Activity Update May 2017: Pench Maharashtra

Highlights:

Chargaon: Conservation rally on International Biodiversity Day

Ghoti: Field Assistant Dilip Lanjewar helps villagers put up
water pots for birds

Khapa - cleaning a forest water hole

Kolitmara - volunteers clean plastic trash from the jungle
on International Biodiversity Day

 

Sawara: Nature education for village children

Sawara: Nature education class with Field Assistant Dilip Lanjewar

Wagholi - villagers join us on patrol of the buffer forest

THE FULL REPORT

Team: Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey – Conservation Officer

            Balkrishna Bagmare, Dilip Lanjewar – Field assistants

Highlights

·      Celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2017 on May 22

·      One water hole cleaned, with 15 youths from Khapa volunteering

·      Dilip led one foot patrol each near Khapa and Wagholi, total of 10 villagers volunteered

·      Bandu joined Special Tiger Protection Force on foot patrol once

·      3 nature trails organised for village children, a total of 37 children participated

·      Installed water pots for birds in Ghoti, Wagholi and Sawara villages, 25 children and villagers volunteered

·      Dilip organised meeting for farmers of Usripar, informed them about eco-friendly and cost effective techniques of organic farming 

Conservation

On May 23, Mandar Pingle and Dilip Lanjewar led a team of 15 members of Vyaghra Mitra Mandal of Khapa village to join 2 staff members of the Forest Department in a programme to clean a waterhole in Bakhari beat in core area of Pench Tiger Reserve. Leaves and other organic matter had clogged the waterhole, making it difficult for wildlife to drink. Dilip demonstrated the use of litmus paper to the Forest Department staff to check the water holes for poisoning. After our programme, the water hole is being used by wild life for drinking once again.

On May 24, Dilip Lanjewar led a team of 5 Village Eco-development Committee (VEDC) members from Wagholi village on a foot patrol in the forest area near their village. The VEDC members were on the look-out for signs of any illegal tree felling or poaching during the patrol. No indications of illegal activities were detected during the patrol.

The team also checked for signs of wildlife presence in the area in the form of pugmarks, scat or dung. The signs suggested that wildlife, including tigers, passed through the area. Dilip asked the villagers to take appropriate steps to avoid any conflict with wildlife and to keep a vigil for any illegal activities.

A similar patrol was organised by Dilip on May 15 along with 5 VEDC members of Khapa village. These community-based patrols are supplemental to the regular patrols by the Forest Department.

During the summer season, these patrol teams also look out for any forest fires.

Bandu Uikey joined staff of Special Tiger Protection Force on a night patrol in Bodkimatta beat on May 7.

Every year, at the onset of summer season, central Indian landscape witnesses a steep rise in farm and forest fires. Most of these fires are man-made.

On May 20, Dilip Lanjewar organised a meeting for farmers from Usripar village. During the meeting, Dilip made the farmers aware about ill-effects of forest fires and burning of farm waste.

He informed them that by burning farm waste, useful microorganisms like earthworms in the fertile layer of the soil are killed unnecessarily. Burning the farm waste also leads to loss of moisture from the top layer of soil leading to increased rate of soil erosion. Dilip explained to the farmers that instead of burning the farm waste, they can turn the farm waste into organic compost in numerous cost effective ways. He also gave detailed information regarding vermi-composting techniques and urged them to implement the same in their farms.

On May 26, Dilip took 15 children from Sawara village on a nature trail in the jungle adjoining the village. On the trail, Dilip identified various species of local flora and fauna and explained the need for conservation to the children. Dilip also played informative nature games with the kids. He then read to them about various birds species from the book titled ‘Olakh Karuya Pakshyanchi’ (Introduction to birds) and gave the kids detailed information on habitats, feeding habits etc of various birds found in the forest close to their village as well as other parts of the landscape.

A similar nature trail was organised by Dilip on May 24 in Khapa village in which 12 children participated and on May 12 for 10 children of Wagholi village.

On May 22, Satpuda Foundation celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2017 in various parts of the buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve.

Dilip Lanjewar, along with Maharashtra Forest Department staff, organised an awareness rally in Sillari, Wagholi and Pipariya villages. A total of 110 villagers of all age groups took part in the rally.

Bandu Uikey and Balkrishna Bagmare encouraged villages from Kolitmara and Chargaon villages respectively to join similar rallies along with Forest Department staff.

Later, Dilip encouraged children from Ghoti, Wagholi and Sawara villages to install water pots for birds. These water pots are a respite for the birds from harsh summer heat. Bandu Uikey also organised an anti-plastic campaign in Kolitmara village in which Forest Department staff and villagers took active part. The collected plastic litter was then disposed of in a landfill.

On May 12, Bandu Uikey organised a meeting in Temburdoh village to inform villagers regarding various issues pertaining to employment opportunities, skill development schemes etc. Bandu also informed villagers regarding cost effective ways to prevent crop damage from wildlife without harming wild animals. He introduced the villagers to the concept of solar fencing for prevention of crop damage.

On May 14, Bandu attended a Village Eco-development Committee (VEDC) meeting in Kolitmara village. During the meeting, Bandu read and explained the government resolution for Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Jan Van Yojna to the villagers. During the meeting, Range Forest Officer for West Range of Pench Tiger Reserve, Mr. Dude and round officer Mr. Sarode were present and addressed queries of the villagers on various issues related to the VEDC.