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| Students and teachers of Pench-Bor corridor villages at Ambakhori during our nature camp |
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| Sillari - Students from Pench-Bor corridor villages on our nature trail |
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| Sillari - Students from Pench-Bor corridor villages visit Tiger Tale Interpretation Centre at Sillari, Pench Tiger Reserve |
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| Telgaon - Invasive species of plants seen around the recharge lake before our desilting work |
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| Telgaon - Members of Gram Panachayat participate in planning the desilting work |
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| Telgaon - Members of Gram Panchayat at the inauguration of desilting work |
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| Telgaon - Recharge lake before the start of desilting work |
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| Telgaon - Recharge lake after the completion of desilting work |
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| Telgaon - Removal of invasive plant species and preparing the land for plantation |
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| Telgaon - Students of Narendra High School get ready for our nature camp |
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| Umari - Students and teachers of Sarvoday High School leaving for our nature camp |
THE FULL REPORT
Mandar Pingle – Conservation Officer
Highlights
- Silt removal and habitat restoration from lake in Telgaon village
- 2-day residential nature education camp organised at Pench Tiger Reserve Maharashtra; 30 students and 6 teachers participated
Activity
As part of IUCN’s Tiger Corridor project, Satpuda Foundation undertook de-silting of a recharge lake in Telgaon village in Pench-Bor corridor. The recharge lake is spread over an area of 0.6 acre and invasive species like lantana camara had encroached upon the land surrounding the lake. The silt from the recharge lake was removed and the lake deepened. The invasive species have been uprooted and the land has been cleared for plantation work. The inauguration of the work was done by Mr Taywade, member of the Gram Sabha (village council). Other members and prominent villagers were present during the inaugural ceremony of the work. Sarpanch Mrs Chanda Gaydhane expressed her gratitude towards IUCN, and Maharashtra State Forest Department for funding, and Satpuda Foundation for undertaking this work as it will help solve water shortage issues for her village.
As part of the IUCN project, Satpuda Foundation organised a 2-day residential nature camp at Pench Tiger Reserve, Sillari on 27 and 28 December 2019. 30 students from Narendra High School (HS), Telgaon, and Sarvoday HS, Umari, along with 6 teachers participated in the camp. On day 1, the students learnt about the basics of tiger ecology at Tiger Tale Interpretation Centre. Later they learnt about the concepts of ecosystem, habitat, and the importance of insects, birds and animals in nature. The students also learned to spot and identify birds during the trail. Signs of the presence and movement of leopard, sloth bear and spotted deer were seen during nature trails organised by our team.
On the concluding day of the nature camp, the students went on a safari ride in the jungle and observed gaur, sambar deer, spotted deer, peafowl, Red-crested Pochards, Ruddy Shelducks, and Eurasian Wigeons. A visit to a medicinal plantation in Sillari was organised. Later in the afternoon, through nature games, students learnt the importance of conservation. During discussion sessions, students came to the conclusion that forests and biodiversity are absent near their villages and that they will make collective efforts to improve the situation and support the Forest Department in conservation initiatives. Teachers also expressed their willingness to support nature education programmes in their schools.
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