Special features of the organization
For the last 34 years FODS has been involved in various environmental initiatives, including at the grass roots level , such as the resettlement of Gujjars from the erstwhile Rajaji National Park to the Pathri resettlement colony developed for this purpose by the State Govt. 540 Gujjar families were resettled, taught stall fed dairy and arming. growing fodder crops. FODS also ran a school with 350 Gujjar children. In this project FODS was supported by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and ASHA for Education Funds, USA. , The Society is engaged in conservation of wildlife mainly elephants of The Rajaji National Park (RNP), now the Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR), and was also been involved in a survey on tiger population in Rajaji. , Since 2001, every year, during monsoon, the society organises Tree Plantation Programmes in and around Dehradun., and over the years several thousand trees have been successfully planted. The Society also has a very popular programme for Nature and Environment awareness for children from needy families studying in Govt schools. , From the last 10 years the society is working to make Village Rasulpur and neighbouring villages located in the impoverished southern boundary of the RTR into model villages. We are funded for this work by of GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme, Sir Ratan Tata and other Tata Trusts, COMDEKS initiative of the Govt of Japan, formerly Elephant Family Multi Fund, U.K and the Village Community. Positive results motivated the society and its sponsors to replicate the activities in other nearby villagers. We have also worked with WWF. , FODS has received a citation from the then government of Uttar Pradesh, for its exemplary work in conservation of nature and wildlife, and has been commended by UNDP for creating model villages.
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