Activity Update March 2015: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights

·      5 water conservation projects during the month – 3 new soak pits built and 2 water bodies cleaned

·      8 awareness programmes on vermi-compost and forest fires

·      Classroom visits to 14 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by  689 students

·      Medical camps in 5 villages - 158 patients treated

·      Village meeting for relocation work

·      Visit to check on status of relocated villages

Conservation

During March, we organized 5 voluntary work programmes related to water conservation.  

On March 13, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School, Tekapar. 12 students from the school joined hands with Ashfaq and Hameed in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump.

On March 20, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School, Pisuwa. 10 students from the school joined hands with Hameed in digging the pit, which will take spillover water from a hand pump on the school premises. The pit will help to recharge the water table around the hand pump. A similar programme was organized on March 29 at the Government Middle School, Pisuwa. Photos below.

On March 27, our team cleared up a water body in the jungle near Chakar which is used mainly by wild animals.

On March 28, our team cleared up a water body in the jungle near Jamandhonga which is used mainly by wild animals.

As part of our efforts to reduce villagers’ dependence on forests for firewood, we organize programmes to promote the use of bio-gas. We also encourage villagers to use vermi-compost to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in areas adjoining wildlife habitats. As part of this strategy, we organized 8 programmes in March to promote the use of vermi-compost and bio-gas. We used the occasion to promote awareness about forest fires – the impact on the forests and wildlife and what villagers should do to help contain the fires. Details are given in the table below.

Education

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 14 schools to educate children about nature and wildlife conservation.

MHS

Satpuda Foundation organizes medical camps across the Satpuda landscape at which villagers get free treatment and medicines. These camps, whose schedule is set in conjunction with the managements of the respective Tiger Reserves, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation.

There were health camps in 5 villages in March.

Employment Cell

Proposed relocation

Our team organized meetings of the residents of Jamandhonga, Chakar, Muhar, Mongra and Raikheda villages to discuss relocation-related issues. Ashfaq was asked to organize these meetings by Shri R.P. Singh (Field Director), and Shri Sanjeev Sharma (Range Officer, Pachmarhi Range), Satpura Tiger Reserve.