Doon Society

As the only one of our scheduled evening speakers to actually show up, the members of the Doon Society came and spoke about their work with protecting the environment of the Doon Valley around Dehra Dun, as well as the forest of the Rajaji National Park and the livelihoods of the people who were traditional forest dwellers in the area. They discussed the challenges in India of working to protect the sustainability of natural resources in India, while also trying to improve the situation of poor populations dependent on harvest and livestock grazing in the forests. The Doon Society talked about the strategies they’ve used, including establishing villages for the forest dwelling communities where they each receive two acres for grazing their animals as well as extra income from small crop plots. Hilary and Constance were both impressed and excited to talk to the members about their work, although Hilary wasn’t very encouraged by the woman’s recommendation that she marry an Indian man to justify working in the country…