Activity Update August 2019: Pench Maharashtra

Chargaon - Students at our environment education program

Ghatpendhari - Villagers join Forest Department staff in a patrol

Khapa - Dilip conducts environment education programme
in the village school

Khapa - Villagers attend meeting to discuss conservation and livelihood issues

 Khapa - Villagers on patrol in the nearby jungle

Sawara - Students learn computer skills from Ms Sita Uikey,
a resident of the village

Suwardhara - Our volunteers clear wild growth around a soak pit

Wagholi - Dilip talks to villagers about alternative livelihoods

Team: Bandu Uikey – Assistant Conservation Officer

             Dilip Lanjewar, Balkrishna Bagmare – Field assistants

Highlights (See Table 1)

• Organised 4 foot patrols along with young villagers and Forest department - 21 villagers volunteered
• Organised 3 meetings on human-wildlife conflict - 55 villagers present
• Organised 4 awareness rallies with conservation message - 250 villagers participated
• Organised awareness program on tackling snake bites in Sawara 
• 5 villagers participated in shramdaan to clean area near soak pit
• Helped 3 unemployed young villagers get employment 
• 16 environment education programs in schools - 386 students participated

On 11 August, Dilip Lanjewar organised a forest patrol in which 5 villagers from Khapa village took part. The team accompanied Forest Department staff on a foot patrol to spot any illegal activity like placing of snares, electrocution traps, illegal tree felling or illegal grazing in the forest adjoining the village. During the patrol, the team did not come across any such illegal activity. The team spotted pug marks and scat of a leopard close to the village. Further enquiry with villagers revealed recent encounters with a male leopard. 

The team made villagers aware about the leopard’s presence in the area and have requested the villagers to avoid venturing into the forest. They have also asked the villagers to ensure that the cattle are tied in an enclosure, and to avoid grazing in the forest, in order to prevent any conflict situation. Dilip also informed the concerned Range Forest Officer who ensured regular monitoring in the area.

A similar patrol was carried out in Dhawlapur beat on 18 August by Balkrishna along with 5 villagers from Dhawlapur and one Forest Guard. No illegal activity or suspicious activity was reported by the team.

On 30 August, our team encouraged villagers to join Forest Department staff on special patrols. On this day the ‘Pola’ festival is celebrated by forest-dwelling communities and there are possibilities of villagers hunting wildlife for fresh meat to celebrate the festival. In order to prevent such incidents, Bandu Uikey along with 3 villagers of Ghatpendari joined 5 Forest Department staff members on a foot patrol in the west Ghatpendari beat. On the same day, Balkrishna along with 4 villagers from Chargaon joined the Forest Department staff on a night patrol. The teams did not witness any illegal activity during their patrols.

On 11 August, Dilip organised a meeting with villagers of Khapa. 30 villagers, including members of the Village Eco-Development Committee (VEDC) and Vyaghra Mitra Mandal, were present. During the meeting Dilip told the villagers that in order to prevent and reduce conflict cases with wildlife, the villagers need to assist Forest Department staff by providing information. He also told the members of VEDC and Vyaghra Mitra Mandal to participate in more forest patrols. Compensation schemes for crop and cattle depredation by wildlife were also discussed. Dilip urged villagers to file for compensation rather that resorting to illegal retaliatory practices like electrocution or poisoning. Dilip also provided information about current government agricultural schemes.

A similar meeting was held in Sawara village on 10 August and in Wagholi village on 16 August. 15 villagers from Sawara and 10 villagers from Wagholi participated in the meetings.

On 29 August, Balkrishna organised a voluntary work program to clean the area near a soak pit in Suwardhara. During the monsoon season, a lot of organic waste had got accumulated due to water- logging and growth of weeds around the soak pit. Villagers had reported spotting snakes in the area as well. In order to avoid snake-bites and to prevent spread of diseases, Balkrishna along with 5 villagers removed weeds and cleaned the trash in and around the soak pit. 

On 15 August, on India’s Independence Day, Dilip and Balkrishna organised awareness rallies with conservation messages in Ghoti and Chargaon. In Ghoti village, 100 students of Zilla Parishad Upper Primary school, VEDC members and Forest Department staff walked in a procession through the village. The students chanted slogans to spread awareness about the ill effects of deforestation, biodiversity loss and climate change. They also urged villagers to protect forests. In Chargaon, 47 villagers took part in the rally.

On 5 August, Dilip organised an awareness program on snakes for villagers and students of Sawara village. Dilip explained the importance of snakes in the ecosystem. He explained that the snakes help keep a check on populations of animals which can cause huge losses to agricultural produce, and hence are farmers’ friends. He further taught the villagers to identify venomous and non-venomous snakes. He cautioned villagers against falling prey to superstitions and asked them to provide urgent medical aid to any snake-bite victim. Dilip further explained to the villagers that they should not indulge in trafficking of snakes which is a punishable offence. 45 students and villagers were present during the program.

On 1 August, Dilip along with 15 students from Ghoti School planted 15 saplings of local tree species. Saplings were planted in the premises of the village Anganwadi (child care) centre. Dilip explained to the students that if the survival of the saplings is ensured through regular care, the trees will attract numerous birds and bees. The trees will also help improve the aesthetic value of the premises. The students have committed to the responsibility of watering these saplings during the summer season to ensure that the saplings survive. The Anganwadi centre staff have also assured our team that they will take care of the saplings. 

Education Program (See Table 2)

In August, Dilip organised classroom programs in schools of 11 villages of buffer area of Pench Tiger Reserve. During these sessions, Dilip taught students about snake identification and snake bite prevention. Dilip also explained to the students that in August, the Pola festival is celebrated during which people engage in hunting of wildlife for fresh meat. He asked students to shun such practices and inform Forest Department staff about such illegal activities. He also urged them to avoid the use of palash (Flame of the Forest) twigs, a tradition being practiced by communities. He told the students that numerous palash trees are cut down due to this practice, leading to degradation of forests and ecosystems.

Balkrishna organised similar interactive sessions in 5 schools. 

386 students were present during these sessions. 

Employment Cell (See Table 3)

In August, our staff assisted one unemployed young villager from Kadbikheda and two unemployed young villagers from Ghatpendari village to get employment as temporary labourers with the Forest Department. They will be earning 9,300/- rupees per month for the next 3 months and will be assisting Forest Department staff in protection activities.