Activity Update May 2019: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights:

Above, below: Celebration on International Biodiversity Day at Matkuli 

Soak pit being dug at Jhirpa 

Villagers put up containers with water for birds
at Matkuli

Water body being cleaned by our volunteers 

Matkuli - Our volunteers ensure birds get water during the hot summer

Matkuli - Volunteers dig a soak pit 

Nandiya - Anti-plastic programme 

Livelihoods workshop
and displayed information about govt. schemes at Tekapar

THE FULL REPORT

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

            Hamid Khan – Field assistant

            Aabid Khan -  Field assistant

           

Highlights

·      18 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – 13 water bodies cleaned and 5 soak pits dug

·      6 anti-plastic programs

·      11 programs to put up 1,000  water pots for birds

·      22 awareness programs on forest fires

·      21 patrols with Forest Department

·      8 vermi-compost tanks set up and 3 awareness programs

·      Organised livelihood workshop and meeting for unemployed young villagers and SHGs

·      Celebrated International Bio-diversity Day at Matkuli

(See Table 1)

During May, we organised 18 programs related to water conservation.

On May 1, we organised a program to clean a water body in the jungle near 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 Hamid Khan and 11 children from Pisuwa, cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly seen around this water body while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears and leopards.     

We organised 12 similar programs during the month to clean other water bodies in the jungle. 

(Table 1)

On May 10, we organised a program to dig a soak pit at Jhirpa. A team comprising 5 students joined hands with Aabid 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.

We organised 4 similar programs during the month to dig soak pits elsewhere. 

Anti-Plastic campaign (Table 2)

During the month, we organised anti-plastic programs at Nandiya, Churni, Gutkheda, Sakdi, Duddi and Bandhan with the support of local Panchayat and Forest Department staff. (See Table 2)

Our teams work across the landscape to provide water to birds during the scorching summer. Our team motivated villagers in Matkuli, Mohgaon, Mehandikheda, Tekapar, Chirrai, Chillod, Khari, Chandanpipariya, Maili, Bindakheda and Pisuwa to put up around 1000 small containers with water around the villages and their outskirts for birds to quench their thirst.

Awareness program on forest fires (Table 3)

During the month, our team organised 22 programs in villages to promote awareness about forest fires and the need for everyone to join hands in fighting fires. In 5 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers.

Forest patrolling (Table 4)

During the month we participated in forest patrols with the Forest Department in East Pachmarhi and Denwa buffer zone villages. Participants included Mr. Pusparaj Moodotiya, Vimlesh Vyalsha, Srinarayan Bhalavi, Shivnarayan Devda (Forest Guards), forest chowkidars and Eco-Development Committee members.

Vermi-compost (Table 5)

During the month, we organised 3 awareness programs on vermi-compost and helped prepare 8 vermi-compost tanks at Karer, Khanchari, Duddi, Bandhan, Tekapar, Pisuwa, Bindakheda and Mehandikheda with the support of Gram Panchayat and Agriculture Department. We also trained villagers in making vermi-compost to reduce their dependence on chemical fertilisers.

Livelihoods workshop

We organised workshops at Pisuwa and Tekapar on May 17 and May 18 for unemployed young villagers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Information about various livelihood schemes and loan facilities for livelihood were displayed. Participants included Block Coordinator NRLM, bank officers and SHG member.

During the month, we visited the Block Coordinator NRLM – a Government official who runs rural livelihood programs – to submit 43 loan proposals for villagers whom we had trained earlier to make handicrafts and furniture from lantana and in other activities. The villagers are from Matkuli, Pisuwa, Tekapar Gram Panchayat . The loan proposals were forwarded to CEO Janpad Panchayat Pipariya.

Celebration of International Biodiversity Day

On May 22, we organised a function to celebrate the International Bio-diversity Day at Matkuli. This program was attended by Mr. Shri Sanjeev Sharma (Assistant Director, Satpura Tiger Reserve), Mr. Tiwari (Ranger- East Pachmarhi) and Forest Guard. To celebrate the occasion, we screened 2 films on bio-diversity, nature and wildlife conservation.