Friday, May 25, 2018

Activity Update March 2018: Satpuda Tiger Reserve

Highlights:


























THE FULL REPORT

Team:  Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer
            Hameed Khan – Field assistant

Highlights
·       9 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – built 1 check dam, cleaned 8 water bodies
·      Assisted in fighting fires in forest on 3 occasions
·      14 awareness programmes on forest fires
·      2 programmes to provide birds with water containers
·      Organised 2 Krishi sanvad Programme, 6 awareness programmes on solar fencing , organic farming and drip irrigation
·      10 forest patrols jointly with Forest Department
·      Organised celebration of World Wildlife Day, World Sparrow Day, International Forestry Day, World Water  Day and World Climate Day 
·      Arranged Nature Orientation camp 2018
·      Organised Lantana training programme at Matkuli
·      Medical camps in 6 villages – 131  patients treated

Conservation











During March, we organised 9 programmes related to water conservation.

On March 6, we organised a programme to clean a water body in the jungle around 2 km from Pisuwa village. The water body was covered with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of field assistant Hameed Khan and 17 children from Government Middle School, Pisuwa, cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly spotted around this water body while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears, wild dogs, leopards and other wildlife.  

Seven similar programmes were organised at Mehandikheda, Matkuli, Aaritodiya, Duddi and Almod on March 8, 29, 30, 31.

On March 22, we organised a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 2.5 km from Jhirpa village. A team comprising of 8 villagers of Jhirpa, Mr. Shivnarayan Devda (Forest Guard) and Hameed built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area.  

With the onset of summer, forest fires are a major hazard in the dry, deciduous forests across the landscape. Wherever possible, our teams make it their top priority to assist in fighting fires. During March, Ashfaq and Hameed assisted staff of the Forest Department in fighting fires on 3 occasions – at Mehandikheda (March 30 in different compartments) and at Matkuli, on March 31.

During the month, our team organised 14 awareness programmes on forest fires. Fires are a recurring hazard during summers – both deliberate and accidental. Sometimes, villagers start fires as they believe that tendu leaves sprout better after such fires. In our awareness programmes, we explained the dangers that such fires cause to the forest and to wildlife and how they could harm villages if they blazed out of control. In 4 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers.


















With the onset of summer, water has become scarce and birds are struggling to get water to drink. Satpuda Foundation encourages villagers across the landscape to provide water for birds by placing old bottles, pots and cans in suitable locations for birds to get water. During March, we conducted 2 programmes in Matkuli and Jhirpa in which we promoted awareness about the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the need to ensure their survival by helping them with water.

Awareness programme on solar fencing, organic farming and drip irrigation

During the month, we organised 6 awareness programme and 2 meetings on solar fencing, organic farming and drip irrigation. Satpuda Foundation encourages villagers across the landscape to take up solar fencing, organic farming and drip irrigation.

On March 11, we organised a programme at Pisuwa. This programme gave information to farmers about solar fencing, organic farming and drip irrigation system. Participants in the programme included Agriculture Executive Officer, Pipariya, Smt. Laxmi Bai Yadav (Sarpanch of Pisuwa) and farmers of Matkuli, Tekapar and Pisuwa.

A similar programme was organised at Jhirpa on March 15.










Forest patrolling

During the month we joined staff of the Forest Department in patrols at Pisuwa, Karer, Aaritodiya, Jhirpa, Duddi and Bandhan on March 2, 7, 16, 25 and 26. Participants included Mr. Shivnarayan Devda, Mithlesh Kumar and Vimlesh Byalsha (Forest Guards), forest choukidars and Village Eco Development Committee members.











World Wildlife Day

On March 3, we organised a function to celebrate the World Wildlife Day at Matkuli. This programme was attended by Mr. Tiwari (Range Officer), Shri Dwivedi, Principal, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Jhirpa, Shri Kamal Kishor Pal (Sarpanch- Matkuli)  President and members of Eco Development Committee.

World Sparrow Day

On March 20, we organised a function to celebrate the World Sparrow Day at Matkuli. This programme was attended by Shri Kamal Kishore Pal (Sarpanch of Matkuli), Bio-diversity Committee members, villagers of Mohgaon and Matkuli and staff of the Forest Department. To celebrate the Day, we organised a programme to provide water for birds by placing old bottles, pots and cans in suitable locations for birds to get access. During the programme, we promoted awareness about the importance of birds in the eco-system and the need to ensure their survival by helping them with water.

International Forest Day

On March 21, we organised functions to celebrate the International Forest Day at Matkuli and Jhirpa. We organised a drawing contest at Saraswati Shishu Vidhya Mandir, Matkuli and a film show at Government Higher Secondary School, Jhirpa.

World Water Day

On March 22, we organised a function to celebrate World Water Day at Jhirpa. We arranged to show a film on water conservation and promoted awareness on the need to conserve water. This programme was held at Government Ashram School, Jhirpa.

World Climate Day

On March 23, we organised functions to celebrate World Climate day at Matkuli and Pachmarhi through an awareness rally at Pachmarhi and a film show at Matkuli.

Nature Orientation camp

On March 4-5, we organised a Nature Orientation camp at Parraspani for East Pachmarhi and Denwa buffer school children focused on wildlife, nature and environment conservation. We also organised a visit to the relocated village of Parraspani.

Participants included Mr. R.S. Bhadoriya (Asst. Director, Satpura Tiger Reserve) Mr. G.S. Nigwal (Range Officer- Denwa buffer), Mr. Abhijeet Dutta (Ass. Director SF), Mr. Khare (Rtd. SDO), Mr. O.P. Tiwari (Deputy Ranger), Mr. Pushpendu Mandal (Tourism Manager) and  20 children from schools in our area of operations.

Employment Cell - Training programme

Satpuda Foundation and Bio-diversity Management Committee, Matkuli, jointly organised a non-residential training programme to train villagers to make products from lantana such as furniture and fancy items. We selected 15 Biodiversity Management Committee members from Matkuli, Tekapar and Pisuwa villages for the 5-day programme, which ran from March 24 to 28. The entire cost of the programme is being borne by Bio-diversity Management Committee Matkuli.

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organises medical camps at which villagers get free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the management of the Tiger Reserve, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation.

There were health camps in 6 villages in March.