Activity Update March 2019: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Highlights:

Volunteers constructing a soak pit at Bindakheda

Dr. Manohar Khode treats a villager at our free medical camp at Mohgaon

Students of the village school on a nature trail at Pisuwa

Jhirpa -  Villagers provide water for birds

Jhirpa - Villagers appear for an exam at end
of the training programme on sewing and embroidery

Matkuli - Students of Saraswati Shishu Vidhya Mandir
watch a film on wildlife conservation 

The Volleyball Tiger Cupt 2019 at Matkuli

Matkuli - Villagers put up water pots for birds during summer

Matkuli - Village youths dig a soak pit for a water conservation programme 

THE FULL REPORT

Team: Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation Officer

            Hameed Khan – Field assistant

            Aabid Khan – Field assistant

Highlights

·      10 water conservation voluntary work projects during the month – 6 water bodies cleaned, 3 soak pits dug, 1 old soak pit cleaned

·      10 awareness programs on forest fires

·      7 forest patrols jointly with Forest Department

·      2 programs to provide birds with water containers

·      23 nature trails arranged for school students – 930 students participated

·      9 films shows on wildlife and nature conservation- 576 school students present

·      Organised sewing and embroidery training at Jhirpa

·      Medical camps in 6 villages –157patients treated

·      Celebration of World Wildlife Day at Matkuli and Jhirpa

·      Celebration of World Sparrow Day at Matkuli

·      Celebration of International Forestry Day at Tekapar

·      Celebration of World Water Day at Bindakheda

·      Organised Volleyball Tiger cup 2019 at Matkuli

Conservation

During March, we organised 10 water conservation programs.

On March 16, we organised a program to dig a soak pit at the Government Primary School (GPS), Matkuli. 12 children 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.

Three similar programs were organised at Maili, Mehandikheda and Bindakheda on March 16, 18 and 22.

On March 19, we organised a program to clean a water body in the jungle around 2 km from Pisuwa village. The water body was clogged with leaves and organic litter and animals were finding it difficult to drink. Our team, consisting of field assistant Hameed Khan and 15 children from Government Middle School, Pisuwa cleared the litter and made the water body accessible to the animals again. Spotted deer are regularly seen around this water body while there are occasional sightings of sloth bears, wild dogs, leopards and other wildlife.

Five similar programs were organised at Pisuwa, Almod, Jhirpa, Karer and Aaditoriya on March 19, 26, 28, 29 and 30.

During the month, our team organised 10 awareness programs on forest fires. Fires are a recurring hazard during summers – both deliberate and accidental. Sometimes, villagers start fires as they believe that tendu leaves sprout better after such fires. In our awareness programs, we explained the dangers that such fires cause to the forest and to wildlife and how they could harm villages if they blazed out of control. In 4 of the meetings, local staff of the Forest Department joined us in addressing the villagers.

Forest patrolling

During the month we participated in forest patrolling work with the Forest Department at Tekapar, Karer, Khanchari, Almod, Jhirpa, Duddi and Bandhan on March 4, 17, 25, 26 and 27. Other participants included Mr. Shivnarayan Devda, P.R. Moodotiya (Forest Guard), Forest Chowkidars and Eco-Development Committee members.

With the onset of summer, water has become scarce and birds are struggling to get water to drink. Satpuda Foundation encourages villagers across the landscape to provide water for birds by placing old bottles, pots and cans in suitable locations for birds. During March, we conducted 2 programs in Matkuli and Jhirpa in which we promoted awareness about the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the need to ensure their survival by helping them with water.

Environment education

During March, our team conducted a total of 23 programs on nature and wildlife conservation.

Education Van

During March, our team conducted 9 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation.

Capacity building program of Eco Club students

On March 18, we supported a district level capacity building program for Eco Club students under the National Green Crop program at Madhai for students from the East Pachmarhi and Denwa buffer zones. The program was focused on wild life, nature and environment development. Participants included Mr. Mahendra Mishra (Scientist), Mr. Dilip Chakrawarti (Program Officer), school teachers and 40 school children from villages in our area of operations. The entire cost of the program was borne by the Environment Planning & Coordination Organisation, Bhopal.

Employment Cell - Sewing and embroidery training program

30 women from Jhirpa, Khanchari, Karer and Aaditoriya villages of the Denwa buffer cluster were trained in sewing and embroidery with our assistance. This program was organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra, Chhindwara and ran from December 15, 2018 to March 14, 2019. The final examination for this program was held in March. 10 of the trainees visited the Apparel Training Design Centre, Chhindwara to learn new techniques and designs. Details of the trainees are as follows:

Mobile Health Service (MHS)

Satpuda Foundation organises 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 March.

Celebrations of important days in the eco-calendar

World Wildlife Day

On March 3, we organised a function to celebrate the World Wildlife Day at Matkuli and Jhirpa. This program was attended by Mr. H.L. Sharma, Sharif Khan (Deputy Ranger), Shri Dwivedi, Principal, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Jhirpa, Shri Kamal Kishor Pal (Sarpanch- Matkuli), President and members of Eco Development Committee.

World Sparrow Day

On March 20, we organised a function to celebrate the World Sparrow Day at Matkuli. This program was attended by Shri Kamal Kishore Pal (sarpanch of Matkuli), Biodiversity Management Committee members, and villagers of Matkuli and staff of the Forest Department.

Satpuda Foundation encourages villagers across the landscape to provide water for birds by placing old bottles, pots and cans in suitable locations for birds.

In our World Sparrow day program in Matkuli and Jhirpa, we promoted awareness about the importance of birds in the ecosystem and the need to ensure their survival by helping them with water.

International Forest Day

On March 21, we organised a function at Tekapar to celebrate the International Forest Day by arranging a drawing contest at Government Primary and Middle School, Tekapar.

World water day

On March 22, we organised a function to celebrate World Water Day at Bindakheda and organised a workshop on water conservation in Sanjay Gandhi State Youth and Leadership Institute, Pachmarhi. This program was attended by Sarpanches of Matkuli, Pisuwa, Tekpar and Singanama, members of the Gram Panchayat and Biodiversity Management Committee.

Volleyball Tiger Cup 2019

On March 8-10, we organised a volleyball tournament at Matkuli. We organised this program as a means to gather local young villagers, promote awareness about conservation issues among them and draw volunteers for conservation.

80 young men from 8 villages participated in the competition, while about 5,000 villagers were spectators. Eight teams have already volunteered to join as members of Satpuda Foundation and have promised to assist in our conservation activities.

This program was attended by Mr. Satish Andhman (Officer in charge of Police Station, Pipariya), Shri Rajiv Jaiswal (President, Nagar Palika Parishad, Pipariya), H.L. Sharma (Deputy Ranger- Matkuli), Sohan Lala Jaiswal (Ex. Sarpanch), Sanjay Dubey, Kamal Kishore Pal (Sarpanch- Matkuli), Forest Department staff and prominent villagers.