Activity Update November 2019: Priyadarshini Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh

Team:

 Bandu Uikey – Assistant Conservation Officer

 Niranjan Hinge– Field Assistant

Highlights

• Organised 1 anti-plastic drive and 1 programme to clean area around hand-pump in Satosha village - 14 villagers participated
• Two  biogas units repaired  in Turiya village - 6 villagers  participated
• Organised 6 education programs  in village schools - 130 students present
• Organised nature trail for 22 students from Kohoka and Ambadi villages
• Organised one nature game in P.S School Ambadi for 10 students 
• Organised 6 medical camps - 133 patients treated free of cost    

Activity: SEE TABLE 1

On November 27, we organised a garbage management program in Satosha village. During the program we conducted an anti-plastic drive and cleared the area around the hand-pump. 14 villagers participated in the activity.

On 11 November, Niranjan organised a nature trail for 12 students of Kohoka village. During the nature trail, Niranjan taught the students how to identify various birds and trees in the forest area in the vicinity of the village. Nature games were arranged during the trail to effectively teach concepts of ecosystem, habitat and biodiversity. Niranjan also taught students to identify pug marks, hoofmarks etc. of various wild animals during the trail. By learning to identify such signs, the students will be able to identify areas being used by wildlife and avoid them, thus reducing human-animal conflict. Nature trails also help to sensitise the students about the rich local biodiversity and encourage them to protect it. 

Similar nature trails were organised on 20 November for 10 students and on 24 November, both from Ambadi village.

On 1 November, Niranjan helped a villager to repair his defective biogas unit in Turiya village. Niranjan, with the help of 3 volunteers, repaired the unit. Alternative sources of fuel help to reduce the need for fuel wood collection, and so reduce the problem of humans venturing into forest areas. This will also help to avoid human-animal conflict.

Niranjan similarly assisted another villager from Turiya village to repair a biogas unit on 24 November.

Classroom education: SEE TABLE 2

In November, we organised 6 classroom awareness sessions. 130 students of Govt.  Primary Schools (PS) and Government Middle Schools (MS) were present. Niranjan taught students about various issues related to wildlife, soil and water and biodiversity conservation.  

Livelihood activity

On 8 November, Bandu Uikey met with members of Srushti Mahila Bachat Gat, a women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) mentored by us in Turiya village. This group is operating a restaurant in Turiya under the guidance of Satpuda Foundation. Bandu provided information regarding oyster mushroom cultivation and suggested ways to promote mushroom food products through their restaurant. He explained that by taking up mushroom cultivation and by introducing mushroom recipes to tourists, the group can improve their income. 

Mobile Health Unit: SEE TABLE 3

There were 6 medical camps held in November, at which 133 patients were treated. 

During the medical camps, patients were sensitised on human-animal conflict issues such as crop depredation, cattle kills and attacks on humans venturing into the forest. The patients were provided information regarding the compensation schemes and the process to file for compensation in case of such incidents. 

Activity Update May 2019: Kanha

Highlights:

Chapri- We arranged a village meeting on local issues,
attended by Narayan Singh Patta MLA of Bichiya block

Bhagpur - Seeds collected by village children,
to be planted during the monsoon

Chapri - Vegetable patches set up at Sarita Bai Dhurvey's house

 Kutwahi - Soni Bai Markam gets trained in preparing vermi-compost

 Patpara - Amit Awasthi conducts an awareness programme on forest fires

Patpara - Amit Awasthi conducts meeting
with women’s SHG on livelihood options

Patpara - Field assistant Sampathlal Dhurve
guides village children on their seed collection drive

Sautiya - Team prepares waterhole in the jungle

                                                                                                       

THE FULL REPORT

Team: Amit Awasthi – Conservation Officer

            Sampath Dhurve – Field assistant

Highlights  (See Table 1)

·      2 waterholes prepared

·      Two programs to clean area next to hand pumps and dig soak pits

·      Arranged village meeting on local issues, attended by Narayan Singh Patta MLA of Bichiya Block

·      Helped 19 villagers apply for LPG connection under Ujjwala scheme

·      Assisted 5 Baiga tribe farmers in getting solar-powered irrigation pumps

·      2 persons trained in preparing vermi-compost

·      4 compost pits prepared

·      6  awareness programs on forest fires

·      2 nature trails

·      Seed collection drive

·      Installed water pots for birds in 6 villages

·      3 unemployed young villagers placed in jobs at local resorts

                     ·      Meeting on livelihood options held with women’s SHG 

During the month, our team organised programs to prepare 2 waterholes inside the jungle. We have prepared these waterholes at specific locations in consultation with the Forest Range Office, Khatiya. These waterholes will help provide clean water for wild animals and prevent them from venturing close to human habitation in search of water during summer season. It will thus help mitigate man-animal conflict in this region.

On May 8, eight villagers from Sautiya volunteered to prepare a waterhole at Pittejhodi.

A similar program to prepare a waterhole was organised at Kundajhodi on May 13.

On May 19, Sampath led a team of 8 people in a program to dig a soak pit and to clear weed growth and plastic waste around a hand pump at Manegaon. Wild growth had proliferated around the hand pump and access to the hand pump was affected. Our team, which comprised 8 young people from the village, removed the wild growth and cleaned the area and prepared a soak pit.

A similar program was organised at Patpara on May 22.

On 27 May, we organised a village meeting to resolve various issues of the villagers. On our invitation, Shri Narayan Singh Patta, MLA of Bichiya (Mandla) attended the meeting with villagers from Batwar, Chapri and Sautiya. During the meeting, the villagers raised issues like employment for young villagers, skill development and training for farmers, empowerment of Village Eco-Development Committees, and promoting of employment through tourism. Shri Narayan Singh Patta has agreed to work on these issues immediately.

Satpuda Foundation had assisted the Range Forest Officer, Khatiya in preparing a 5-year village micro-plan for 7 buffer zone villages in the range. As per the micro-plan prepared for Patpara, the construction work for a‘rangmanch’ (community stage) has commenced. The work will be complete by the end of this month.

Satpuda Foundation had assisted 12 families from Dhamangaon to apply for solar-powered pumps under a Government scheme. This scheme aims to provide irrigation facilities specifically to tribal farmers. Out of these 12 applications, 5 pumps were provided in May. Earlier in March, 4 farmers were provided this facility. The remaining 3 farmers will be provided pumps next month. By using solar power, farmers are adopting green and clean electricity. Besides, in remote locations like Dhamangaon, supply of electricity is unreliable, affecting irrigation systems.

Details of the beneficiaries of the solar-powered pump scheme are given in Table 2.

Our team encourages organic farming as part of our strategy to reduce the impact of chemical fertilisers on fields adjoining prime wildlife areas. Part of our work includes assistance to villagers in setting up vermi-compost tanks and compost pits.

On May 11 and 26, our team provided training to Soni Bai Markam of Kutwahi and Mamta Bai Uikey of Sautiya on how to prepare vermi-compost.

During May, we helped 4 villagers dig compost pits - Samrati Bai Maravi of Dhamangaon on May 1, Satish Sarote of Manegaon on May 12, Gayatri Bai Maravi of Patpara on May 24 and Chandan Markam of Manegaon on May 29.

During the month, Amit organised 6 awareness programs on forest fires. Fires are a recurring hazard during summers. Sometimes, villagers start fires as they believe that tendu leaves sprout better after such fires. Collection of tendu leaves takes place during May. In our awareness programs, we explained the dangers that such fires cause to the forest and to wildlife and how they could harm villages if they blazed out of control.

In May, we encouraged villagers to collect seeds of local species of trees. These seeds will be used to prepare saplings for our proposed plantation drive during the monsoon season. Villagers collected seeds of lendiya, saja, sallan, mahua, kahua and amaltas found locally. We will now prepare saplings from these seeds and distribute them to the villagers during the monsoon season.

With the summer heat at its peak, our team has been motivating villagers to put up containers with water so that birds and small animals can quench their thirst. Around 98 containers were put up in 5 villages in May.

Amit and Sampath led children of Kutwahi and Patpara on nature trails on May 4 and May 9 respectively. On the trails, they helped children identify various species of plants and animals and explained the importance of preserving our environment.

Livelihood programs

As part of our program to reduce pressure on forests, we have been encouraging villagers to take up alternative livelihood options. In Kanha, we have been encouraging villagers to take up vegetable farming as there are several resorts around Mocha and there is a steady flow of tourists who require fresh vegetables. Over the past 3 years, we have assisted around 50 villagers in taking up vegetable farming and they are earning around 500-1,000 rupees a week in additional income. The vegetable patches are typically of small size and located in the backyards of the residences. Some villagers have now got enough confidence to expand and are planning to use part of their farm land for this activity.

Employment Cell (Table 3)

We helped 3 young villagers get jobs during the month of May. 

SF organised a joint meeting of the women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) working in the buffer area to discuss group-run activities such as vegetable farming, macrame art, tribal food products, sewing work, mushroom production etc.

Amit also spoke on subjects related to conservation and requested assistance from the women for check dam construction, sanitation campaigns, training programs for young villagers, and placements. 

Activity Updates May 2019: Pench Madhya Pradesh

Highlights:

Amajhiri - Students learn about nature through a game

Awarghani - Sanjay at his new job
in Village Machan Resort

Chirrewani - Loose boulder-based water and soil conservation
structure repaired

Durgapur - Children collect seeds for planting during the monsoon

Potiya - Village children on a nature trail 

Turiya - Mango pickles made by Shristi Self-Help Group,
which was started and is mentored by us

Turiya - SHG meeting organised by us to discuss new ideas

THE FULL REPORT

Team:

Conservation Officer – Sumit Kumar Kar

Field Assistant – Niranjan Hinge (Turia cluster)

Field Assistant– Kamlesh Pawar (Khamarpani cluster)

Major highlights of the month

• ·      Voluntary work activities on soil and water conservation
• ·      Biological Diversity Day celebration on 22nd May
• ·      Two nature trails
• ·      Birdbath preparation and installation
• ·      Seed collection and nursery preparation
• ·      Anti-plastic drive at Satosha
• ·      Two livelihood-related meetingsSHG meetings at Turiya and Kundai

(See Table 1)

On May 24, Kamlesh assembled a group of volunteers at Chirrewani to repair a loose boulder-based soil and water conservation structure around village farms. Such structures help in conservation of soil by preventing soil erosion and also help to arrest water runoff. Kamlesh had earlier explained to villagers the concept of water management; how such structures help in soil and water management and the need for their maintenance. With monsoon rains due soon, proper maintenance of water and soil conservation structures could help in maintaining fertility of the soil and ensuring adequate water availability.

On May 5, Niranjan assembled a group of volunteers to construct a soak pit for percolation of waste water from a hand pump. Niranjan had earlier explained to the villagers the concept of waste water management and augmentation of ground water resources by proper recharge though soak pits and other structures.

Seeds are the source of regeneration for the forest. They are the means through which trees pass on their genetic information. During the month of May, Niranjan organised wild seed collection with children of buffer zone villages. The objective of the activity was to familiarise children with the shape, size and appearance of various types of seeds such as mahua (Madhuca longifolia) found in the forest, and create a nursery by planting the collected seeds. The saplings generated would be used for plantation during the monsoon.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated across the globe on 22nd May to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues. Satpuda Foundation celebrated this occasion by organising awareness sessions for young students. Niranjan arranged an education session at Durgapur village to celebrate the occasion.

Water scarcity during summer can led to avian (bird) mortality. In order to involve students in the conservation of avifauna, our team organised the making of bird baths in villages of the buffer region. During the month of May, Niranjan and Kamlesh held activities in various villages to install bird baths with the help of students and villagers. The bird baths were installed by the students. The students also volunteered to regularly fill up the bird baths during the summer.

The abundance of cow dung in rural India is tapped via biogas plants to convert the organic material into biogas which mainly consists of methane. Biogas is a sustainable form of energy used mainly for cooking, reducing the need for fire wood and thereby reducing pressure on forests. Biogas is produced from slurry of cow dung through anaerobic decomposition. Various biogas plants have been constructed in the past by government and private entities but, due to poor maintenance, many have been abandoned. Satpuda Foundation has been undertaking repair activities of faulty biogas production units and stoves and restoring them. During May, Niranjan repaired two units at Turiya village.

Plastic, due to its non-degradable nature, creates waste management issues. With availability of plastic packing in numerous daily use products, the rise of plastic waste is significant. The plastic litter not only makes the surroundings look dirty, it is often mistaken by herbivores as a food source. This results in death in some instances due to blockage of the digestive tract. Plastic waste often finds its way into water and results in water pollution. Satpuda Foundation regularly organises anti-plastic drives in which volunteers help in gathering plastic waste and dispose of it properly. Niranjan organised an anti-plastic drive on May 6 in Satosha village near the primary school premises.

In May, Niranjan organised two nature trails for students of Aamajhiri and Potiya. During the nature trails, Niranjan spoke about the various birds found in the vicinity of the villages and their role in the ecosystem. Both nature trails were along water bodies, providing opportunities for spotting various water birds. Niranjan also explained the role of water conservation.

An awareness program on forest fires was organised by Niranjan at Durgapur village. The agenda of the meeting was to increase awareness on the various causes of forest fires and their impact. Various measures to prevent such fires were discussed and volunteer groups to fight forest fires were formed to help the Forest Department.

Environment Education

Kamlesh organised an environment awareness session for school students at a coaching center in Khamarpani on 18th May in which 16 students participated.

Nature games (Table 2)

Nature games are useful as they impart important conservation-related messages through interesting and simple games. They are more interactive than traditional lectures and are more effective in capturing the attention of young minds. During May, two such nature games were organised.

Employment Cell (Table 3)

Satpuda Foundation has been assisting local young villagers in obtaining employment by connecting them with potential recruiters. During May, a young villager from Khamba village was placed at the Village Machan Resort in the utility department with our assistance.

Sanjay Modabi at his new job in Village Machan Resorts

Employment meetings (Table 4)

One of the Foundation’s activities related to employment is supporting women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in starting and sustaining new ventures which can give them adequate financial returns. During the month of May, three SHG meetings were organised in which ideas to generate revenue for the groups were discussed, and progress made since previous meetings was reviewed. One of the SHGs has started mango pickle production for sale in local markets. Satpuda Foundation has been assisting in better marketing of the product and in quality control.

During the month of May, two employment-related meetings were organised in Turiya and Khamarpani clusters. The objective of the meetings was to increase awareness of various skill-development programs of the government as well as local employment opportunities.