Activity Update October 2014: Pench Maharashtra

Team: Saket Agasti - Assistant Conservation Officer

            Bandu Uikey, Dilip Lanjewar – Field Assistants

Highlights

• One anti-plastic and village cleanliness drive to clean the village area, Dhawlapur / Ghatkukda Gram Panchayat

• One voluntary work programme to build a check dam at Khapa
• Wildlife Week celebrated from Oct 1 to Oct 7
• Two nature trails held for students of Pipariya and Ghoti villages
• Bandu and Dilip joined Forest Department staff on anti-poaching patrols separately on 2 occasions
• Conducted 5 environment education programmes -- attended by 107 students
• Two film shows organized in schools – 125 students viewed
• Organized 6 medical camps at which 171 patients were treated
• Organized village meetings at Dhawlapur, Ghatkukda, Narhar to discuss village development issues that could be taken up through Village Eco Development Committee (VEDC)

Conservation

On October 9, Bandu led a team of 50 people from Dhawlapur, including students and adult villagers, in a programme to clean plastic litter from the common area of the village. Besides clearing the litter, our programme was also intended to promote awareness among the villagers about the dangers of dumping litter carelessly. Photos below.

On October 28, we organized a programme to build a check dam on a stream near Khapa. The dam is situated on the outskirts of the village, adjoining the forest. The water from this dam will benefit domestic animals in the day and wildlife at night. The team comprised Dilip and 10 villagers. As rains have been below normal this year, water conservation measures are more in focus. 

Photos below.

On October 13, a village eco-development committee (VEDC) meeting was organized to discuss local issues of the villagers at Ghatkukda. Forest Guard (Saleghat) Mr. Balaji and our field assistant Bandu discussed various issues with the villagers.

Similar meetings were organized at Dhawlapur and Narhar on October 9 and October 17.

On October 25 and 26, Dilip joined VEDC members and Forest Department staff on patrols at Khapa and Wagholi respectively. The team patrolled the jungle near the village, checking for illegal activities. No illegal activity was detected on these patrols.

Bandu joined similar patrols on October 12 and 26 at Bodkimatta Beat and Ghorad Beat of West Pench Range respectively.

Patrol in Wagholi

On October 8 and 30, Dilip took students of Pipariya and Ghoti on nature trails, where he spoke to them about the various plants found in the area and their medicinal uses. Photos below.

Nature trail in Pipariya

Environmental Education Programmes

In October, we visited 5 schools to conduct programmes on environment conservation in schools in our area of operations. 

IT Education Programme

Satpuda Foundation is running a programme to introduce computers to children living in the remote villages adjoining Pench Tiger Reserve in both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Foundation has installed computers in 3 villages and hired a local trainer to impart computer skills to the children. In Maharashtra, this programme is being implemented in Sawara, with computers provided by us, and in Pipariya, using the school’s computers.

Education Van Programme

There were 2 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in October. 125 students watched the films.

Mobile Health Unit (MHU)

There were 6 medical camps in October in which 171 patients were treated.

       

Ghoti medical camp: Dr Ravi More checking a patients

Activity Update September 2014: Satpura Tiger Reserve

Team:

Ashfaq Aarbi – Conservation officer

Hamid Khan – Field assistant

Highlights

·      Sapling distribution to 50 farmers and plantation in 2 programmes

·      9 awareness programmes on vermi-compost

·      1 awareness programme on rain water harvesting

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of our environment education program – attended by 478 students

·      Visit to check on status of relocated village

·      Celebration of World Tourism day at Pachmarhi

Conservation

To take advantage of the monsoon, our teams across the landscape have been working to motivate villagers to plant saplings. In September, our Satpura team organized distribution and planting of saplings at Matkuli and Chandan Pipariya. The details are given in the table above. The saplings were provided free of cost by the Social Forestry wing. Species distributed and planted included amla, lemon, amrood, Mango, Kathal and kosam.

Plantation at Government Ashram School, Matkuli

Staff from the police station at Matkuli participating
in a plantation programme

During August, our team organized 9 awareness programmes on vermi-compost. The Agriculture Department is planning to build vermi-compost tanks in villages in our area of operations. The Department’s officials asked our team to conduct awareness programmes and to identify 10 candidates from each village. Details of the programmes are given in the table above.

Education

During the month, our team made classroom visits to 10 schools to educate children about nature and wildlife conservation.

Chandan Pipariya - Field Assistant Hamid Khan conducting a classroom
session

Education Van

No Activity

Employment Cell

During the month, our team arranged 3 meetings at Mohgaon, Pisuwa and Matkuli to create awareness about alternative livelihood options. The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has agreed to support an initiative to help villagers make re-usable bags to replace polythene bags which are banned in the Pachmarhi area from October 15 onwards.

Relocation

In work related to relocation, Ashfaq organized meetings of the residents of Muhar, Mongra, Jamandhonga, Ghoghri, Nayakheda and Raikheda villages. All these villages have been earmarked for resettlement. The meetings were organized by us at the request of R P Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Satpura Tiger Reserve.

Relocated village

Ashfaq visited the relocated village of Dhargaon, Nankot and Nandner on September to follow up on the status of the relocated villagers.

Residents of the newly resettled village Dhargaon discuss their issues
with our team

The main issues raised by the villagers related to construction of their homes, power supply and lack of local jobs.

Celebration of World Tourism Day

On September 27, World Tourism Day function was organized at Pachmarhi. This programme was organized by MP Tourism Department, Sanjay Gandhi State Youth Leadership and Development Institute, Pachmarhi, Satpuda Tiger Reserve and other Government Departments. Our team was asked to identify 15 students from any Higher Secondary School in our area of operations to participate in the function. Ashfaq accompanied 15 students of Government Higher Secondary School, Matkuli to the programme. Photos below.