Highlights:
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| Ambadi - children on a birdwatching and nature trail |
 |
| Ambadi - children in an awareness rally on International Day of Forests |
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| Chirrewani - Dr Bhasme treating patients at our free health camp |
THE FULL REPORT
Team: Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer
Bandu Uikey –
Conservation Officer
Niranjan
Hinge, Kamlesh Pawar– Field Assistants
Highlights
·
Niranjan Hinge assisted Forest Department
staff twice in fighting fires
·
One water tank for cattle cleaned - 8
villagers volunteered
·
A total of 40 children participated in 4
nature trails during March and learned to spot and observe birds
·
A total of 142 students were addressed
during classroom environmental education sessions
·
Celebrated International Day of Forests
2017 in villages of buffer area
·
Celebrated World Water Day 2017 with children
of villages in buffer area
·
Celebrated ‘Eco-friendly Holi’ festival in
Aamajhiri village, 18 children participated
·
127 patients treated in 6 free health
camps during March
·
Assisted 3 unemployed youths in getting
jobs
Conservation
On March 22, Niranjan spotted
smoke emanating from the forest area near Kohoka village. Niranjan immediately
contacted Deputy Ranger (Khawasa Buffer Range) Mr. Shukla and Forester Mr.
Santosh Soni and offered to assist them in putting out the fire. The team
investigated and concluded that the fire had started near a mahua (madhuca
indica) tree. During this season, villagers of buffer area indulge in
collection of mahua flowers, a non-timber forest produce, as a means to earn
livelihood. Villagers burn the leaf litter under the mahua tree so that it is
convenient for them to collect the flowers. Sometimes, these local fires spread,
causing damage to the surrounding forest. A team of four Forest Department staff
members and Niranjan ensured that the fire was put out completely.
In another similar incident
earlier on March 21, Niranjan had assisted Forest Department staff in fighting a
fire near Khamba village.
On March 29, Niranjan organized a voluntary
work programme to clean a water tank for cattle near a hand pump in Durgapur
village. At the onset of summer season, drinking water for both wildlife and
livestock becomes scarce. In such conditions, livestock from villages of buffer
area, which graze near the National Park boundary drink from water sources
meant for wildlife. This can lead to spread of diseases like foot and mouth disease
from livestock to wild animals like spotted deer, sambar deer, nilgai antelope
etc. To prevent such spread of disease, it is important to provide alternative
clean source of drinking water for village cattle.
During the voluntary work programme, the villagers cleaned a water tank near a hand pump in the village
and removed the organic litter and algae accumulated in the tank. The water in
the tank is now suitable for drinking for cattle in the village.
On March 15, Niranjan Hinge took
13 children from Ambadi village on a nature trail in the forest near the
village. During the nature trail, Niranjan assisted the children in spotting several
bird species like magpie robin, white-bellied drongo, coppersmith barbet etc
and provided information about the feeding habits of these birds.
Niranjan also taught the children about
various plant and tree species. The children were very excited to learn about
various elements of the ecosystem while on a nature trail. Niranjan also organized
similar nature trails for 9 children of Turiya and 8 children of Aamajhiri
village on March 9 and March 19 respectively.
Kamlesh Pawar organized a similar
nature trail for 10 children of Doodhgaon village on March 13.
On March 12, Niranjan Hinge organized
a programme for children of Aamajhiri village to celebrate ‘eco-friendly Holi’.
On the occasion of Holi festival, it is a local tradition to burn a bonfire
during the night and the villagers offer their prayers. On the next day, people
play with colors and water to celebrate Rangapanchami. People chop down trees
to burn leading to thinning of forest canopy cover.
Later on the day of Rangapanchami,
people buy chemical-based water soluble colors from the market. Use of
these colors can lead to skin rashes and irritation of eyes. Instead of using
these harmful chemical colors, which also contribute to water pollution, eco-friendly
colors can be made using flowers of palash tree using traditional methods.
During the celebration of ‘Eco-friendly Holi’ festival, Niranjan Hinge made the
children aware of these issues and taught them ways to enjoy the festival in a
sustainable and eco-friendly way.
On March 21, Kamlesh Pawar
celebrated International Day of Forests along with 45 students of Government
Upper Primary school, Kundai. On this occasion, Kamlesh organized a classroom
lecture to make students aware about the importance of this day and make them
understand the importance of forest protection and conservation. Kamlesh urged
the students to ensure that they consciously make an effort to protect the
forest and floral and faunal diversity of Pench Tiger Reserve and to encourage
others to do the same.
Similarly, Niranjan organized a
classroom lecture for 20 students of Government Primary school in Khamba
village. The students from Ambadi village also participated in a rally to raise
awareness amongst fellow villagers.
On March 22, Kamlesh Pawar organized
a voluntary work programme to prepare a soak pit next to a village hand pump to
celebrate World Water Day in Thuyepani village. During the voluntary work programme,
50 students of Government school, Thuyepani volunteered and prepared the soak pit
close to their school premises. Before the voluntary work project, Kamlesh
informed the students about the importance of water conservation and reasons to
celebrate the day. By preparing a soak pit, the students were able to
understand practically the need to conserve water by recharging ground water
levels and avoiding water wastage. Niranjan celebrated this day along with 30
students of Government Primary School in Telia village.
Environment education
Satpuda Foundation
staff regularly visit schools in the villages of buffer area of Priyadarshini
Pench Tiger Reserve to impart environmental education to the students. By
teaching the students about nature conservation and environment protection,
Satpuda Foundation tries to ensure that the future generations will make
conscious efforts to preserve the forest and biodiversity of the region. During
the month of March 2017 environmental education programmes were organized in
following schools:
Employment Cell
We assisted 3 youths in getting
jobs during March.
On March 26, Mandar
Pingle, Bandu Uikey and Kamlesh Pawar organized a meeting along with Forest Department
staff to inform youths of buffer area of Khamarpani cluster about a driver’s
training program being organized by the Forest Department and funded by Biodiversity Conservation and Rural
Livelihood Improvement Project (BCRLIP). Satpuda Foundation staff was approached by Ashok Leyland’s Driver
Training and Research Center for assistance in informing village youths about
the program and in selecting appropriate candidates. The program is free of
cost for the village youths who will be trained at a residential centre at Chhindwara.
At the end of the training, the successful candidates will receive a permanent
driving license and a certification of successful completion of programme.
Satpuda Foundation
assisted 38 youths in registering for the programme. The first batch,
consisting of these 38 students, will start training from April 1, 2017.
Education Van Programme
There were no film shows in the month of March 2017 due to annual school
exams.
Mobile Health Service (MHS)
Satpuda foundation organized 6 free health checkup camps in March 2017.
A total of 127 patients were treated during the camps. Details of the villages
and number of patients treated during each camp are provided in the table
below:
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