Activity Updates May 2015: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights

·      9 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – built 1 check dam, 6 water bodies cleaned and 2 soak pits dug

·      18 awareness programmes on need to provide water for birds and putting up of  600  water pots/containers

·      8 awareness programmes on forest fires

·      Organized 11 nature trails for village school children – attended by  226 students

·      Celebrated International Bio-diversity Day at Matkuli

·      Medical camps in 5 villages - 158 patients treated.

·      Organized 5 meetings in villages scheduled for relocation to help villagers understand issues

·      Organized the lantana training programme at Matkuli

·      Visit to check on status of 4 villages which have already been relocated

Conservation

During May, we organized 9 programmes related to water conservation.

On May 16, we organized a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School (GPS), Mohgaon. 9 villagers 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 at GPS, Mehandikheda on May 18.

On May 19, we organized a programme to clean three water bodies in the jungle around 4 km from Pisuwa village. The water bodies, which are located around 200 metres from each other, were covered with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of field assistant Hameed Khan and 24 adult villagers from Pisuwa village, cleared the litter and made the water bodies accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly spotted around these water bodies while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears and leopards. 

On May 21, we organized a similar programme to clean two more water bodies in the jungle around 3 km from Pisuwa village.

On May 23, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream around 3.5 km from Almod village. A team comprising of 7 adult villagers, 17 students from the village and Ashfaq built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit domestic livestock in the day time and wildlife at nights. Spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area. Photos below.

On May 24, we organized a programme to clean a water body in the jungle around 2 km from Almod village. The water body, which is located in the buffer zone, was covered with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of Ashfaq Aarbi and 19 adults from Almod village, cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly spotted around the water body while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears and leopards.

      

Our teams work across the landscape to provide water to birds during the scorching summer. Our team motivated villagers in Tekapar, Chirrai, Khari, Chillod, Chandanpipariya, Maili, Pisuwa, Bindakheda, Mohgaon, Matkuli, Mehandikheda, Almod, Khanchari, Karer, Aaditoriya, Jhirpa, Dundi and Bandhaan, to put up around 600 small containers with water around the villages and their outskirts for birds to quench their thirst. Photos below.

Matkuli

Mehandikheda

During the month, our team also organized 8 programmes in villages to promote awareness about forest fires and the need for everyone to join hands in fighting fires. In 3 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers. The details are given in the table below.

Education  

During the month, our team organized 11 nature trails for students to educate them about nature and wildlife conservation.

Celebration of International Biodiversity day

On May 22, we organized functions to celebrate the International Bio-diversity Day at Matkuli and Mehandikheda. This programme was attended by Shri Kamal Kishore Pal (Sarpanch of Matkuli), Shri L.K. Shukla, Deputy Ranger (Matkuli), villagers of Mohgaon and Matkuli and forest staff in buffer area. The programmes were organized jointly by Satpuda Foundation and M P Biodiversity Board.

To celebrate the occasion, a total of 7 films on nature and wildlife were screened at Mohgaon, Matkuli, Mehandikheda, Tekapar, Jhirpa, Chirrai and Chillod. A total of 612 adults and children attended. Photos of some of the events below.

Film show at Mohgaon

Mehandikheda celebrations

Jhirpa film screening

Biodiversity Management Committee members meet at Matkuli

Matkuli celebrations

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organizes medical camps 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 May.

Matkuli free health camp

Villagers register for free treatment at Matkuli

Employment Cell

During the month, our team organized meetings with unemployed youths in 2 villages to discuss livelihood options with them.

The details are given in the table below.

Chirrai: Employment Cell Officer Ajay Podar discusses livelihood options
with unemployed young villagers

Training programme

Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, Bhopal, organized a programme to train villagers to make products from lantana such as furniture and fancy items. They invited us to send 20 candidates from villages in our area of operations to be trained as carpenters. We identified 20 villagers from villages in the Matkuli cluster and sent them for the 14-day programme, which started on May 30.  The entire cost of the programme is being borne by Madhya Pradesh State Biodiversity Board. Photos below.

Proposed relocation

Our team organized meetings of the residents of Chakar, Muhar, and Ghoghri 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.

Of these, the process of identifying villagers eligible for relocation assistance was completed in Jamandhonga, Muhar and Ghoghri on May 2 and 25 respectively.