The Western Ghats region is well known to conservationists as a biodiversity hotspot, home to diverse local ecosystems with abundant plant and animal species found nowhere else. The existence of sacred groves in the Western Ghats, where local communities revere and protect remnant forest patches, predates recorded history. In return, these forests provide biological, social, and spiritual benefits.

This course aims to deepen our understanding of the relationship between people and nature, addressing key questions about a sustainable future. 

The award-winning Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) is our partner and host in India. AERF has worked with communities in the Western Ghats for more than two decades to support groundbreaking work on sacred groves and conservation. 

Before and following the field experience in India, students will complete coursework via Dragonfly Workshops' Web-Based Learning Community as they apply their experiences to their home institutions.

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