Thursday, June 18, 2015

Activity Update April 2015: Satpura Tiger Reserve


Highlights

·      6 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – 2 check dams built, 2 water bodies cleaned and 2 soak pits dug
·      10 awareness programmes on forest fire
·      13 awareness programmes on need to provide water for birds and putting up of 150 water pots/containers
·      Organized 13 nature trails for village school children – attended by  315 students
·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 210 patients treated.
·      Organized 5 meetings in villages scheduled for relocation to help villagers understand issues
·      Visit to check on status of 4 villages which have already been relocated
·      Socio-economic surveys at Mehandikheda, Maili and Chandanpipariya


Conservation








During April, we organized 6 programmes related to water conservation.  

On April 13, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School (GPS), Karer. 11 students from the school joined hands with Ashfaq in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

A similar programme was organized at GPS, Mohgaon on April 23.

On April 21, we organized a programme to clean a water body in the jungle around 2.5 km from Almod village. The water body, which is located in the buffer zone, was covered with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of field assistant Hameed Khan, 2 adult villagers and 16 students from Government Primary School, Almod, cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly spotted around the water body while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears and leopards.

On April 22, a similar programme was organized at Mehandikheda to clean a water body in the jungle around 3 km from the village. A total of 17 people participated in this programme, which was led by Hameed Khan. Photos below.























On April 24, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 3 km from Matkuli village. The site is known as Matkuli nallah. A team comprising of 5 adult, villagers, 40 students from Government Middle and Higher Secondary Schools, Matkuli and Ashfaq and Hameed built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area. Photos below.



































































On April 29, we organized a programme to build another check dam on the same stream at a site called Maili Nallah, around 2 km from Matkuli village. 7 adult villagers and 13 students of GPS, Maili and GMS, Matkuli joined hands with Ashfaq and Hameed to build the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are seen in the area. Photos below.



































Our teams also work across the landscape to provide water to birds during the scorching summer. Hameed khan motivated villagers in Tekapar, Chirrai, Khari, Chandanpipariya, Chillod, Mohgaon Almod, Khanchari, Karer, Aaditoriya, Jhirpa, Dundi and Bandhaan to put up small containers with water around the village and its outskirts for birds to quench their thirst.

Water pots at Almod

















Water pots at Karer




























During the month, Ashfaq also organized 10 programmes in villages to promote awareness about forest fires and the need for everyone to join hands in fighting fires. In 2 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers. Details are given in the table below.









Education  

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 5 schools. We also organized 8 nature trails for students to educate them about nature and wildlife conservation.













Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organizes medical camps at which villagers get free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the managements of the respective Tiger Reserves, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of  Satpuda Foundation. There were health camps in 6 villages in March.







Free health camp at Matkuli


















Free health camp at Mehandikheda: pharmacist Siddharth Kale dispenses
medicines as prescribed by the doctor


































Employment Cell

During the month, our team organized meetings with unemployed youths in 2 villages to discuss livelihood options with them. Details are given in the table below.




Discussing livelihood options with unemployed young villagers,
at Chandanpipariya

















Discussing livelihood options with unemployed young villagers
at Mohgaon





















Proposed relocation

Our team organized meetings of the residents of Jamandhonga, Chakar, Muhar, Mongra and Raikheda villages to discuss relocation-related issues. Ashfaq was asked to organize these meetings by Shri R.P. Singh (Field Director), and Shri Sanjeev Sharma (Range Officer Pachmarhi Range), Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Of these, the process of identifying villagers eligible for relocation assistance was completed in Raikheda and Mongra on April 18 and 30 respectively. Photos below.

Mongra

Mongra

Raikheda


No comments: