© Arannayk Foudation/Tashfiqur Rahman
At the edge of Bangladesh's big cat corridor, a school took an oath. A simple, visible vow to protect the forests they have grown up beside. For a school within reach of the Kassalong Reserve Forest, World Environment Day was never just a date on the calendar.
Students showing their painted hands (Left) | Student placing handprints on the pledge board (Right) © Arannayk Foudation/Tashfiqur Rahman“I will refrain from actions that harm the forest.”
The pledge board said it in plain Bengali.
In Shapchari High School, students, one by one, colored their hands green and blue, painted the board with a vow – 'they will be the future guardians of the forest.’
Those colored hands raised up for the camera reflected their commitment to protect forests and the wildlife depending on them.
Beyond Borders: ITHCP Big Cat Project Area Map © Arannayk FoundationShapchari High School sits within reach of the Kassalong Reserve Forest in Rangamati, one of two core sites in the Beyond Border: ITHCP Big Cat Project – a transboundary Big Cat conservation initiative funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank and implemented through IUCN's International Tiger and Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP).
The Kassalong–Pablakhali forest complex in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) has potential leopard/clouded leopard movement from Lusai Hills in India. As the boundary of Bangladesh and India share a similar geographical landscape, recent camera trap surveys have confirmed that forests in the CHT remain a haven for vagrant Big Cats.
The students at Shapchari High School growing up adjacent to this landscape, witnessed firsthand the degradation of the hills, human settlement, and expanding agriculture. In addition, some of their families depend on the landscape for agriculture and settlement directly. Since their childhood is revolving around those landscapes, they can be true guardians of those landscape and save the Big Cats’ habitats.
Students participating in drawing competition © Arannayk Foundation/Tashfiqur RahmanIn the celebration of World Environment Day 2026, Arannayk Foundation organized a drawing competition, a seedling distribution, and a tree-planting drive, nurturing these children's interest in environmental protection at a very young age.
On the art paper, young students poured their imaginations on how they want to see their forests and environment where they grew up. With the conclusion of drawing event, students pledged to protect the forest, befriend wildlife, and reduce plastic. Their hand prints are the mark of a commitment to the forests. Not only that, the paints sparked a spontaneous festival of color, with students chasing one another across the campus, reminding us the naivety of these kids. To spread the message of Felid species’ global vulnerability, students rallied with placards highlighting conservation status of the Big Cats and other vulnerable species. In addition, saplings in their hands such as, Buddho Narikel (Pterygota alata), Neem (Azadirachta indica), and Sonalu (Cassia fistula) call for collective actions to preserve native species and remind their importance in the biodiversity.
Students in traditional attire performing a dance © Arannayk Foundation/Tashfiqur RahmanThe drawing competition, pledge activity, seedling distribution and awareness rally all were contributing to building awareness among young people and local community, fulfilling one of the objectives of the IUCN Tiger Programme.
Therefore, the event is what conservation education looks like when the students are not mere audiences rather participants.
Disclaimer: This project is supported by IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, funded by the German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank. The contents of this blog are the sole responsibility of Tashfiqur Rahman and do not necessarily reflect the views of IUCN, the German Cooperation, or KfW.
Comments