Activity Update November 2019: Pench Maharashtra

Awleghat - Balkrishna conducts nature education programme
in the village school

Pipariya - Members of a women's SHG learn how to make paper bags

Ghoti - Villagers attend our workshop on mushroom farming

 Khapa - Check dam built by our volunteers

Kirangisarra- Dr. Khode treats villager at our free health camp

Sawara - Dilip briefs students on our nature trail

Suwardhara - Volunteers clear wild growth from the sides of the road
leading to the village

Wagholi - Sahdeo Tekam packs dried mushrooms for sale

Team:
Bandu Uikey – Assistant Conservation Officer
Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistant
Balkrishna Bagmare – Field Assistant

Highlights - SEE TABLE 1

• Organised 4 foot patrols jointly with Forest Department staff - 20 villagers participated
• One check dam constructed near Khapa village - 15 villagers participated
• Organised 17 classroom education programs - 448 students present
• Organised 2 training programs on mushroom cultivation and making of paper bags - 53 women participated 
• 25 students from Sawara village participated in nature trail
• Organised one meeting with villagers at Ghatpendari on crop damage 
• Organised 6 medical camps - 200 patients treated 

Activity

On 2 November, following reports of the presence near Ghatpendari of a large carnivore, possibly a tiger, Bandu motivated 3 local young villagers to patrol the area to keep track of the animal’s movements. During the patrol, the team assisted the Forest Department staff in checking for any illegal activity like logging, and placing of snares for poaching. They also looked out for any indirect signs like pug marks, scat or scratch marks made by tigers, leopards or sloth bears. The team also checked for signs of illegal grazing inside the forest. No illegal activity was detected during the patrol. The team encountered signs indicating the presence of ungulates like wild boar, sambar deer and axis deer.  Similar patrols were carried out along with Forest Department staff in Shiladevi, Khapa and Dhawlapur on November 10^th, 14th and 17^th respectively.

On 27^th November, Bandu and Dilip encouraged 15 villagers from Khapa to construct a check dam near the village to provide water for wildlife during the summer season. 

On November 15^th, following requests from farmers of Ghatpendari, Bandu assisted 20 farmers including the Sarpanch and Police Patil, in filing for compensation for their crops damaged by wild herbivores. While assisting the villagers, Bandu also explained to the farmers the various steps they could take to check crop raiding by wildlife. Speedy settlement of compensation claims helps improve the farmers’ morale and reduces the likelihood that they will seek revenge against wildlife for the crop damage.

Nature and bird watching trail

On 5 November, Dilip took 25 school students from Sawara village on a nature trail in the forested area adjoining the village. While on the trail, Dilip provided information on various plant and tree species. The students identified trees such as teak, palash, mahua, neem, banyan, fig and salai. Dilip explained that the trees not only provide people with many medicines and fruit but also support numerous animal, bird and insect species. Dilip helped students identify hoof marks of herbivores like wild boars and sambar deer. During the trail, the students also observed many birds like Rufous Treepie, oriole, Coppersmith Barbet, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon and Indian Grey Hornbill. Dilip helped the students observe the differences in the shapes of beaks, feet and wings of the birds. 

Classroom education - SEE TABLE 2

In November, we organised 17 classroom awareness sessions.  448 students of Zilla Parishad Primary (ZPPS) and Zilla Parishad Upper Primary (ZPUPS) schools were present. Dilip and Balkrishna spoke to the students about various issues related to wildlife, soil and water and biodiversity conservation.  

Mobile Health Unit - SEE TABLE 3

There were 6 medical camps in November in which 200 patients were treated. 

Employment cell - SEE TABLE 1

On November 24^th, we organised a workshop to train members of a women’s SHG of Pipariya village to make paper bags out of used paper. 13 members attended the workshop. 

On November 30^th, we organised a workshop jointly with Forest Department to promote and encourage villagers to cultivate mushrooms.  40 members of women’s SHGs and Forest Department officials attended the workshop.