After moving to Bengaluru, I became increasingly aware of how urban expansion can put pressure on the natural spaces wildlife depends on. School grounds and community spaces may contain overlooked opportunities to support biodiversity, yet students often have limited opportunities to participate directly in habitat restoration and conservation. I created Project REWILD to bridge this gap between environmental awareness and practical action. I wanted to develop an approach that enables students to investigate their surroundings, identify opportunities to improve local habitats, and contribute to protecting native urban wildlife. REWILD is built on the belief that conservation does not always require large reserves or expensive infrastructure. With ecological research, thoughtful planning, native vegetation, and consistent monitoring, even small spaces can offer valuable habitat resources. My vision is to help schools become active participants in urban biodiversity conservation while empowering young people to become informed, evidence-driven environmental changemakers.
Project REWILD follows a four-stage approach: Assess, Act, Monitor, and Expand.
Assess: The REWILD team evaluates school green spaces by examining soil conditions, shade, vegetation, native species, and habitat resources. These findings help identify ecological gaps and guide suitable restoration plans.
Act: Students participate through a gamified approach structured around five levels. Each level encourages students to build their understanding of biodiversity and engage in conservation activities. By progressing through the levels, students are motivated to apply their learning, contribute to habitat restoration, and take an active role in protecting local wildlife.
Monitor: The team tracks indicators such as plant health, habitat quality, and wildlife observations to evaluate progress and identify areas for improvement.
Expand: Findings are used to refine the approach and develop a replicable model that other schools can adapt to their local environments.
By combining ecological assessment, gamified student engagement, and evidence-based monitoring, REWILD aims to transform school grounds into valuable habitats for native urban wildlife while empowering young people to become active conservationists.
Project REWILD is being developed with the ambition of making school-based habitat restoration adaptable across different educational settings. Its initial direction focuses on exploring school green spaces, developing an evidence-based restoration approach, and identifying practical interventions suitable for urban environments.
The proposed model is designed to be adaptable rather than dependent on expensive infrastructure. Schools can begin by assessing existing green spaces and selecting improvements suited to their ecological conditions, available resources, and maintenance capacity.
REWILD aims to grow through collaboration with schools, educators, conservation organisations, and ecological researchers. These partnerships can strengthen the scientific basis of the approach, support responsible implementation, and help share lessons between participating schools.
As the model is tested and refined, the goal is to document methods and outcomes so that other schools can replicate successful interventions. Its long-term ambition is to build a network of schools that contribute to urban biodiversity conservation through locally relevant, measurable action.
REWILD has evolved from a broad idea of wildlife conservation into a more structured, science-based approach to habitat restoration. I have developed the four-stage framework of Assess, Act, Monitor, and Expand to connect ecological investigation with practical interventions and ongoing evaluation.
Another important development is the emphasis on measuring habitat conditions and outcomes rather than assuming that planting vegetation automatically benefits wildlife. Factors such as soil quality, native plant suitability, habitat resources, plant health, and wildlife observations can help guide decisions and assess progress.
I am also working towards making the approach replicable across schools with different spaces, resources, and ecological conditions. This means prioritising practical interventions, manageable monitoring methods, and long-term maintenance.
These refinements aim to ensure that REWILD is not simply an awareness programme, but a model for evidence-informed conservation that can improve through research, implementation, and evaluation.
Schools interested in trying Project REWILD can begin with a small, manageable area of their campus.
1. **Assess your space:** Identify existing vegetation, shaded areas, soil conditions, and resources available to local wildlife.
2. **Identify priorities:** Determine which habitat features are missing and which native species are appropriate for your location.
3. **Plan an intervention:** Work with students, school staff, and ecological experts where possible to choose suitable, safe, and practical improvements.
4. **Take action:** Introduce appropriate native vegetation or other ecologically justified habitat improvements, with permission from the school.
5. **Monitor progress:** Record plant health, habitat conditions, and wildlife observations using a consistent method.
6. **Learn and improve:** Review the findings, adjust interventions, and share lessons with other schools.
Start small, prioritise ecological suitability over appearance, and plan for ongoing maintenance before introducing changes. Avoid disturbing wildlife or introducing non-native species without expert guidance.
The aim is to create a measurable improvement in habitat quality that can be sustained over time and adapted to other school environments. Each school can tailor the process to its local biodiversity, available resources, and capacity.
