Activity Update May 2019: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

 Volunteers clean waterhole in Comp. No. 110

Mendha - Nature trail organised by us to celebrate Migratory Birds Day

Sodlagondi - Water container set up for birds

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Mukund Dhurve  - Asst.  Conservation Officer

Jivraj Salam  - Field assistant

Highlights

·      Joined Forest Department staff on foot patrols on 6 occasions

·      3 programs to clean water holes

·      6 programs to clean area next to hand pumps

·      6 anti-plastic programs

·      Installed 23 water pots for birds

·      Organised 2 demonstration workshops for farmers

·      Assisted 2 young villagers in joining hospitality training program at PACE Academy, Sillari

·      Celebrated World Migratory Bird’s Day, a total of 40 students and teachers participated

·      Celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity - total of 21 farmers present

·      Organised bamboo workshop for farmers at Kohmara

·      Assisted in fighting fire in Compartment No. 109

On May 10, 20 and 23 we cleaned up artificial water holes in Compartment no. 111, 109 and 110 respectively. Our volunteers from Kodebarra and Mangezari participated in the voluntary work programs. Our team, along with Forest Department staff, cleaned the leaf litter and organic debris from the water holes and later filled them with clean water.

Wildlife in these areas will now have access to clean water during the dry summer season. If these water holes were not cleaned, then the wild animals may wander close to human habitation in search of water, giving rise to man-animal conflict.

Our team organised 6 community assistance programs on May 1, 9, 13, 15, 21 and 30 to clear areas around hand pumps at Balapur, Bodalkasa, Jindatola, Pitezari, Sodlagondi and Asalpani. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in all the programs, led by Mukund and Jivraj. Details of the programs are given in the table above.

Water had spilled over while people drew from the hand pumps and had stagnated, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our teams cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug canals to drain away the water.

Our team joined the Forest Department in day and night patrols in Compartment No. 111, Compartment No. 94, Compartment No.109 and Compartment No. 110 and on the paths linking Mangezari to Kodebarra and Mangezari to Jindatola. Besides our staff, volunteers from a youth club at Mangezari also joined in the patrols. The youth club was set up with our assistance and is mentored by our Conservation Officer Mukund Dhurve.

During the month, our team organised 6 anti-plastic programs to clean polythene/plastic litter from villages. The programs were organised on May 1, 9, 13, 15, 21 and 30 at Balapur, Bodalkasa, Jindatola, Pitezari, Sodlagondi, and Asalpani villages respectively. Mukund and Jivraj organised the programs which were attended by villagers and Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC) members. The plastic litter has been kept in our Mangezari office and will be sent to Tiroda for recycling.

On May 22, Satpuda Foundation organised a meeting of local farmers with District Agriculture Officer Mr. Sanjay Chowdhary on the occasion of International Day for Biological Diversity. Mr. Chowdhary gave information about Government schemes and latest farming technologies. 21 farmers from Balapur, Bodalkasa and Govindtola attended the meeting.

On May 9, Satpuda Foundation and Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve management organised a workshop on bamboo plantation in farms. 26 farmers from Mangezari, Jindatola, Kodebarra, Balapur and Bodalkasa villages attended the workshop. Divisional Forest Officer Mr. Chowhan from Nagpur gave information about bamboo plantation and Conservator of Forests Mr. Ramanujam gave information about subsidy and other facilities for farmers.

On 16 May, we celebrated World Migratory Bird’s Day at Ashram School, Bolunda with 40 students and 3 teachers. Our team gave information about migratory birds and their importance.

In May, we installed 23 water pots for birds at Kodebarra, Bodalkasa, Sodlagondi, Thadezari, Pitezari and Umarzari. During the summer season, birds and small animals make use of these water pots, as water from natural sources is scarce. Eco-development Committee members and our volunteers from these villages helped install these water pots and contribute to conservation of avifauna.

Employment Cell Training activities (Table2)

In May we assisted 2 youngsters to attend a hospitality training program organised by Pratham Arora Center for Education (PACE) at Sillari, Pench Tiger Reserve. The program is funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation.