The City-dweller and the Tiger

State forms squad to protect its tigers

2012-01-16T04:13:00.000-08:00

Mumbai Mirror

January 8, 2012

Yogesh Naik

Forest Dept says that the Centre has agreed to fund the force for the first five years

A special force to protect the tiger is on the anvil for Maharashtra. For starters, the state forest department will post trained personnel at two tiger reserves - at national parks in Vidarbha's Pench and Tadoba.

The last tiger census has pegged the state's tiger population to 140. Presently, the state has a one-man anti-poaching cell in Nagpur.

Wildlife activists have expressed concern over India's dwindling tiger population. In 2011, 61 tiger deaths were reported across India, including poaching deaths, according to the Wildlife Protection Society of India. A year earlier, the number stood at 58.

In 1972, the Government of India enacted the Wildlife (Protection) Act to control poaching and illegal trade in wildlife. The act was amended in 2003, making punishment and penalty for offences more stringent.

Principal Secretary of the state forest department Praveen Pardeshi said that the tiger protection force will be fashioned along the lines of police crack teams. "The personnel will be trained by commando forces. They will be taught to detect poaching crimes," said Pardeshi.

Forest Department officials said that the Centre had agreed to fund the force for the first five years. This triggered apprehension in the state finance department as to the source of future funding.

Pardeshi, who got the proposal approved by state chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad, said that the state has decided to maintain the force after the first five years.

"Initially, we will have two battalions with 90 men and 20 officers, each headed by an officer," said Pardeshi. "It will target poachers in sensitive areas."

Forest officials said that, for the last few years, gangs of poachers from Bahelia tribal community camp in villages along the eastern border of the state where the tiger reserves are situated.

Wildlife expert Kishor Rithe of the Satpuda Foundation said that they had been seeking secret funds for forest employees to detect poaching rackets like the police have to crack gangs.

"A forest officer has to have means to procure information on poachers," said Rithe, adding that the secret fund has been sanctioned. The special force will file cases in court against poachers. "This is a major milestone achieved," said Rithe.

Link to the article

October and November 2011 Activity Updates: Kanha NP

2012-01-12T08:30:00.000-08:00

October

Team: Amit Awasthi – Conservation Officer

Sampatlal Dhurve – Field assistant

Highlights

Anti-plastic programmes in 3 schools
Community assistance – cleaning of area next to well at Patpara and clearing of grass and weeds from path in Chapri village
Community assistance – repair of hand pump at Government Middle School, Patpara
11 classroom visits in village schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 389 students
8 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 618 people
3 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally
Distributed vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from 7 villages, as part of our livelihood assistance programme

Conservation work:

During the month, our team also organised students of 3 village schools in anti-plastic programmes. Our team first explained the harmful effects of plastic/polythene on the environment and then led the children in programmes through their respective villages. Plastic litter was collected and buried in pits. Details of the villages and dates are given in the table above.

On October 18, Amit Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 4 village youths and 6 women in a programme to clean an internal road in Chapri. Grass and weeds were removed from the sides of the road. The path had become difficult to use for both vehicles and humans.

On October 21, Amit and Sampathlal led a team of 16 students from GMS, Patpara in a shramdhaan to clean the surroundings next to a well in the village. The area had become infested with weeds and wild growth.

During the shramdhaan at GMS, Patpara, the teacher had told Amit that the hand pump in the school premises was not working properly and asked him to help in getting it repaired. The next day, Amit took the concerned Government mechanic/plumber from Mocha to Patpara and arranged for the repair of the pump.

Education

Our team visited 11 schools to talk to students about wildlife and nature conservation.

Employment Cell

Three youths were placed in local jobs during the month.

In September, our team had organised a number of meetings to explain to villagers how they could undertake vegetable farming on a commercial scale as there was ready demand for fresh vegetables from resorts around Kanha. In October, we followed up on this programme by distributing vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from seven villages as a pilot project. We will monitor the progress of the villagers and assist them as required. The vegetables included chilly, cauliflower, spinach.

Education van programme

There were 8 film shows in October.

November

Highlights:

Anti-plastic programmes in 2 schools
Two shramdhaans for water conservation – one water body created and one soak pit dug
11 classroom visits in village schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 386 students
8 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 598 people
3 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally
Villagers, to whom we had distributed vegetable seeds last month, have started to earn money from sales of vegetables

Conservation work:

During the month, our team organised students of 2 village schools to participate in anti-plastic programmes. Our team first explained the harmful effects of plastic/polythene on the environment and then led the children in programmes through their respective villages. Plastic litter was collected and buried in pits. Details of the villages and dates are given in the table above.

On November 10, Amit Awasthi and Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 13 villagers in a programme to create a water body at Patpara on the outskirts of the village next to the jungle. The participants worked to erect a mud wall on a slope down which water was flowing to create a lake which will retain the water. The resultant water body will help recharge the water table in the surrounding area and will also provide drinking water to wildlife. Villagers spot tigers intermittently in the area while gaur and spotted deer are seen more regularly.

On November 15, Amit and Sampath led a team of 6 youths from Bhagpur village in a shramdhaan to clean the surroundings next to a well in the village. The area had become infested with weeds and wild growth. The team also dug a soak pit to take the spillover water.

Education

Our team visited 11 schools to talk to students about wildlife and nature conservation.

Employment Cell

Three youths were placed in local jobs during the month.

In October, we followed up on this programme by distributing vegetable seeds to 11 villagers from seven villages as a pilot project. We will monitor the progress of the villagers and assist them as required. The vegetables included chilly, cauliflower, spinach.

Some of the villagers have started earning from this programme. One villager, Jaisingh of Patpara, earned Rs 125 per week through November through vegetable sales. Others are earning smaller amounts.

Education Van programme:

There were 8 film shows in November.

Prashant's Tadoba pictures

2011-12-29T02:41:00.000-08:00

A beautiful tigress clicked by SF supporter Prashant Brahma on his recent Tadoba trip.

Prashant also doubled up as a courier by carrying some fabric from me to give our Field Assistant Bandu Kumare for the sewing project. He also carried some bags back from Moharli. Thanks Prashant!

Photo: Prashant Brahma
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

October and November 2011 Activity Updates: Pench, Maharashtra

2011-12-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

October

Team:

Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer

Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistants

Highlights

2 shramdaans – one to clean area next to hand pump at Usripar, one programme to build compost Tank at GPS school Ghatpendri campus
Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols twice
9 classroom visits to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation – attended by 440 students
5 film shows on wildlife attended by 355 people
4 medical camps – 160 patients treated
Tribal Dance earned 1500 during the month
Lentana worker earned 800 during the month
Attend meeting about resettlement of Fuljhari

Conservation work

On October 15, Anoop Awasthi and Bandu Uikey led a team of 22 villagers and unemployed youths in a programme to build a compost pit at the Zilla Parishad Primary School, Ghatpendari. Students will drop food leftovers, vegetable and fruit peels as well as daily litter into the pit to be converted into compost over a period of time. This is part of our programme to reduce dependence on chemical-based fertilizers in areas adjoining Tiger reserves in the landscape.

On October Anoop and Dilip Lanjewar led a team comprising 10 villagers and 10 school students in a programme to clean the surroundings around a hand pump at Usaripar.

Bandu joined staff of the Forest department in anti-poaching patrols twice in October – on October 6 and October 16. The patrols were in the jungle near Ghatpendari.

Education

During October, our team visited 9 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Education van programme

There were 5 film shows on wildlife in October.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were four camps in October.

November

Highlights

3 shramdaans – one to clean area next to hand pump at Zinzeriya, two programmes to clean waterholes for wildlife in Ghatpendari range
Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrol once
12 classroom visits to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation – attended by 482 students
6 medical camps – 347 patients treated
Tribal Dance group earned Rs 5,000 during the month
Lantana worker earned Rs 600 during the month
1 unemployed youth placed in job locally

Conservation work:

On November 5, Anoop Awasthi and Bandu Uikey led a team of 10 villagers and unemployed youths in a programme to clean a waterhole in the jungle around 10km from Ghatpendari village. The waterhole lies in the core area of the National Park and is used by wildlife. Four workers employed by the Forest Department on daily wages and a Forest Guard also participated in the programme.

A similar programme was organised on November 19 in another waterhole around 1-2 kms further away. Four workers employed by the Forest Department on daily wages and a Forest Guard joined hands with 12 villagers and our team in the programme.

On November 6, Anoop and Dilip Lanjewar led a team comprising 37 students and 2 teachers of Zilla Parishad Upper Primary School, Zinzeriya in a programme to clean the surroundings around a hand pump at Zinzeriya. Spillover water from the pump had stagnated, creating a bog. The team worked to clean up the area.

Bandu joined staff of the Forest department in an anti-poaching patrol on November 6 in the jungle near Ghatpendari.

Education

During November, our team visited 12 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

One unemployed youth got a job in November through our assistance.

A tribal dance group, comprising villagers from Sawara, earned Rs 5,000/- in November through 2 programmes. The group was set up with our assistance and we help it by speaking to resort owners to organise performance by the group.

A villager, Shatrughan Warthi, earned Rs 600/- in November by selling lantana products. The products were sold through the efforts of Mumbai-based SF volunteers Ms Rajashree Khalap, Ms Bipasha Majumdar and Kirti Chavan.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were six camps in November.

October and November 2011 Activity Updates: Pench, Madhya Pradesh

2011-12-28T04:46:00.000-08:00

October

Team: Anoop Awasthi - Conservation Officer
Niranjan Hinge - Field Assistant
Bandu Uikey - Field Assistant

Highlights:

1 conservation rally at Potiya
1 shramdaan programme to clean a water tank at Potiya
4 classroom lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 298 students
2 unemployed youths placed in jobs
8 medical camps – 310 patients treated

Conservation:

On October 18, Anoop and Niranjan led a team of 7 students from Government Middle School (GMS), Potiya in a programme to clean an open water tank next to a hand pump in the school campus. The tank collects the run-off water from the hand pump and is used by livestock for drinking. Due to negligence, it had become clogged with debris and food materials were decomposing in the tank. It was a health hazard as it had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Our shramdaan cleaned it up.

On October 19, Niranjan led 54 students and four teachers of GMS, Potiya in a conservation rally. The participants went through the village, chanting slogans in favour of conservation. Rallies are part of our programme to sensitise communities living close to protected on the need for nature and wildlife conservation.

Education

During the month, our team visited 4 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

Two youths got jobs in October thanks to our efforts.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in holding 8 medical camps in October.

November

Team:

Anoop Awasthi - Conservation Officer
Niranjan Hinge - Field Assistant
Bandu Uikey - Field Assistant

Highlights:

1 conservation rally at Telia
1 shramdaan programme to construct soak pit at Khamba
1 nature trail for students at Telia
13 classroom lectures on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 552 students
1 unemployed youth placed in a job locally
Education van programme - 6 film shows on nature and wildlife, attended by 667 people

Conservation work:

On November 20, Anoop and Niranjan led a team of 7 children from Khamba village in a programme to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. Spillover water had stagnated around the hand pump, creating a small bog which had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Our team cleaned up the area and dug a pit to take the spillover water. The soak pit will help recharge the surrounding water table.

On November 11, Niranjan led 55 students and 2 teachers of Government Middle School (GMS), Telia in a conservation rally. The participants went through the village, chanting slogans in favour of conservation. Rallies are part of our progamme to sensitise communities living close to protected on the need for nature and wildlife conservation.

On November 25, Niranjan led 10 children from Telia village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Niranjan identified various species of local flora and fauna and explained the need for conservation to the children.

Education

During the month, our team visited 13 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

One youth got a job in November thanks to our efforts.

Education van programme

There were 6 film shows in November.

October and November 2011 Activity Updates: Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

2011-12-27T04:41:00.000-08:00

October

Team: Bandu Kumare, Field Assistant

Highlights

Wildlife Week celebrations – 3 conservation rallies, 2 nature trails, 1 drawing contest
Drawing contest on wildlife in one school
Community assistance – public hygiene programmes in 3 villages
Bandu also assisted in one programme on under-nourished village children and in one programme on personal hygiene
Anti-plastic programmes in 2 villages
Follow-up to plantation done earlier at 3 villages
9 classroom visits in environment education programme, attended by 290 students
Driver’s training programme which started on September 22 for 20 unemployed villagers of Kolara, ended on October 22
One unemployed youth placed in temporary job locally
Health camps in 6 villages – total of 503 patients treated
Two visits to Bhagwanpur to follow up status of relocated villagers

Conservation:

On October 14, Bandu organised an anti-plastic programme at Chorgaon in which school students cleaned up the village of plastic litter and waste. The litter/waste was then buried in pits.

23 students of the ZP Primary School and 1 teacher joined hands with Bandu in this task (above).

A similar programme was organised on October 15 at Adegaon with 18 students.

Cleanliness drive at Kondegaon

As part of our community assistance, we have been working with villagers on the need for public hygiene and cleanliness. As the monsoon has just ended, many roads/paths are overgrown with weeds and wild growth, which provide cover for snakes. We organized 3 programmes in October to clean up such paths/roads. The details are in the table above.

Cleanliness programme at Sitarampeth

On October 13, Bandu led 14 students of ZP Primary School, Mudholi on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. Bandu, who earlier worked as a guide in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, helped the children identify local flora and fauna and explained the need for nature and wildlife conservation to them.

As part of our education/awareness programme, Bandu also organised a drawing contest on nature and wildlife at the ZP Primary School, Mudholi. 12 students of the school participated.

Separately, Bandu organised 3 conservation rallies (at Kutwanda on Oct 5, at Chorgaon and Adegaon on Oct 7), 1 nature trail at Sitarampeth on October 5 and one drawing contest at Kondegaon on October 7 as part of the Wildlife Week celebrations.

Drawing contest during Wildlife Week at ZP School, Kondegaon

Forest guard Kodwate talks to children about wildlife at Sitarampeth

Nature trail during wildlife week - Sitarampeth

Students and teachers of Kutwanda pose for a photo after nature trail

Street play with wildlife conservation message by children of Moharli

Conservation rally at Chorgaon

Conservation rally during Wildlife Week, Kutwanda

Rally on malnutrition in Moharli

On October 14, Bandu went to Dewada to monitor the progress of saplings planted in July. Bandu conducts regular follow-up visits to ensure that the saplings are watered properly and that they get adequate protection from livestock.

Tending to saplings planted during the monsoon at Dewada

Similar follow-up visits were made to Moharli on October 16 and Bamdeli on October 18.

Tending to saplings planted earlier in the year at ZP High School, Moharli

Education

During October, Bandu visited 9 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

During October, Bandu helped one youth get temporary employment with the Forest Department. As part of our livelihood assistance programme, Bandu is in regular touch with local agencies, including the Forest Department, to track potential employment opportunities for village youths. When he got to know of one such vacancy as a tracker/patroller in the Forest department, he approached Round Officer Inwate. Shri Inwate met the youth introduced to him by Bandu, interviewed and then appointed him for a three-month term.

Pravin Pendam of Dewada, who got a job as a tracker with our assistance

A driver’s training programme organized for 20 youths of Kolara concluded on October 22. The youths will now go to the RTO for their tests before getting licences. Once the youths get their licences, we will assist them in getting jobs. The programme is funded through a donation received from Ms Diya Bannerjee, a wildlife activist and supporter of conservation work.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

We assisted nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting health camps in 6 villages during October.

Above, below: medical camp at Sonegaon

November

Highlights

2 shramdaans for water conservation – check dams at Chorgaon and Sitarampeth
Follow-up to plantation done earlier at 4 villages
Anti-plastic programmes and cleaning of school premises in 2 villages
1 nature trail
10 classroom visits in environment education programme, attended by 316 students
One unemployed youth placed in temporary job locally
Education van programme - 10 film shows on nature and wildlife, attended by 516 people
Health camps in 6 villages – total of 299 patients treated
Two visits to Bhagwanpur to follow up status of relocated villagers

Conservation

On November 4, our field assistant Bandu Kumare organised a shramdaan programme (voluntary work) to build a check/stop dam on a stream in the jungle around 1 km from Sitarampeth. One teacher from the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School, two school officials and 16 students joined hands with Bandu in the shramdaan. The resultant body will benefit wildlife. Sloth bears, wild boars and nilgai are regularly spotted in the area.

On November 15, a similar programme was organised at Chorgaon to build a stop dam on a stream next to the jungle around 1 ½ kms from the village. Two villagers joined 5 teachers and 57 students of the ZP Primary School in the programme. Both domestic livestock and wildlife will benefit from this water body. Villagers say they have spotted leopards, barking deer and wild boars in the area.

Above, below: Check dam built through the shramdaan programme at Chorgaon

On November 5, Bandu went to Chorgaon to monitor the progress of saplings planted in July-August. Bandu conducts regular follow-up visits to ensure that the saplings are watered properly and that they get adequate protection from livestock. Similar follow-up visits were made to Moharli on November 9, Kondegaon on November 10 and Katwal on November 20.

On November 8, Bandu organised an anti-plastic programme at Sitarampeth in which school students cleaned up the main village road of plastic litter and waste. They then cleaned up the school premises.The litter/waste was then buried in pits. 13 students of the ZP Primary School and 1 teacher joined hands with Bandu in this task.

A similar programme was organized on November 10 at Dewada with 14 students and

two teachers.

On November 10, Bandu led 17 students of ZP Primary School, Kondegaon on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. Bandu, who earlier worked as a guide in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, helped the children identify local flora and fauna and explained the need for nature and wildlife conservation to them.

Education

During November, Bandu visited 10 schools to deliver lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

During November, Bandu helped one youth get employment at Chandrapur. Earlier in the year, Bandu had helped two youths get jobs at a shop which deals in chickens. On a follow-up visit to check on their progress, Bandu was told by the owner of the shop that he needed more people. Bandu then arranged for a youth from Kutwanda to get the job.

A driver’s training programme which we had organized for 20 youths of Kolara concluded on October 22. 15 of the trainees passed their RTO test at the first attempt on November 30. The remaining 5 will take the test again in December.

The programme was funded through donation received from Ms Diya Banerjee, a wildlife activist and supporter of conservation work.

Above, below: Diya Banerjee and SF staff interacting with youths trained in driving 4-wheelers in a programme funded by Diya in Kolara.

Education Van

There were 10 film shows on nature and wildlife in November.

MHU

We assisted nature Conservation Society, Amravati in conducting health camps in 6 villages during November.

Bhagwanpur

Bandu visited Bhagwanpur on November 13-14 and November 29-30 to follow up on the status of the relocated villagers.

The status of the villagers is not very good. While the Kolsa side of the village is able to do farming activities properly, the Botezari side is struggling due to non-availability of water. Unless the Moulzari tank is built, this section of people will continue to struggle.

Due to poor farming yield, the villagers are struggling for livelihood. Some of them have now started to steal wood from the adjoining forest and sell this in Chandrapur to earn some money.

With the soya bean crop having been harvested, the villagers who went for daily wage work to Jam and Samudrapur have also returned are idle in the village.

Villagers went to Chandrapur to meet the FD, TATR and SP and submitted a petition asking

- that the village be renamed Bhagwanpur-Botezari

- villagers said that at a meeting held in March, the District Collector Chandrapur had promised a grant/subsidy assistance of Rs 47,000/- per resettled family. This has not yet been paid. (reported already in July)

- Bhagwanpur villagers want a separate GP for themselves. Currently, they are listed as attached to Tolewahi GP. The villagers have not paid their property tax for the past 4-5 years. As a result, the Tolewahi Gram Panchayat is not pushing any development work in the village.

- Villagers want the internal roads and gutters to be concretized

Our stall at the Indus Festival of Charities, 2011

2011-12-04T06:54:00.000-08:00

This is the third year we've participated at this event, and this time we finally had lantana products for sale in addition to the bags.

All 51 hangers got sold, and some hairsticks as well. The craftsman Shatrughan (of Sawra, Pench) made far too many hairsticks, though I'd warned him not to. Mumbai women don't necessarily have long hair or wear this kind of hair ornament. Anyway, we have over 50 hairsticks still with us, and eventually we're hoping to find buyers for most of them.

Here's an earlier post about these products. You can see photos of the hangers and hairsticks, very pretty and well-crafted by Shatrughan, who is an excellent carpenter.

The shopping bags got a good response too. Several people remembered our bags from last year. This time we had bags made by four girls from Moharli (Tadoba) in addition to those made by the people from Pench. There were a few patchwork bags too, here's a picture:

The fabric pieces were donated to us by the NGO Womenweave.
I had actually gone to them to buy fabric, but they suggested we could use the cut pieces for patchwork instead.

The slogan is our attempt to dumb down the message of why conservation is critical. Many thanks to chlorophyll brand consultancy for the design and printing.

We had two very interesting visitors at the stall, both awardees at this year's Sanctuary Awards: Daulat Singh Shaktawat of Ranthambhor, and Rajendra Kerkar of Goa. They were staying at the YMCA, where the Indus festival was being held.

Here's last year's stall at Indus. And the stall of 2009.

Thanks Parth Badheka for volunteering at the stall all day, and Kirti Chavan too.

Villagers move out of tiger zone, and are the richer for it

2011-10-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

Indian Express
Vivek Deshpande
Posted: Mon Oct 17 2011, 00:03 hrs
Link

At a time when the rehabilitation of villages out of tiger landscapes has become more difficult than ever, with the Forest Rights Act having made it subject to vilagers’ consent, here is one tiger territory that stands out in contrast.

Tucked in the Melghat hills, Wan has become the first tiger area to have successfully relocated three villages at one go. And the villagers have not only consented but are so happy that many other villages have petitioned the Forest Department to rehabilitate them too.

For the 350 families of Amona, Nagartas and Bharukheda, relocation earlier this year has brought Rs 10 lakh per adult, free land for a house, and better access to markets, education, health facilities, the court, the police and tahsil headquarters. They now use buses that rarely reached them earlier.

Amona, which has shifted 10 km to a new location in Kasod, is now 15 km from its new tahsil headquarters of Akot in Akola district; its previous headquarters of Chikhaldara in Amravati was over 100 km away. Shivpuri, just 2 km away, has a primary health centre as well as job opportunities. Mahadeo Tote says: “I suffered a sloth bear attack a few months ago. It took me six hours to reach the hospital; now, anyone can reach a hospital in less than 30 minutes.”

Akot itself has all educational facilities. Earlier, the villagers had to walk 3 km for water when their borewell went dry in the summer; now, they have water right in the village round the year.

Bharukheda and Nagartas, earlier 10 km apart, have been resettled at the same place. Bharukheda was 120 km from Chikhaldara and villagers travelled on foot or by bullock cart, then change buses thrice. Neither Bharukheda nor Nagartas had electricity; now all three villages have free connections and new ration cards, besides an assured government job to a member of each family.

“We thought of a novel idea of offering them the vacated irrigation colony of the Wan project. They were so happy to see the pucca quarters that they shifted to the place without waiting for the formalities to be completed,” says Srinivas Reddy, deputy conservator of forests, Akot.

“We are closer to many essential facilities. We now also have electricity,” says Sheikh Nizam Sheikh Munir, a ration shop owner in Bharukheda.

The shift has fetched villagers mobile phones, two-wheelers and even four-wheelers, apart from financial stability — a Rs 5-lakh, six-year fixed deposit that fetches the beneficiary around Rs 4,500 per month; Rs 2 lakh in a savings account and Rs 3 lakh in a nine-month fixed deposit.

“Some families with four adult members have received up to Rs 40 lakh. This they would probably never have been able to save... inside the forests,” says Reddy.

The forest department offered only the plots; many villagers built their own houses. “We didn’t want to leave anything for them to complain about. Normally, there are lot of complaints about the quality of construction,” Reddy says.

A few families, less than 50, legally owned farmland at the pervious locations. “We compensated them,” Reddy says. The landowners, however, say they have faced difficulty buying suitable land for farming since local farm-owners have jacked up prices. “They feel we have a lot of money now,” one says. Reddy says, “That would be a temporary phenomenon. We hope the prices will come down in the near future.”

The new residential properties offer a major consolation. The 2,000 sq feet each villager owns is worth Rs 3 lakh.

For the forest department, the advantages have been many. “With the three villages gone from the prime tiger land, a large tract has been freed for freer movement of wildlife. It has also taken the grazing pressure off the area with more than 3,000 heads of cattle now out of it. The villagers ignited forest fires for better tendu harvest. We will now have drastically fewer fires to tackle,” says principal secretary (forest) Pravin Pardeshi, who was divisional commissioner of Amravati till a few months ago, and who personally interacted with and convinced the villagers to go for rehabilitation.

"We need national watershed management - which can be done only by wildlife"

2011-10-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

An article about our founder and president Kishor Rithe. This is the link to the story.

Winning videos from the Mofilm video contest 2010

2011-09-19T04:27:00.000-07:00

These were the five winners from Mofilm's video contest for the International Film Festival of India, Goa, 2010. We were one of the participating brands.

I've posted the first place winner Tiger Water Tree earlier (click here for the post).

Our brief for the contest was to show the connection between tigers and our water supply. "Save tigers = save forests = save water" is our theme in all our communication. Have a look at how each contestant interpreted the message.

We can't thank Mofilm enough for featuring us in their "Causes" category. We could never had had such a platform without their support. And of course a big thank you to the talented contestants!

Below: Tiger Water Tree
Created by Lindsay McFarlane

Below: Tiger Dance
Created by: White Balance Films

Below: Let it roar. Let it rain.
Created by: Mauricio Thomsen

Below: Save Tigers
Created by: Raja Naveen Srungavarapu

Below: The Jungle Guardian
Created by: Ligia Cortes

Mofilm: http://www.mofilm.com

Virginia McKenna and Born Free Foundation

2011-09-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

In the picture above: Will Travers, Virginia McKenna, SF founder/President Kishor Rithe, Dr Claudio Sillero and Chris Wright, after a lecture Kishor gave at the Born Free Foundation in Horsham, UK.

The Foundation was started by Ms McKenna and her husband Bill Travers, famous as the actor- couple who played Joy and George Adamson in the classic movie Born Free. This is the Foundation website.

Kishor writes from the UK:

"Today I was invited to give a lecture at Born Free Foundation at Horsham (UK). I was specially thrilled to see and meet a famous actress Virginia McKenna among the audience. She attended my lecture and applauded the work of Satpuda Foundation! While speaking to her after the lecture, I found her a great person...

"For her services to wildlife and to the arts, in 2004 Virginia was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire...I am proud that Satpuda Foundation is associated with Born Free Foundation, the organization that Virginia founded.

"She promised to extend every support for our conservation battle in the Satpuda! She was highly impressed by our work and has asked me to convey her best wishes to all our field staff, office bearers and trustees of Satpuda Foundation."

Unified control of core, buffer for TATR FD

2011-09-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Link to the story in Times of India (Nagpur)

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Sep 15, 2011

NAGPUR: In a move that could go a long way in ensure buffer area management gives priority to tiger conservation, the state government is finally considering giving unified control of the core and buffer areas to the field director of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

The issue will come up for discussion with forest minister Patangrao Kadam during his visit to Nagpur on September 16. Some MLAs from Chandrapur district, who are opposing the move, allegedly to favour timber and mining lobby, have also been invited to the meeting to clear confusion.

Praveen Pardeshi, principal secretary (forests), confirmed the development. "Unified control of core and buffer areas with the field director of tiger reserve has been recommended by NTCA and practised in other tiger reserves. The same approach seems suitable for orienting buffer area management. Rights of people in buffer will not be harmed," Pardeshi said.

A committee appointed by PCCF (wildlife) in October 2010 headed by additional PCCF AK Saxena, APCCF Shree Bhagwan, CCF VK Sinha, CF GRK Rao and Satpuda Foundation chief Kishor Rithe had also recommended reorganization of Chandrapur division in the buffer area and give unified control to TATR field director.

"This is a usual reorganization for forest and wildlife management purpose. Britishers have gone from the country in 1947. We've shifted from timber extraction era to conservation field. Indian Wildlife And Forest Acts have been changed and given complete focus on conservation especially from 2002," Rithe said.

Rithe further said where tiger reserves have been created, their buffer and core areas have been given to wildlife department to manage. "The Centre is planning to have a separate wildlife department to manage protected areas (PAs) properly," he added.

"Now, Maharashtra cannot lag behind. A few politicians who are against this idea will have to think about future of Chandrapur district," Rithe, member of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), added.

Currently, three administrative units viz. Chandrapur, Brahmapuri and West Chanda FDCM divisions have overlapping administrative jurisdiction. Large areas of Chandrapur division fall in the buffer area and only a few compartments of Brahmapuri and West Chanda fall in the buffer.

It has been recommended that these compartments may be attached with Chandrapur division and entire buffer of Chandrapur may be constituted into a buffer division attached to the tiger reserve.

2011-09-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

Farmers helping forest dept protect GIB eggs in fields

The link.
TNN | Sep 6, 2011, 03.19AM IST

CHANDARPUR: Enthused by the survival of a small number of hatchlings of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the habitats of Warora and Bhadrawati forest ranges, the forest department has roped in farmers to help protect and conserve the endangered birds in the breeding period. Extensive awareness cum protection drive has been initiated in the over 1,000 hectare area in two tehsils, which now hosts eight GIBs, including a young bird.

Locally known as Maldhok or Hom, this endangered bird is tracked in Warora-Bhadrawati area every year in August to ascertain their numbers. Census of GIB, a Schedule-I avian, over the last few years revealed the presence of seven birds of the species. The efforts by the forest department and local farmers helped the survival of a hatchling last year, raising the population in the habitat to eight.

Apart from Solapur, Warora-Bhadrawati is only other rich habitat in the state where GIB is found in good numbers. "Last year, we traced three GIB eggs in the fields with help from farmers. However, only one of the three eggs survived the hatching period of 40 days. All around protection to the hatchling, with help from farmers helped its survival," said DCF, Chandrapur forest division, P Kalyankumar.

He said that hundreds of farmers were felicitated by the guardian minister last year for this. Farmer Waman Kite from village Wanoja, on whose farm the egg had successfully hatched, was given a special prize for his efforts.

According to the census, there were two males and two females of the species in the fields in Warora-Ashti-Tulana block, while a female and two males are seen in Nandori-Bhatali and Pawnal block. "Thanks to the successful hatching last year, one more bird has been added. The young one was seen with its parents in the fields this year. Our men are keeping a close watch on all these birds for protection," he said.

He said birdwatcher Gopal Thosar pointed out the GIB to forest officials in 2004. Since then regular census is being carried out every year. Since last year, foresters also carry out extensive awareness campaigns in villages near GIBs habitats. "People are educated about the importance of survival of the endangered species and GIB safety committees are being formed. Farmers have been asked to report the presence of GIBs and its eggs in their fields on phone numbers of forest officials. We have declared protection allowance of Rs 200 per day for any farmer protecting the GIB eggs in their fields. Any farmer protecting an egg through its incubation period (till hatching) could earn Rs 8,000," Kalyankumar said.

He said the exercise started in July and would continue till December. The birds usually lay their eggs in September-October. Foresters are trying to track every egg laid by GIBs this year. Once tracked, all eggs would be extensively protected till hatching. "Nanaj GIB sanctuary has 15 GIBs. If we could help a few more eggs survive, soon this area could overtake Nanaj sanctuary in the GIB count," Kalyankumar said.

2011-09-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

Tigers stage comeback in Jalgaon after a long gap

Link to this story.

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN | Sep 8, 2011, 08.10AM IST

NAGPUR: It should sound a good news for wildlife lovers. Tigers have staged a comeback in Jalgaon district in Dhule territorial circle after a long gap.

However, Khandesh Nature Conservation Society (KNCS), working for tiger conservation in Jalgaon forest division, claims tigers were very much there but there was no serious monitoring by the department.

Wadoda range forest officer (RFO) DR Patil has been monitoring a tigress with a cub for the past three months. Patil also claims presence of a male tiger in his range. The tigers have made densely forested Purna backwaters their home.

"This is after 2001 that tigers have staged a comeback in Jalgaon division. In 2001, there was tigress with three cubs," Patil said. It seems tigers move from Melghat-Ambabarwa-Yawal-Western Ghats.

However, Abhay Ujagare and Vinod Patil of KNCS say presence of tigers is there in Jalgaon district since 1993 but due to lack of serious monitoring their existence could not be ascertained.

However, if official tiger figures are to be considered, there were 7 tigers in Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Jalgaon, followed by 3 in 1993, 4 in 1997 and 1 in 2001. Since then no tigers were recorded in the protected area (PA). Besides, the last official record of tigers in Jalgaon division was in 2005 when three tigers were recorded.

"In past few years the newly added Wan and Ambabarwa to Melghat tiger reserve has improved protection and management. Several evidences of breeding tigresses have been recorded in camera traps from this cluster," said Kishor Rithe, member of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL).

Rithe said there were unconfirmed tiger sighting reports in the past two years by villagers and local nature lovers in Jalgaon district. Presence of tigers shows that they are dispersing towards west in Jalgaon district.

The forest range Kurha (Wadoda) includes Kurha, Charthana and Dolarkheda rounds. The area of three beats North Dolarkheda (2,100 ha), South Dolarkheda (1,500 ha) and Sukali (1,450 ha) of Dolarkheda round in Kurha range is the most potential area for tigers having 10 perennial waterholes. Rithe's Satpuda Foundation has urged the state government to provide necessary wildlife management inputs to this area.

If you peep into history, tigers and lions used to live together in Gujarat. Tigers disappeared from Gujarat in the 1980s whereas lions could manage to survive. The last tiger seen in Gujarat is reported from Dang district bordering Maharashtra. Satpuda mountain is spread up to Dang district where it meets Western Ghats and Aravali mountain.

The tiger habitat continuity link is considered from Kanha-Pench (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh)-Satpuda-Melghat and Yawal. Local bird watcher Anil Mahajan from Varangaon (Jalgaon) had recorded a dead cub last year. This is a proof that tigers are breeding in Jalgaon district and earlier claims made by KNCS were also true.

Conservationists were dreaming in last 20 years that tigers would again disperse towards west to Melghat. The state expert committee to declare critical tiger habitats (CTH) ex-PCCF B Majumdar, ex-APCCF Nandkishore and Kishor Rithe had recommended a compact cluster of Wan, Ambabarwa and Narnala sanctuaries adjoining Melghat to be included in MTR, which was accepted by the state and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Now it is high time this corridor is restored degraded forest towards west of Melghat to bring back tigers in Jalgaon and Dhule districts.

Tiger presence recorded in western Satpuda

2011-09-06T03:03:00.000-07:00

Good news in the bad news. The dead cub is a tragic sight, but it is also proof that conditions in Western Satpuda were suitable for its mother to breed.

Tigers and lions used to live together in the state of Gujarat, India. However tigers disappeared from this state in 1980s whereas lions could manage to survive. The last tiger seen in Gujarat is reported from Dang district bordering Maharashtra!

The Satpuda mountain range is spread up to Dang district of Gujarat where it meets Western Ghats and Arawali mountain! The tiger habitat continuity link is considered from Kanha-Pench (Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh)- Satpuda- Melghat and Yawal. Yawal was the western most protected area in Satpuda mountain where tigers were reported till 2002. However in the last few years, there were some claims made by Khandesh Nature Conservation Society of Jalagaon about tiger sightings in and around Yawal and towards west of Jalagaon district in Muktainagar. The Forest department was investigating these claims.

However a local birdwatcher Mr. Anil Mahajan (Varangaon, Dist: Jalgaon) has sent a picture of a dead tiger cub (above0 to Satpuda Foundation which is a substantial proof that tigers are breeding in Jalagaon district and earlier claims made by Khandesh Nature Conservation Society of Jalagaon were also valid! If it is so, it's a remarkable piece of news for the tigers in central India.

Tiger conservationists were dreaming for the last 20 years that tigers would again disperse towards the west to Melghat. The state expert committee for declaring Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH) Mr. B. Majumdar, Dr. Nandkishore and Kishor Rithe had recommended a compact cluster of Wan, Ambabarawa and Narnala sanctuaries adjoining Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) should be included in to MTR- CTH which was accepted by the state and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The committee had discussed the future possibility of restoration of degraded corridors towards the west of Melghat to bring back the tiger population in Jalagaon and Dhule district (further west to Yawal).

"In past few years the newly added Wan, Ambabarawa and Wan cluster (to MTR-CTH) has improved a lot in protection and management. Several evidences of breeding tigresses have been recorded in camera traps from this cluster of protected areas," said Kishor Rithe, member of the National Board for Wildlife.

The unconfirmed tiger sighting reports in the past two years by villagers and local nature lovers in Jalgaon district shows that the tigers are dispersing towards the west in Jalagaon district. The forest range Kurha (Vadoda) includes Kurha, Charthana and Dolarkheda rounds. The area of three beats North Dolarkheda (2100ha), South Dolarkheda (1500ha) and Sukali beat (1450 ha) of Dolarkheda round in Kurha range is a good potential area for tigers having 10 perennial waterholes.

Satpuda Foundation has requested the Government of Maharashtra to provide necessary management to this area urgently.

Kishor Rithe
President,
Satpuda Foundation

Dr Ganesh Wankhede, scholar and conservationist extraordinaire

2011-08-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

Dr Wankhede is a truly inspiring person for all wildlife lovers, specially for his path-breaking work on spiders. Click in the image to enlarge, or read the story through this link.

2012 Course announcement: Education and Communication Strategies for Species Conservation

2011-08-10T08:47:00.000-07:00

Environmental Education and Conservation Global (USA), Satpuda Foundation (India), SGB Amravati University, Amravati and the Nature Conservation Society, Amravati will hold a three-week international course in Amravati, India.

When: January 9-29, 2012.

Topics: The course will show how social marketing techniques can be integrated with education and communication strategies to produce focused campaigns that are effective tools for solving environmental problems.

Where: Amravati University will host the course with field trips to two Project Tiger reserves.

Contact: For more information, email emccrea@eecg.org ,satpuda@gmail.com or satpuda@gmail.com.

Apply by: The last date for submitting complete application is 30^st September 2011.

Kishor Rithe

Course Co-ordinator,

President, Satpuda Foundation

Meeting of State Wildlife Board, June 28, 2011 - TOI Pune

2011-06-29T04:17:00.000-07:00

Green pigeon stays as state bird

TNN | Jun 29, 2011, 12.38am IST

PUNE: The Forest Owlet, a critically endangered species, will not be the state bird. Instead, the green pigeon will continue to hold the pride of place.

A proposal tabled by the Bombay Natural History Society to give the honour to the Forest Owlet was unanimously rejected by the State Wildlife Board on Tuesday.

The meeting, chaired by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, resolved that there was no need for the change, but agreed to initiate steps to conserve the Forest Owlet.

Several NGOs felt the bird would be better protected if it was given the status.

Chavan said he would soon forward the state government's proposal to declare five new sanctuaries to the union government. These are Rajmachi in Thane-Alibaug, Sudhagarh-Tamni in the Western Ghats, Tipagarh in Gadchiroli, Kopela-Kolamarka in Gadchiroli and Isapur bird sanctuary in Yavatmal.

The meeting cleared the proposal to recruit forest guards, provide vehicles to range forest officers and granted them permission to use ammunition after sunset.

The State Board for Wildlife, Maharashtra government comprises prominent conservation NGOs like Satpuda Foundation, Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra of Chiplun and the BNHS.

"The decision to recruit more forest guards and provide vehicles to forest range officers is welcome. The chief minister also talked about purchasing 100 vehicles for the forest range officers," Nishant Kale, member of Satpuda Foundation, told TOI.

It was also decided to allow forest guards and forest officers to fully focus on wild life conservation and forest safety and not manage eco-tourism.

Kale said that the proposal for a nature interpretation centre, a leopard rescue centre and laying of electric lines in Ahmednagar district inside the bustard sanctuary will be taken up after the denotification process. The area is proposed to be reduced from about 8, 500 square km to around 1,222 square km.

The proposal to laying a transmission line through Sanjay Gandhi National Park was rejected and the members said renewable energy sources should be explored. The proposal to lay a 400 KV transmission line in Matheran was not decided upon.

"This is an eco-sensitive zone and it is not under any sanctuary. The Wildlife Board of India will take a decision," he said.

A proposal from a private company seeking forest land near Phansad wildlife sanctuary was also rejected.

The meeting granted permission for repairing the electric lines passing through the Tungareshwar wildlife sanctuary. The proposal will now go to the Central Wildlife Board and has to get an approval from the Central Empowered Committee. All development projects in the 10 km radius of wildlife sanctuaries have to get a nod from this committee constituted by the Supreme Court, said Kale.

Bhau Katdare, founder of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra of Chiplun, said the board will meet twice in a year. Tuesday's meeting was held after 28 months.

Link to the article.

Experts oppose proposal to declare Forest Owlet as state bird

2011-06-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

TOI Pune, June 26, 2011 - click here to read the article.

Click in the image below to enlarge and read.

Note of caution on Forest Owlet as state bird

2011-06-28T00:33:00.000-07:00

From the TOI Nagpur, June 27, 2011 - click here for the article.

Click in the image below to enlarge and read.

IT education programme: Assessment and appeal

2011-06-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

A review and request by Kirti Chavan, our volunteer in charge of the IT education programme. Please share!

The summer holidays are over and children are back to school hungry for more!

After a year long involvement with the school in Sawra, we and the children have come a long way in our IT education program. I would say the children have taught us more than we have taught them. Of course we knew the software and how technology makes life easy for people and all that jazz. But the children taught us many deeper things like: dedication is not just a word in dictionary, it's a habit. Challenge is not for others but for yourself. And last but not least, will power, it's in their will to change the future.

Now I have not written all this to make my article a nice read. I really mean it. I have seen dedication in some of the children here which is beyond praise. The children run this school, it doesn't matter if the government funds come in time or not. The school garden, equipment, books and even building paint are well looked after by these dedicated children. Every where children love holidays or a day off from school; but at Sawra students are always in campus either doing extra reading, drawing something on the computer or just watering the plants.

I am really glad we started the IT literacy program from Sawra. Because this made us realize that if you give people what they really need, they will take the lead and out-perform your expectations.

Review and plans:

After working on various levels for one year and introducing computer education at Sawra school we have realized the children are quick to finish off what's on their plate and are always looking for more. They have been grabbing every possible opportunity to get extra time on the computer to do what they like to do or help their classmates by sharing what they know. But now we have reached a level where we need to raise the bar and go next level of training and make children more competitive and skilled, so they will not hesitate to brush shoulders with children from city schools.

We have started work on building a custom assignment book which will ensure children use computers to do school projects, assignments and other learning modules. This will help us measure success and the extent of IT literacy in their mind.

Results begin to show:

One of the indications that we are on the right track is Sachin, a school dropout who had to spend all his time on farming. He has now decided to attended a training course on Desktop Publishing and in less than 6 months he has got a full time job as a DTP operator in a nearby town. Rest assured Sachin and his family will now be less dependent on the forest, hence reducing the pressure on the little remaining tiger forests of India.

The problem: downtime

Plans look good, feedback sounds encouraging but all is not well as every now and then the IT program goes in indefinite pause due to computer downtime. The major cause of this downtime is software crash and at times hardware malfunction, all because of frequent power failure. Once the computer is down, it takes about 2 to 3 weeks for it to be fixed as Sawra is a remote village close to tiger habitat and the nearest town where a computer can be fixed is a three hour drive away.

We require:

To solve this problem we have realized that a good UPS for each computer is needed, so when there is a power cut, the children have enough time to save their work and shut down the computer hence reducing the risk of any damage.

We would need 5 UPS systems to ensure the IT literacy program is running effectively and we are able to help these under-privileged children secure a better tomorrow.

We would like to send out this appeal to individuals and corporates. If you can sponsor new or donate used UPS for computers in Sawra school, it will make a world of difference to the children and the volunteers working for this cause.

While we were thinking that we were able to match the expectation and excitement of children in Sawra, the hunger for learning had already spread far and wide and neighbouring villages had started investigating what's turning Sawra into a talent mine. It did not take too long for the schools of Teliya and Zinzeriya to approach us and insist that we start the IT program in their schools too. So now the IT education program is being carried out in a total of three villages.

Read about the IT education programme in these earlier posts.

Hidden tiger

2011-06-25T04:48:00.000-07:00

Aarti was in Tadoba earlier this month, and we did one safari together - check the images in Summer morning in Tadoba. After that I left for Nagpur, and Aarti stayed on for two more days.

Here's a large crouching tiger she saw after I left, and her description:

"The next day we saw a big male sitting behind the bamboos just off the road. In some ways this sighting was more thrilling since he wasn't coming to drink water in man-made tanks, and was just sitting by himself hidden by the foliage!!"

Look at that camouflage - is it surprising that the forests around Tadoba have been a notorious conflict zone for several years now? Humans often disturb hidden tigers when they enter the forest to collect firewood or cut bamboo; and they get nasty - and sometimes lethal - surprises in turn.

Thanks for the photo Aarti.

See also: In the tiger's footsteps.

Photo: Aarti Phatarphekar
Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Kanha: April and May 2011 Updates

2011-06-25T03:43:00.000-07:00

Team: Amit Awasthi - Conservation Officer
Sampatlal Dhurve - Field Assistant

April highlights:

· Two shramdhaans for water conservation – cleaning of soak pits

· One waterhole dug at Chapri, which can be used by small animals, domestic livestock and birds for

· Four anti-plastic campaigns, including one in which Forest Department staff participated

· Water pots put up for birds in 2 villages

· Two nature trails

· Assisted Forest Department in fighting fires in forest on 2 occasions

· 2 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally

· 8 film shows on wildlife and nature, attended by 434 people

Conservation:

With the start of the summer months, forest fires have become a major hazard. As part of our conservation efforts, our team assisted the Forest Department by conveying information to them about fires in the forest and also by assisting them in fighting fires on 2 occasions.

On April 16, Amit Awasthi noticed smoke rising from the jungle near Batwar Ghat. He called up the local forest Department staff and started fighting the fire in the meantime. Subsequently, 8 local Forest Dept staff joined in the fire-fighting.

On April 18, Amit and Sampath were returning from Samaiya village, where they had motivated the villagers to put up pots with water for birds to drink from. Around 4 kms from Samaiya, they noticed a big fire in the forest, which was beyond their ability to fight. Amit called up the local forest guard and informed him of the fire and its location.

As part of an ongoing programme during the summer months, we organised awareness programmes in all villages in our area of operations to explain to villagers the causes of forest fires, how these can be contained and the duty of villagers in tackling this danger to the environment.

Our team has also been motivating villagers to put up pots with water for birds to quench their thirst in the hot summer months. This programme is an ongoing one in all the villages in our area of operations.

On April 7, Conservation officer Amit Awasthi and field assistant Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 11 students of Government Primary & Middle School, Patpara in a programme to clean the surroundings next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. The area had become a mini-swamp, with stagnant water providing a breeding place for mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleaned up the area of litter and debris which were clogging the canals dug to drain water away and also cleaned up the adjoining soak pit.

A similar programme was organised on April 29 at Chapri in which 12 students from Government Primary School and Employment Guarantee Scheme School from the village joined hands with our team.

On April 8, we organised an anti-plastic campaign in Bhagpur in which plastic litter and waste was picked up from all over the village and buried in a pit. 13 students from EGS School, Bhagpur joined hands with Amit and Sampath in the programme.

Similar programmes were organised at Dhamangaon, Sautiya and Chapri. In the programmes at Sautiya and Chapri, staff from the Forest Department joined us.

Litter picked up during anti-plastic drive in Chapri

On April 3, Sampath led 12 students of GPS, Dhamangaon on a nature trail through the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Sampath talked to the children about nature and wildlife and the need for conservation.

On April 16, a similar programme was held at Patpara for 14 students of the Govt Primary School. Amit led this trail.

Field Assistant Sampath Dhurve talks to children of Patpara during a nature trail

On April 9, we organised a programme to dig a small waterhole under a tree near the Forest Dept.’s local office at Chapri. The waterhole will be useful for birds and monkeys.

Employment Cell:

Two youths were placed in local jobs.

Education Van:

A total of 8 film shows took place between April 13 and April 15.

May highlights:

· Cleaning of surroundings next to hand pump at Sautiya

· Cleaning of surroundings next to well at Batwar

· Programmes conducted in 4 villages to train villagers to make smokeless chullahs

· Two nature trails

· Two anti-plastic campaigns

· Water pots put up for birds in 4 villages

· 2 unemployed youths assisted in getting jobs locally

Conservation:

Our team organised a community meeting on May 28 at Chapri which was attended by the Sarpanch

of the local Gram Panchayat, local officials of the Agriculture Department and Ajeewika and around 30 villagers.

The meeting discussed conservation activities which are to be taken up, plantation programme for the monsoon, the schemes of the Agriculture Department and other issues that the villagers are facing.

Community meeting on conservation and development issues, Chapri

Our team has been motivating villagers to put up pots with water for birds to quench their thirst in the hot summer months. This programme is an ongoing one in all the villages in our area of operations. In May, around 35 pots were put up in Samaiya, Dhamangaon, Chapri and Manegaon.

On May 16, Conservation officer Amit Awasthi and field assistant Sampathlal Dhurve led a team of 6 students of Government Primary School, Batwar and 8 unemployed youths in a programme to clean the surroundings next to a well used to draw drinking water. The area had become like a swamp, with stagnant water providing a breeding place for mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleaned up the area of litter and debris which were clogging the canals dug to drain water away and also cleaned up the adjoining soak pit.

A similar programme was organised on May 24 at Sautiya in which 10 students from Government Primary School in the village joined hands with our team to clean up the surroundings next to a hand pump.

On May 11, we organised an anti-plastic campaign in Samaiya in which plastic litter and waste was picked up from all over the village and buried in a pit. 13 students from the Education Guarantee Scheme School in the village joined hands with Amit and Sampath in the programme.

A similar programme was organised on May 13 at Manegaon in which 11 students joined with our team.

On May 8, our team led 12 students of GPS, Batwar on a nature trail through the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Amit and Sampath talked to the children about nature and wildlife and the need for conservation.

On May 22, a similar programme was held at Chapri for 9 students of the GPS and EGS.

Our team also organised a visit of village children to a nursery at Chapri on May 27. The visit helped the children understand how saplings are nursed and how they eventually become full-grown trees and plants. The nursery was set up by local village youths with assistance from the Forest Department.

During the month, we conducted awareness programmes about smokeless chullahs or stoves. These stoves will result in lower smoke and will also require less wood for burning. Ajeewika, a MP government agency for rural livelihoods, will provide some material assistance to the villagers in making these stoves. Along with Ajeewika, we selected 4 women, 2 each from Manegaon and Chapri, to attend a training programme on smokeless chullahs at Nainpur. The programme was funded by Ajeewika. These women, on their return, trained local villagers in making the smokeless chullahs. A total of around 150 such chullahs have been made so far in Manegaon, Patpara, Sautiya and Chapri.

Employment Cell:

2 youths were placed in local jobs.

Santosh Yadav of Dhamangaon, who got a job with our assistance

Satpura Tiger Reserve - April 2011 Updates

2011-06-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

Vikram Parte and Umashankar Yadav – Field assistants

April Highlights

Six shramdhaans for water conservation –2 bori bandhaans for check dams, 4 soak pits dug
Programmes to create awareness about forest fires in 9 villages
Classroom visits to 18 schools to give lecture on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 690 students
Total of 5 unemployed youths placed in jobs at Jabalpur

Conservation:

During April, we organised 6 shramdhaans to promote water conservation

- On April 13, field assistant Vikram Parte led a team of 21 students of Government Primary School, Suplai in a shramdhaan to build a stop/check dam on a stream in the jungle around 1-2 kms from the village. The resultant water body will provide water to wildlife. Spotted deer have been spotted in this area.

- On April 17, Conservation Officer Ashfaq Aarbi led a team of 48 students from Government Middle School, Anjandana to build a check dam on a stream in the forest around 2 km from the village. The resultant water body will recharge the water table and also provide water to wildlife and domestic livestock. Gaur have been spotted in the area.

- On April 10, field assistant Umashankar Yadav led a team of 10 villagers from Kukra village in a shramdhaan to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. This will help recharge the water table.

- On April 12, field assistant Vikram Parte led a team of 12 students of Government Primary School, Sakai in a shramdhaan to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. This will help recharge the water table.

- On April 17, Umashankar Yadav led a team of 15 villagers from Nandner village in a shramdhaan to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. This will help recharge the water table.

- Separately on April 17, Vikram Parte led a team of 13 students of Government Primary School, Malni in a shramdhaan to dig a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. This will help recharge the water table.

Above, below: Soak pit near government primary school at Sakai, STR

In other conservation-related activities, our team organized programmes in 9 villages to promote awareness about the harmful effects of forest fires and the need for villagers to join in efforts to fight such fires. Local officials from the forest department joined in the programme in one village.

Education:

Our team visited schools in all the 18 villages of our area of operations to give lectures on nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell:

5 youths were provided with jobs thanks to our efforts.

Details of the placement are as follows:

Pench Madhya Pradesh: April and May 2011 Updates

2011-06-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

Team: Anoop Awasthi – Conservation Officer

Niranjan Hinge, Bandu Uikey – Field assistants

April Highlights

1 shramdhaan for cleaning of well at Satosha
Two bird-watching trails for children of Satosha and Turia
Conducted unemployed youth survey in 7 villages
2 unemployed youths provided with jobs through our assistance
2 medical camps -- treated 67 patients

Conservation

Our team organised a shramdhaan in Satosha on April 20 to clean a well used to draw drinking water. The well had become clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris. Conservation Officer Anoop Awasthi and field assistant Niranjan Hinge led a team of 7 villagers in a programme to clean the well and make it fit for use again.

On April 18, Niranjan Hinge led 11 children from Satosha village on a bird-watching trail in the jungle near the village. Hinge, a former guide at Pench National Park, talked to the children about birds, their role in nature and the need for conservation.

A similar trail was organised on April 29 for 6 children of Turia village.

Employment Cell:

During the month our team assisted two unemployed youths in getting jobs locally.

Mobile Health Unit:

We assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in holding two medical camps in April.

May Highlights:

1 shramdhaan for creating a water hole for domestic livestock at Turia
One bird-watching trail for children of Turia
Assisted in fighting fire in forest near Kumbhpani
Updated data on unemployed youths in 7 villages
10 medical camps -- treated 458 patients

Conservation:

Our team organised a shramdhaan on May 22 to create a water hole for domestic livestock on the outskirts of Turia village. There is a leakage from underground pipes which take water from a bore well to an overhead storage tank at Turia. As a result, the area around the bore well had become swampy with stagnant water. Our team organised a shramdhaan to clean the area and dig a waterhole so that the water collects in it and domestic livestock can drink from it. Four unemployed youths joined hands with Anoop Awasthi and Niranjan Hinge in the programme.

Above: The waterhole before the shramdaan

On May 1, while running a health camp at Kumbhpani, we received information that there was a fire in the jungle around half a kilometer from the village. Niranjan left the camp in the charge of the rest of our team and went to assist in fighting the fire. Two local Forest Department staff were already engaged in fighting the fire. It took around 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.

On May 20, Niranjan Hinge led 8 children from Turia village on a bird-watching trail in the jungle near the village. Hinge, a former guide at Pench National Park, talked to the children about birds, their role in nature and the need for conservation.

Employment Cell:

During the month, our team updated details of unemployed youths in 7 villages – Turia, Awarghani, Potiya, Durgapur, Kohoka, Aamajhari and Tuyepani.

Mobile Health Unit:

We assisted Nature Conservation Society, Amravati in holding 10 medical camps in May.

Pench Maharashtra: April and May 2011 Updates

2011-06-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Team: Anoop Awasthi - Conservation Officer
Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar - Field Assistants

April highlights:

· 1 shramdaan (voluntary work) to construct waterhole for birds at Ghoti

· Shramdaan for cleaning surroundings next to well at Ghoti

· Shramdaan for cleaning of well at Ghatpendari

· 1 anti-plastic campaign at Ghatpendari

· Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrol once

· Awareness programme on forest fires and on functioning of Van Samiti

· Assisted 5 unemployed youths in getting jobs

· Tribal dance group of Sawara earned Rs 4,500/- in April

· 6 girls sent to beautician’s training programme at Nagpur

· 6 medical camps – 215 patients treated

Conservation work:

On April 11, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar organised a shramdaan programme at Ghoti to dig a small waterhole for birds. The waterhole was dug on the outskirts of the village and 15 children from the village joined Dilip in the task.

On April 15, Bandu and Anoop Awasthi organized a shramdaan to clean a well at Ghatpendari used to draw drinking water. The well had become clogged with stones, broken bottles and other debris. As a result the well was not being used. Bandu led a team of 12 unemployed youths in cleaning the well and it is now usable for drawing drinking water.

Well-cleaning in progress, Ghatpendari

Material taken out of well during clean-up, Ghatpendari

On the same day, Anoop and Bandu also led a team of 10 unemployed youths on a programme to clear the campus of a local school (anganwadi) of plastic litter and waste. The team also cleared the road in front of the school as part of our programme to promote public hygiene and cleanliness.

Separately on April 15, our team organised a programme at Ghatpendari to promote awareness about forest fires and the damage caused by such fires. The meeting was also addressed by Shri Khante, Round Officer. Two forest guards, Munde and Chavan, were also at the meeting. Our team also spoke to the gathering about the functioning of the Van Samiti (Forest Committees) and the benefits of an effective and pro-active Committee.

Awareness programme on forest fires, Ghatpendari

On April 17, field assistant Bandu Uikey joined 2 staff of the Forest Department and 4 villagers on an anti-poaching patrol in the forest near Ghatpendari on the way to Dhatijhera.

On April 23, Anoop and Bandu led a team of 15 unemployed youths of Ghatpendari village in a programme to clean a well of debris and litter. Water from the well, which was earlier used for washing and cleaning purposes, can now be used for drinking.

On April 25, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar led a team of 20 villagers from Ghoti to clean surroundings next to a well used to draw drinking water. The area had become swampy due to spillover water. The team dug a canal to drain away the stagnant water and removed dirt and waste material lying around.

Cleaning area next to well, Ghoti

With the onset of summer heat, forest fires became an increasing hazard in the dry, deciduous forests of central India. Our Pench team assisted in fighting one such fire. On April 2, Turia-based field assistant Niranjan Hinge and Mumbai-based volunteer Kirti Chavan were returning to Turia village from Sawara where Kirti had conducted a module in IT education for the village school teachers. Near Bandra village on NH7, around 5 kms from Deolapar, they noticed a fire in the forest. They both started to fight the fire. While they were engaged in this work, 4 fire-watchers from the Forest Department joined them and, together, put out the fire.

Employment Cell:

Five village youths got jobs with the Forest Department through our assistance. Our team is in constant touch with local Dept officials to find out vacancies for temporary jobs which arise periodically such as fire-watchers and patrollers. We informed local village youths of the vacancies and took them to the Department. Five youths got jobs through this effort.

Below: A tribal dance group that we had helped set up at Sawara earned Rs 4,500 in April through two dance performances, one at Resort Tiger Safari (Pench).

During the month, our team also updated details of unemployed youths in 10 villages to assist us in better planning our strategy of providing alternative livelihood options to villages.

Our team also motivated and selected 6 girls to attend a beautician’s training programme in Nagpur. The programme, which was for one month, started on April 2. It was run by Bank of Maharashtra’ Self-Employment Training Institute (M-Seti) and was free for the participants.

In April, we also arranged for a follow-up training programme on honeybee rearing at Sawara. The first programme was conducted in December 2010. In April, the trainers from KVIC visited the village to clarify any doubts that the trainees had and also to ensure that the trainees were employing the skills taught to them.

Certificate awarded to successful trainees in honeybee rearing programme, Sawra

May highlights:

· 1 shramdhaan to construct waterhole for domestic livestock at Ghoti

· Shramdaan for cleaning well at Ghatpendari

· 1 shramdaan to clean a waterhole in jungle near Ghatpendari

· Assisted in fighting fire in forest near Ghatpendari

· Field assistant Bandu Uikey joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols twice

· Awareness programme at Ghoti on forest fires and organic farming – programme organized jointly with Agriculture Department

· Assisted 2 unemployed youths in getting jobs at Nagpur

· Updated details of unemployed youths in 8 villages

· Tribal dance group of Sawara earned Rs 3,000 in May

· Retail garments business earned Rs 3,000 in May

· 6 medical camps – 258 patients treated

Conservation work:

On May 8, field assistant Bandu Uikey joined 2 staff of the Forest Department and 2 villagers on an anti-poaching patrol in the forest near Ghatpendari.

A similar patrol was done on May 22, in which Bandu joined 3 others – 2 staff of the Forest Department and 1 villager.

On May 12, villagers at Ghatpendari noticed smoke rising from the forest. 12 members of the Van Samiti and Bandu rushed to the spot around 4 kms from the village where they found a large fire raging. It took the whole team around 3 hours to bring the fire under control.

On the same day, Bandu also organised a shramdaan to clean a waterhole in the forest around 7 kms from Ghatpendari at a place known as Uskaalghat. Pug marks of tiger and leopard have been spotted at the waterhole, according to Forest Department staff. Three staff of the Forest Department and 2 villagers joined Bandu and Anoop in the activity.

On May 19, field assistant Dilip Lanjewar organised a programme to create a waterhole for domestic livestock at Ghoti. Spillover water from an overhead tank turned the area below into slush. Our team realised that by cleaning up this area and by digging a pit, a waterhole could be created for the village’s animals. Dilip got a team of 20 villagers including school children and unemployed youths to participate in the programme.

Above: Waterhole construction in progress, Ghoti

Above: Waterhole completed, Ghoti

Local officials of the Agriculture Department approached Satpuda Foundation for assistance in holding a meeting at Ghoti to promote awareness of new, improved farming techniques and about Government schemes for farmers. Our team suggested that the occasion should also be used to promote awareness about organic farming and the harmful effects of forest fires and the need for villagers to take precautions against fires. A joint programme was held on the night of May 20 and 98 villagers participated. The Agriculture Department showed a film about organic farming during the programme.

Above, below: Awareness programme on organic farming and forest fires, attended by 98 villagers - organized by SF and the Agriculture Department at Ghoti

On May 26, Bandu organised a shramdhaan to clean a well at Ghatpendari used to draw drinking water. The well had become clogged with stones, broken bottles and other debris. Bandu led a team of 10 unemployed youths in cleaning the well and it is useable for drawing drinking water.

Well-cleaning in progress at Ghatpendari

Employment Cell:

Two unemployed youths were placed in jobs at Nagpur through our assistance. A friend of Dilip had told him about vacancies at a company called Bio-Tech private Company Ltd. Dilip arranged for 2 youths from his village to go to Nagpur for the jobs.

Below: A tribal dance group that we had helped set up at Sawara earned Rs 3,000 in May through two dance performances.

Above, below: Asha Madavi, of Ghatpendari, shows off beautician's skills acquired with our help

Jhagdu Uikey, who started retail trade in garments with our assistance and guidance, earned Rs 3,000 in May.

During the month, our team also updated details of unemployed youths in 8 villages to assist us in better planning our strategy of providing alternative livelihood options to villages. The villages are – Ghoti, Pipariya, Zinzeriya, Sawara, Usaripar, Kadbikheda, Ghatpendari, and Kirangisara.

Rigorous protection needed for wild buffaloes

2011-06-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sighting of 8 wild buffaloes thrills wildlife experts

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN Jun 19, 2011, 09.10pm IST

At a time when wild buffaloes are going extinct, the sighting of eight buffaloes in the Kamalapur forest range under the Sironcha division in Gadchiroli district has reignited the demand to declare the area as a buffalo sanctuary.

Wild buffaloes, the third biggest mammals on land after elephants and rhinos, are facing extinction and are a step away from the point of no return. Rigorous steps are needed to protect them. The species is also listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

The eight buffaloes were sighted on Friday in two groups by veteran wildlife expert from Gadchiroli Mahendrasingh Chouhan. The animals were found in compartment number 17 and 12 in Kolamarka and Kamalapur forests respectively. The good news is that the group contained two calfs, indicating there was breeding of wild buffaloes.

Call for more scientific and technically advanced approach for road widening

2011-06-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

"Protect wildlife interest in NH6 widening"

Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN June 20, 2011

NAGPUR: Ahead of Monday's meeting to discuss mitigation measures for wildlife on National Highway 6 between Deori and Sakoli, Kishor Rithe, member, National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), has called for more scientific and technically advanced approach to deal with the road widening issue in view of tiger crisis.

In a letter to S K Khetarpal, PCCF (wildlife), Rithe said the issue was serious and needed to be resolved for ensuring tiger landscape connectivity in Central India. Looking at the corridor value of the patches between Sakoli and Deori which would be cut by widening work, on October 8, 2010, an expert committee had made certain recommendations.

However, NHAI seems to be underestimating the seriousness of the threat to wildlife, specially the tiger. Wildlife and NHAI officials will discuss the issue on Monday. Khetarpal has to send his comments to the NTCA on the NHAI report.

Rithe said large and wide-ranging carnivores faced huge threat and more constant declines than most other mammals. One of the reasons is linear intrusion like canals, roads and highways constructed without consideration of biological aspects.

Tiger scientist like Dr Alan Rabinowitz suggests GIS based models for identifying corridors and later designing site-specific plans to deal with the linear intrusion issues. "When National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) are working on such policies, states also need to take such issues more seriously. Hence, I really appreciate the efforts put by your office to ensure this," said Rithe.

In the US, the government departments have adopted an integrated approach to reduce the negative impact of projects on wildlife. "I expect that NHAI consultant should focus on target species in the area and using GIS and biological inputs, should produce more practical and site specific mitigation report," urged Rithe. "If it is not so, your office should not allow such project to come up," he demanded.

The Wildilife Trust of India (WTI) was first to raise the issue and has taken up the matter with the Supreme Court's centrally empowered committee (CEC). An affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government recently demanded construction of flyovers in the affected patch on their side.

Good news!

2011-06-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Times of India Nagpur

Fire incidents dip in the Melghat Tiger Reserve

TNN Jun 20, 2011, 05.12am IST