Activity Update June 2019: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

Our volunteers on forest patrol in Compartment No. 56

Volunteers clean waterhole in Compartment No. 111 

Asalpani - Villagers meet Agriculture Officer in programme organised by us

Kurhadi - Students display seeds collected by them
which will be planted in the monsoon

 Mangezari - Volunteers clean the area around a hand pump 

Jindatola - Volunteers participate in a plastic clean-up drive

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Mukund Dhurve - Asst.  Conservation Officer

Jivraj Salam  - Field assistant

Highlights (See Table 1)

• Joined Forest Department staff on foot patrols on 5 occasions
• 3 voluntary work programs to clean water holes
• 6 voluntary work programs to clean area next to hand pumps
• 6 anti-plastic programs 
• Prepared 7 compost pits in 3 villages 
• Organised 1 demonstration workshop for farmers
• Helped 2 young villagers join hospitality training program at PACE Academy, Sillari
• Organised 2 environment education programs -  316 students attended
• Celebrated World Environment Day -  45 students and VEDC members participated

On June 9, 10 and 25, we cleaned artificial water holes in Compartment no. 109, 111 and 96 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 scum 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, increasing the chance for human-wildlife conflict.

Our team organised 6 community assistance programs on June 3, 8, 11, 12, 20, and 23 to clear areas around hand pumps at Jindatola, Mangezari, Balapur, Chorkhamara, Bhajepar and Pitezari. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in all the programs, led by Mukund and Jivraj. Details of the programs are given in the Table 1.

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 Compartments No. 109, 111 118 and 96 and on the path linking 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 June 3, 8, 11, 12, 20 and 23, at Jindatola, Mangezari, Balapur, Chorkhamara, Bhajepar, and Pitezari villages respectively. Mukund and Jivraj organised the programs, and they 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 June15, Satpuda Foundation organised a farmers meeting with District Agriculture Officer Mr. Sanjay Chowdhary. He gave information about Government schemes to support farmers and also on pre-monsoon preparations for farming. 23 farmers from Asalpani, Bagadband and Govindtola attended the meeting.

On 5 June, we celebrated World Environment Day at Mangezari. 40 students, VEDC members and Forest Department staff were present. During the program, our team spoke to the gathering about our environment and the need for conservation. 

During the month, we helped seven villagers dig compost pits as part of our program to promote organic farming in areas adjoining forests. This helps reduce the usage of chemical-based fertilisers  which leech into the ground and pollute water bodies.

Education (See Table 2) 

    

There were 2 education programs in June.

Employment Cell Training activities (See Table 3)

In June, we assisted 2 unemployed young villagers attend a hospitality training program organised by Pratham Arora Center for Education (PACE) at Sillari, Pench Tiger Reserve. The program is funded by the Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation.