Activity Update April 2014: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Team:

Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation officer

Highlights

·      Assisted in fighting fires in forest on 3 occasions

·      Organized village meetings at  Nayakheda and Parraspani on relocation

·      Putting up of pots for drinking water for birds at Nayakheda

·      5 awareness programmes on forest fires in Matkuli and

Pachmarhi clusters

·      3 unemployed youths identified for making bags

·      Organized visit of unemployed villagers to Kuwabadla to see how lantana products are made

·      Prepared village profile of 11 villages in buffer zone, Pachmarhi range

·      Visit to Birjikhapa to follow up on status of relocated villagers 

Conservation

With the onset of summer, forest fires are a major hazard in the dry, deciduous forests across the landscape. Wherever possible, our teams make it their top priority to assist in fighting fires. During April, Ashfaq assisted in fighting fires on 3 occasions – at Mehandikheda (April 18 in different compartments) and at Raikheda on April 30.

At Mehandikheda

During the month, Ashfaq also organized 5 programmes in villages to promote awareness about forest fires and the need for everyone to join hands in fighting fires. In 2 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers.

Our teams also work across the landscape to provide water to birds during the scorching summer. Ashfaq motivated villagers in Nayakheda to put up small containers with water around the village and its outskirts for birds to quench their thirst.

Preparing water pots at Nayakheda

The other major work during April was related to relocation of villages from Satpura Tiger Reserve.  On April 29, Ashfaq organized a meeting of the residents of Parraspani and Nayakheda villages to discuss relocation-related issues. Shri L.K. Shukla (Dep Ranger) and Shri Chain Singh Dhurve (Dep Ranger) participated in this programme. Ashfaq was asked to organize this meeting by R P Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Satpura Tiger Reserve.

On April 30, Ashfaq led the villagers to a proposed relocation site at Tekapaar. Earlier Ashfaq had already taken the villagers to 2 other proposed relocation sites at Baridevi and Amadehi on April 24.

Field Director R P Singh had identified 10 new villages in the Pachmarhi range and 7 new villages in Denwa range where he wants Satpuda Foundation to engage in grassroots conservation work. Ashfaq has started to prepare village profiles and will start work on socio-economic surveys of these villages.

Environment education

There were no programmes as schools were shut for the annual summer holiday.

Education Van

There were no programmes as schools were shut for the annual summer holiday.

Employment Cell

During the month, Ashfaq explained the potential for earning additional income by making and selling re-usable bags from waterproof material to some residents of Matkuli. They were asked to make samples and will be assisted with market linkages once they are able to make products of the right quality.

Details of the villagers that Ashfaq spoke to:

Matkuli - villagers stitching bags following our sample

Ashfaq took Keshav Kahar, a resident of Matkuli,  to Kuwabadla, a village around 50 km from Matkuli, where the Forest Department has organized villagers to make and sell products from lantana. Keshav has shown interest in taking up this work at Matkuli.