Activity Update November 2014: Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Team:

Mukund Dhurve       – Conservation Officer

Jivraj Salam              -   Field assistant

Salimkumar Dhurve – Field assistant

Highlights

·      Organized 11 film shows on wildlife and nature conservation which were attended by 1,553 people

·      Organized 12 medical camps at which  406 patients got free treatment
·      1 water conservation activity – programme to build check dam in compartment no. 108 with Youth Club, Z.P. P.P. Mangezari School and wildlife department.
·      1 programme to clean water hole in the buffer area of Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary in compartment  no. 108 
·      Joined Forest Department staff on 3 patrols
·      1 community assistance voluntary work project – programme to clean area next to hand pump at Bagadhban.
·      1 programme to promote use of a stove which uses less firewood
·      Organized 2 meetings - Mangezari and Kodebarra – to bring together villagers and officials of Forest Department, Agriculture Department,  Veterinary officer and Tribal Development officer
·      Organized 9 education programmes in which 1,253 students participated

Conservation

Our team organized 1 community assistance programme on November 13 to clear the area around a hand pump at Bagadhban. 12 unemployed youths participated in this programme which was led by Mukund and Salimkumar.

In this place, water had spilled over while people drew from the hand pump and had stagnated, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our teams cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug a canal to drain away the water.

Our team joined the Forest Department in day and night patrols on the road from Mangezari to Kodebarra, Mangezari to Jindatola, Mangezari to Bagadhban on November 13, 14, 19.  Patrolling was intensified in the area after a tiger was spotted on October 21 as officials wanted to monitor the movement of the tiger and ensure that it was safe from poachers.

The area is known to attract poachers as power cables are strung on poles erected by the side of the road. In the past, there have been instances of poaching on this road when poachers used hooks and wires to draw power from the cables and killed animals by electrocution. Sometimes, wires are drawn several hundred meters into the jungle from the cables. At least one gaur and one leopard have been killed over the past year, using this method. Besides our staff, volunteers from a youth club at Mangezari also joined in the patrols. The youth club was set up with our assistance and is mentored by Mukund Dhurve.

On November 18, we also organized a patrol in Compartment 108 during which our team

cleaned a water hole in the Compartment. The water body was clogged with organic litter and dust. Our team removed the litter and de-silted the water body.

On November 12, Mukund organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream in Compartment no. 108 in the buffer zone of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. The stream is around 2.5 km from Mangezari and located inside thick jungle.

Leopards, spotted deer, sambhar, wild boars and wild dogs are regularly sighted in this area. 6 youths from the village, 12 students from Zilla Parishad Primary School, Mangezari, 1 Forest Guard and 3 temporary workers of the Forest Department joined Mukund, Salim and Jivraj in the programme.

Most villagers use firewood for cooking. As it is not possible to immediately stop the use of firewood altogether, we have been organizing programmes to promote the use of stoves which use improved technology to reduce the use of firewood.  Experts estimate that the improved stoves reduce the use of firewood by half.

On November 17, we organized a programme at Zilla Primary School, Mangezari, where we demonstrated the working of the stove, known locally as Nirdhur Chula. The school will now use the new stove for making daily mid-day meals for the students.

The Government of Maharashtra has issued the buffer zone notification for the Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve. Following this, doubts have sprung up in the minds of villagers as to how they will be affected by the notification. Due to the doubts, some villagers have started opposing the notification. To clear these doubts and misgiving, we organized two awareness programmes during November. The details are given in the above table.

Education

There were 9 environment education programmes at schools during November.

Education van

There were 11 programmes in the month of November.

Employment Cell activities

There were no placements or training programmes in November.

MHU

There were 12 health camps in November.

Activity Update November 2014: Tadoba

Team:

Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

Highlights

·      2 community assistance voluntary work projects – common areas of village cleaned at Kondegaon and Dewada

·      Anti-plastic programmes in 2 villages – Katwal  and Dewada

·      Follow-up to plantation programmes at Moharli, Bhamdeli and at Chorgaon

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of environment education programme – attended by  311 students

·      Film shows on wildlife conservation in 10 village schools – attended  by 345 students

·      3 youths from Adegaon sent for training in poultry farming at R-Seti, Chandrapur

·      2 visits to check on status of relocated villagers of Jamni and Navegaon   

Conservation  

On November 11, Bandu organized a programme at Kondegaon to clear the area around a well. Water had spilled over while people drew from the well. Over a period of time, this had created a small marshy area, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug a canal to drain away the water. 4 youths from the village and 12 students from the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School joined Bandu in the programme.

Another programme was organized on November 15 at Dewada to clean the area around a hand pump. 5 youths from the village joined Bandu in this programme.

On November 12, Bandu organized an anti-plastic programme at Katwal in which 4 unemployed youths, 2 teachers and 25 students of the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School participated. Bandu explained the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and the need to keep plastic litter and waste buried so that they aren’t blown by the wind into jungle areas. The children first cleared the main road of the village of plastic litter and waste and later cleared the school premises as well. They also cleared the common area of the village.

One other anti-plastic programme was organized at Dewada on November 22.

On November 15, Bandu organized a programme at Moharli to follow up on plantation of saplings done during the monsoon season. This is to ensure that saplings planted during the monsoon are live and have sufficient protection from grazing livestock. 19 students from the village school joined Bandu in the programme.

Two similar programmes were organized at Bhamdeli and Chorgaon on November 16.

Environment Education

During November, Bandu made 10 classroom visits to speak to students of village schools on various aspects of nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

In November, Bandu identified 3 people from Adegaon to attend a training programme in poultry farming organized by Bank of India’s Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (R-Seti) at Chandrapur. The programme lasted from November 20 to 25.  All the expenses of the programme, which was residential, were borne by R-Seti.

R-Seti has been working with Satpuda Foundation to reach out to unemployed youths in our area of operations.

Education Van

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

Kutwanda - Bandu Kumare briefs students before the film screening

MHU

A total of 10 medical camps was organized by us in November.

Junona - Dr Kapil Sekhdar checks a patient at our free medical camp

Jamni & Nawegaon

Bandu made 2 visits to check on the status of villagers relocated from Jamni and Navegaon on November 9-10 and November 23-24 respectively.

There is little employment for the villagers. They are working on farms of neighbouring villages.