Activity Update January 2019: IUCN Project in the Pench-Bor Corridor

Highlights:

Our colleague Mandar conducts nature games to teach conservation concepts

Mandar speaks about tigers at the Tiger Tale
Nature Interpretation Center during our nature camp at Sillari

Bidgaon - Our colleague Nilesh discusses
livelihood issues with members of the Jai Seva SHG

Tembhurdoh - Our colleague Nilesh guides village women
on forming a new Self Help Group

Sillari - A student waters a sapling to inaugurate
our nature camp for the school

Sillari - Students from villages in Pench Bor corridor
learn to spot and identify birds

Students and teachers from villages in the Pench-Bor corridor
who attended our Nature Camp at Sillari

THE FULL REPORT

Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer

Nilesh Telang – Field Assistant

Highlights:

·      Conducted 2 day residential nature education camp in Pench Tiger Reserve – 28 students and 5 teachers participated

·      Organised meeting in Tembhurdoh to form new Self Help Group

·      Organised follow-up meeting of Self Help Group preparing paper bags and cloth bags

·      Provided information regarding skill development trainings organised by Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Nagpur

Activities:   

   

On 18 & 19 January, Satpuda Foundation conducted a two-day residential nature camp for 28 students and 5 teachers from Umari, Lohgad and Telgaon villages of Pench-Bor corridor at Pench Tiger Reserve, Sillari. This nature camp was conducted as part of the IUCN and Maharashtra State Forest department aided project, ‘Integrated Habitat Conservation and Eco-Development in Vidarbha Tiger Landscape’.

Students of classes 7^th to 9^th who had shown the most active participation during the Wildlife Week celebrations were selected for the camp. During the camp, these students were taken on a bird-watching nature trail. They learnt about the lesser flora and fauna. Students spotted many birds like Indian grey hornbill, painted storks, black ibis, Indian roller, hoopoe and drongo along with many spiders and insects. They were taught to identify pugmarks and hoof-marks of various wild animals during the trail.

In the evening, after the nature trail, students were shown documentary films and presentations based on various wildlife conservation issues like illicit tree felling, poaching, electrocution, and road kills etc.

Students were then taken for a jungle safari on the next day inside Pench Tiger Reserve. During the safari, students saw many wild animals like gaur, sambar deer, spotted deer and langurs. Students were excited to see animals like dholes and jackals during the safari. They visited spots like Bakhari lake, Phephri kund, Juna boat camp, Ambakhori, “Bamboo Van” etc and learnt about various habitat types. They also spotted many birds during the safari. They also learnt about the value of Pench Tiger Reserve and Pench River for both wildlife as well as human existence.

On 16 January, Nilesh organised a meeting for 9 women of Tembhurdoh village. These women are not part of any Self Help Group (SHG) and had requested Satpuda Foundation to provide information about SHGs. During the meeting, Nilesh explained the importance of SHGs in improving improve both social and economic conditions. He also provided information on various micro-enterprise business ideas to the women along with government schemes that provide financial assistance to women’s SHGs. During the meeting Mr. Roshan Lakadkar, Extension Officer for Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission at Panchayat Samiti Saoner, was also present to guide the women.

On 24 January, Nilesh organised a meeting for members of Jai Seva Mahila Bachat Gat of Bidgaon village. During the meeting Nilesh taught the members to maintain the account books. He helped clear their doubts regarding book-keeping. He then provided information regarding insurance schemes run by government and Post Office and explained how investing in these schemes can benefit them and their families in future.

During the month, Nilesh provided information on various skill development trainings being provided by Rural Skill Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Nagpur. RSETI, a Maharashtra State government undertaking, provides free skill development trainings like tailoring, a beauty parlour course, photography and videography courses etc which will help unemployed young villagers in gain self-employment. Nilesh put up banners provided by RSETI, Nagpur near gram Panchayat, bus stops and other public places. He also provided information to young villagers, members of Self Help Groups and farmers.