The City-dweller and the Tiger: February 2011 Update: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Team:

Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

Vikram Parte and Umashankar Yadav – Field Assistants

Highlights:

Six shramdaans for water conservation – two bori bandhaans to create stop dams and four soak pits
Classroom visits to 18 schools to give lecture on nature and wildlife conservation, attended by 771 students
Total of 4 unemployed youths placed in jobs at Bhopal and Hoshangabad
Workshop on grading of SHGs and training in food processing and livelihood programmes covering five villages of Matkuli cluster
Education van programme – film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in 8 villages, attended by 699 people

Conservation:

During February, we organized 6 shramdaans to promote water conservation:

- On February 15, Field Assistant Vikram Parte led a team of 50 students Government Primary and Middle Schools, Podar in a shramdaan to build a stop/check dam on a stream in the jungle around 2 kms from Podar village. The resultant water body will provide water to wildlife. Spotted deer are regularly spotted in this area.

- On February 18, a shramdaan was organised at Dhargaon in which 16 students from the village’s Government Primary School joined hands with Field Assistant Umashankar Yadav to build a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. The overflow water from the pump will flow into the soak pit and help recharge the water table.

- On February 19, Umashankar Yadav led a team of 13 villagers of Mallupura in shramdaan to build a soak pit next to a hand pump. The overflow water from the pump will flow into the soak pit and help recharge the water table.

- On February 26, Conservation Officer Ashfaq Aarbi led a team of 70 students and 2 teachers from Government Middle School, Anjandana to build a check dam on a stream in the forest around 3 km from the village in compartment number 399. The resultant water body will recharge the water table and also provide water to wildlife as well as domestic livestock. Gaur has been sighted in the area.

- On February 27, a shramdaan was organized at Birjikhapa. 19 students from the village’s Government Primary School teamed up with Field Assistant Umashankar Yadav to build a soak pit next to a hand pump used to draw drinking water. The overflow water from the pump will flow into the soak pit and help recharge the water table.

- On February 28, Ashfaq Aarbi led a team of 18 students from Government Primary School, Kukra in a shramdaan to build a soak pit next to a hand pump.

Above: Forest guard Amule lends a helping hand building a stop dam near Anjandana, Satpura Tiger Reserve

Above: Headmaster of Government Middle School, Anjandana, works with colleagues to build the stop dam

Above: Shri L K Shukla, Deputy Ranger at stop dam near Anjandana

Above, below: Shramdaan volunteers pose proudly at the site after their efforts!

EPCO Workshop on biodiversity conservation:

In other conservation-related activities, Ashfaq Aarbi participated in a workshop on February 24 on biodiversity conservation in the Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, organized by Environment Planning and Co-ordination Organization (EPCO). Satpuda Foundation has been selected by EPCO to conduct awareness programmes on biodiversity conservation in 7 villages of Satpura Tiger Reserve where we work. Dr. Ravi Upadhyay, of the Department of Botany of Government Narmada College, Hoshangabad, also delivered a lecture at the workshop. Dr R.P Singh, of EPCO, who is in charge of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, also participated.

Dr. Ravi Upadhyay, of the Department of Botany of Government Narmada College, Hoshangabad, speaks at a workshop on Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Education:

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

Above, below: Ashfaq Aarbi talks about conservation to students of Government Middle School, Anjandana, Satpura Tiger Reserve

Employment Cell:

4 youths were provided with jobs thanks to our efforts.

Details of the placement are as follows:

Training:

Janpath Panchayat, Pipariya, organized a 5-day training workshop at which Self-Help Groups (SHGs) were given Grade I and Grade II ratings, based on their status. Grade I certification makes a SHG eligible for Rs 25,000 assistance (revolving fund) from nationalized banks. A Grade II certification makes the SHG eligible for a loan of Rs 300,000 to Rs 400,000, provided they have repaid the revolving fund assistance of Rs 25,000.

Janpath Panchayat approached Satpuda Foundation to identify SHGs for the workshop. We sent 5 SHGs from our area of operations to the workshop. The workshop was held on February 23-27.