joint Secretary & Programme Director, (NEWS) along with three NEWS Team members participated in the event and presented handicrafts gifts from the Deepor Beel among several partner countries.

Mushroom Cultivation Training: Under the Biofriendly Agriculture practice.

A hands-on training programme on oyster mushroom cultivation was conducted for 34  SHG members from the lake region. The participants were, primarily women farmers. The training emphasized:

• Waste-to-resource practices using rice straw
• Identification of edible vs. poisonous mushrooms
• Hygiene, disease prevention, and storage practices
• Practical preparation of mushroom cultivation bags
• Participants actively engaged in the practical sessions and prepared their own cultivation units.