Amravati: In a major initiative to strengthen field-based conservation research, the Forest Department on Wednesday organised a one-day workshop ‘Melghat Research Connect 2026’ at Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Administrative Academy (Prabodhini), Amravati.The workshop was organised with the objective of promoting a scientific approach to conservation and enhancing collaboration between universities and the Forest Department. The vision is to develop the Melghat Tiger Reserve as a ‘Living Field Laboratory’ for conservation research.The workshop brought together faculty members, researchers, forest officials, experts and students to deliberate on interdisciplinary approaches to wildlife research, field-based research opportunities and practical application of research findings in conservation management. The concept envisages a long-term partnership between the Forest Department and academic institutions for small, scientifically rigorous and management-oriented research.Around 80 faculty members, including professors and associate professors from colleges across Amravati, Akola, Washim and Buldhana districts participated enthusiastically. The interaction helped connect academic expertise with field requirements of Melghat and identified research interests, potential faculty mentors and opportunities for collaborative research involving undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.Experts guided participants on topics including introduction to Melghat Tiger Reserve, the Melghat Research Connect initiative, interdisciplinary approaches in wildlife research, field methodologies, wildlife disease surveillance and ‘One Health’ opportunities.Special emphasis was laid on research opportunities in Melghat for MSc dissertations, undergraduate projects, Ph.D. research, summer and winter internships, short-term biodiversity surveys and field-based training. Potential themes include biodiversity documentation, grassland and meadow ecology, fungi and mushrooms, birds, butterflies, amphibians and reptiles, pollinators, invasive species, riparian ecosystems, fire ecology, regeneration, human-wildlife interactions, visitor management and One Health studies.The initiative aims to link students and researchers with the Forest Department’s field experience and conservation priorities, promoting research that is both scientifically meaningful and directly relevant to management.The initiative is aligned with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with its emphasis on experiential, multidisciplinary and field-based learning. The Melghat landscape can offer practical environmental education, fieldwork and research-based learning beyond the classroom.The workshop also discussed structuring field internships and research projects as per the UGC Curriculum and Credit Framework, including Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), subject to rules and approval of concerned universities.The importance of Citizen Science in biodiversity documentation was also highlighted. Forest staff, nature guides, local communities, students, nature enthusiasts, photographers, NGOs and visitors can contribute to systematic biodiversity observations through digital platforms and standardised protocols.In the concluding session, participants held group discussions on future research themes, institutional collaborations and field initiatives.The workshop envisages developing a structured ‘Melghat Research Network’ connecting the Forest Department, universities, research institutions, students, local communities and citizen scientists to facilitate identification of priority research questions, field coordination, mentorship, data sharing and translation of findings into conservation management.The initiative seeks to provide institutional support to scientific research through the three-pronged approach of “Conservation – Research – Collaboration”.
