10th Wildlife Conservation Course for the Public – Overview The WII organised its tenth Wildlife Conservation Course for enthusiasts from 2–11 March 2026. Fifteen participants joined this batch, bringing the cumulative strength of the programme to **148** individuals since its launch in 2012. Key Developments (Bullet Points) Course duration: ten days (four days classroom, five days field visit). Participants represented armed forces, doctors, engineers, IT, finance, media, veterinarians, academia and students. Classroom modules covered Indian biogeography , large‑mammal management, illegal wildlife trade, forensic science, wildlife rescue and citizen‑science initiatives . Field component conducted in Lansdowne Forest Division , exposing trainees to natural‑history observation, jungle crafts and community dependence on forests. Valedictory function on 11 March 2026 attended by Shri Ramesh Kumar Pandey, IFS, Additional Director General (Wildlife), MoEFCC , who highlighted India’s conservation priorities. Important Facts The programme is distinct from WII’s regular professional courses for forest officers, researchers and veterinarians. It aims to build a knowledgeable citizen base that can support policy implementation and advocacy. The diverse professional mix underscores the growing demand for environmental literacy across sectors. UPSC Relevance Understanding such capacity‑building initiatives is vital for GS‑III (Environment & Ecology) and GS‑II (Polity) questions on: Role of autonomous institutions like MoEFCC in mainstreaming conservation. Citizen‑science as a tool for participatory governance and data collection. Inter‑sectoral collaboration – how professionals from defence, health, IT and finance can contribute to biodiversity goals. Legal and enforcement aspects of wildlife trade, where forensic science aids prosecution. Way Forward To amplify impact, the following steps are recommended: Scale up the course to include more participants and regional hubs, ensuring representation from vulnerable states. Integrate field modules with local forest‑department projects to provide hands‑on experience in community‑based conservation. Develop an alumni network for continuous engagement, knowledge sharing and advocacy. Link course outcomes with national schemes such as NBAP to channel citizen inputs into policy. Through sustained public exposure, the programme seeks to nurture an informed citizenry capable of supporting India’s ambitious biodiversity targets under the global biodiversity framework .