Activity Update July 2019: Navegaon-Nagzira

Highlights:

Day patrol in Comp. No. 56

Bolunda - Students are briefed about the benefits of conservation

Kurhadi - Teachers and students participate in our plantation drive 

Mangezari - Students plant saplings in our plantation drive

Mangezari - Students pose during our 'Tiger Day' celebration

Mangezari - Students set off on conservation awareness rally
on Global Tiger Day

THE FULL REPORT

Team: 

Mukund Dhurve – Assistant Conservation Officer

Highlights (See Table 1)

• Joined Forest Department staff on foot patrols on 3 occasions
• 5 voluntary work programs to clean area next to hand pumps
• 5 anti-plastic programs 
• Organised programs to dig 5 compost pits 
• Assisted 2 young villagers in joining hospitality training program at PACE Academy, Sillari
• Organised 7 plantation programs – 135 saplings planted
• Organised 2 environment education programs;  320 students present
• Celebrated World Tiger Day - 73 students and EDC members participated

Our team organised 5 community assistance programs on July 14, 16, 17, 21 and 25 to clear areas around hand pumps at Mangezari, Sodlagondi, Chorkhamara, Umarzari and Jindatola. Unemployed young villagers from Mangezari participated in the programs, led by Mukund. 

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. 56 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 Assistant Conservation Officer Mukund Dhurve.

During the month, our team organised 5 anti-plastic programs to clean polythene/plastic litter from villages. The programs were organised on July 14, 16, 17, 21 and 25 at Mangezari, Sodlagondi, Chorkhamara, Umarzari and Jindatola villages respectively. Mukund organised the programs. They were attended by villagers including 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 29 July, we celebrated World Tiger Day at Zilla Parishad Primary School (ZPPS), Mangezari. 73 students, VEDC members and Forest Department staff were present. Addressing the gathering, Mukund gave information about tigers and their habitat, and the need to conserve the big cat.

In July, Hemraj Salam, a marginal farmer from Asalpani, prepared a compost pit through a voluntary work project. Earlier in May we had provided information to farmers about the benefits of preparing compost pits and using organic compost instead of chemical fertilisers. He voluntarily prepared the compost pit on his farm under the guidance of Mukund Dhurve. Similarly, 4 more compost pits were prepared in Asalpani and Bagadband villages.

Education (See Table 2)

There were 9 education programs in July 2019.

Employment Cell Training activities (See Table 3)

In July we helped 2 young villagers attend a hospitality training program organised by Pratham Arora Center for Education (PACE) and funded by Pench Tiger Conservation Foundation at Sillari.