Activity Update July 2016: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights:

Almod - Dr. Zanzal examines patient at our free medical camp

Chillod - Our field assistant Hameed Khan
conducts environment education programme

Dundi - Check dam built by volunteers

Dundi - Volunteers build check dam

Karer - Dr. Zanzal with patients at our free health camp

Matkuli - Global Tiger Day celebration organized by us in conjunction
with the Forest Department

Mohgaon - Staff and students of village school join in plantation programme

Mohgaon - Students of village school collect saplings distributed by us 

Tekapar - Our field assistant Hameed Khan
conducts environment education programme

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

            Hameed Khan – Field assistant

Highlights

·      5,000 saplings planted in Jhiriya

·      Sapling distribution and plantation in Mohgaon

·      15 awareness programmes on sapling plantation

·      Built  check dam at Dundi

·      Celebrated International Tiger Day at Matkuli

·      Classroom visits to 13 schools as part of our environment education programme – attended by 780 students

·      Prepared 35 loan proposals for lantana trainees at Almod

·      Medical camps in 6 villages - 95 patients treated

·      Visit to check on status of  7 villages which have already been relocated

Conservation

With the monsoon setting in across the landscape, our teams have been working to motivate villagers to plant saplings. In July, Satpuda Foundation and the Forest Department jointly organized the plantation of saplings at Jhiriya village. A total of 5,000 bamboo, karanj, amla and teak saplings were planted with the support of Eco-Development Committee, Jhiriya, and Forest Department staff of Bankhedi Range. The saplings were provided by Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department. Our contribution to the programme was in organizing the ground work of digging pits and planting the saplings through the Eco-Development Committee.

On July 2, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream in the forest around 3.5 km from Dundi village. A team comprising 10 villagers from Dundi and Hameed built the dam. The resultant water body will benefit wildlife. Villagers say that tiger, spotted deer, monkeys and leopards are spotted in the area.

Education

During the month, our team organized 13 lectures to educate students about nature and wildlife conservation.

Employment Cell

During this month, we helped prepare 35 loan proposals for villagers who were trained in making lantana products in a programme organized by us earlier this year. The loan proposals were submitted under Mukhyamantri Aarthik Kalyan Yojana to Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat, Junardeo, Chhindwara District.

International Tiger Day

On July 29, we organized a function to celebrate International Tiger Day at Eco Centre Matkuli. The programme was attended by Mr. Dubey (Professor, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal), Mr. A.K. Mishra (Conservator of Forests), A.D. Yadav (Ass. Director Satpura Tiger Reserve), Lokesh Nirapure (SDO Pipariya), Ashish Khobragade (Range Officer), Mr. Kujur (Project Officer, Centre for Environment Education), all deputy Rangers and Forest Guards of Pachmarhi Range.  Students and staff of various local schools and schools from Pachmarhi also attended, along with villagers and members of Eco Development Committee, Matkuli.

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 management of the Tiger Reserve, are run by the Mobile Health Service (MHS) of Satpuda Foundation. There were health camps in 6 villages in July.