The City-dweller and the Tiger: Acitivity Update December 2013: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

· Awareness programmes on improved stove which reduces firewood consumption – attended by more than 60 families

· One voluntary work project to repair a dam on Chichban Nullah in West Pench

· One voluntary work project to build a mud dam on Becgha Nullah

· One voluntary work project to build a check dam using sand-filled bags

· Field assistants Bandu Uikey and Dilip Lanjewar joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols seven times

· 10 medical camps – 390 patients treated

· Environment education programme in 14 villages in which we addressed 360 students

· Seven film shows on nature and wildlife – viewed by 406 students

· Assisted 4 unemployed youths to get temporary employment

· Organized village meeting at Ghoti to motivate villagers to form Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)

Conservation

On December 11, 12 and 13 Field Assistant Dilip Lanjewar and Asst. Conservation Officer Saket Agasti organized demonstrations of an improved stove. This stove uses around half the firewood consumed by older versions being currently used by villagers. It also emits less smoke. Women from the villages liked the idea and are willing to use the new stove. Village eco-development committees (VEDCs) of Sillari, Wagholi and Khapa have said they will assist in the shift to the new stoves. Introduction of such stoves will reduce firewood consumption, reducing pressure on forests.

Sillari - demonstration of the stove that burns less firewood

Demonstration of the stove in Wagholi

On December 18, Bandu Uikey assisted in repair of a dam on Chichban Nullah in West Pench, around 1 km from Narhar. A gap had opened in the dam as the gate, used to hold back the water, is missing. Our team blocked the gap with stones, mud and other material available locally. Within 2 hours of repair, the dam reservoir was filled completely. Excess water will flow over the top of the dam.

Photos below.

On December 21, a mud dam was built on Becgha canal in Narhar beat in West Pench. This dam creates a water body which will serve as water source for wild animals in summer. There are very few such water bodies left by late summer in the area. Photos below.

On December 29, Dilip Lanjewar organized a programme to build a small check dam near Khapa out of sand-filled bags. This dam will help in retaining water in the area in summer. This water body is used by both domestic and wild animals. The team which built the dam included Forest Guard Mr. Thakre, VEDC members and villagers. Photos below.

On December 14, 25, 26, 29, Dilip Lanjewar assisted in community patrolling programmes in Khapa, Wagholi, Sillari villages. Tiger pug marks were seen near Khapa and Sillari villages. Local officials of the Forest Department were informed about the pug marks.

On December 8, 11, 22, Bandu Uikey joined similar community patrolling programmes in West Pench Range.

VEDC community patrolling in Khapa

VEDC community patrolling in Ghatpendari

Environmental Education Programmes

In December, our team conducted environment education programmes in 14 schools in our area of operations.

Students at Ghoti

Dilip and Bandu took students from Ghoti (on December 22) and Kirangisarra (on December 26) respectively on nature trails. They explained to students how to identify pug marks of various wild animals in the area. Most of the time, animals are rarely sighted so identification through pug marks was a novel experience for the students. Our team also taught children how to identify some of the local medicinal plants and their uses. Photos below.

Employment Cell

We recommended 4 village boys to the Forest department for employment on a temporary basis. All 4 are placed in Forest department for three months. Thanks to Bandu’s regular interaction with Forest Department officials, he got to know of vacancies and helped identify suitable local candidates for the jobs.