Activity Update February 2015: Tadoba

Team:

Bandu Kumare – Field assistant

Highlights

·      1 water conservation programme to build check dam at Sitarampeth

·      1 community assistance programme – area around well cleaned at Chorgaon

·      Anti-plastic programme in 2 villages – at Kondegaon and Khutwanda

·      Follow-up to plantation done earlier at Kondegaon and Sitarampeth

·      1 nature trail for students of Katwal

·       Fire awareness programmes in 2 village – at Junona and Adegaon

·      Classroom visits to 10 schools as part of environment education programme – attended by  322 students

·      Film shows on wildlife conservation in 10 village schools – attended  by 403 students

·      Medical camps in 6 villages – 153 patients treated

·      2 visits to check on status of relocated villagers of Jamni and Navegaon   

Conservation

On February 16, our field assistant Bandu Kumare organized a programme to build a check dam around 1 km from Sitarampeth. The dam was built on a stream lying between the fields and the jungle. 22 students from the village’s Zilla Parishad Primary School (ZPPS), 2 teachers and 5 youths from the village joined Bandu in the programme. The resulting water body will benefit livestock in the day and wild animals at night. Wild boar, blue bulls and peacocks are regularly sighted in the area. Photos below.

On February 5, Bandu organized a programme at Chorgaon to clear the area around a well. Water had spilled over while people drew drinking water. Over a period of time, this had created a small marshy area, leading to proliferation of mosquitoes and insects. Our team cleared the area, removing scum and organic growth and dug a canal to drain away the water. 14 students from the village joined Bandu in the programme.

On February 4, Bandu organized an anti-plastic programme at Bamdeli in which 11 students participated. Bandu explained the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and the need to keep plastic litter and waste buried so that they aren’t blown by the wind into jungle areas. The team cleared the main road of the village of plastic litter and waste. They also cleared the common area of the village.

A similar anti-plastic programme was organized at Kutwanda on February 11.

On February 4, Bandu organized a programme at Kondegaon to follow up on plantation of saplings done last year. This is to ensure that saplings planted during the monsoon are live and have sufficient protection from grazing livestock. 17 students from the village school joined Bandu in the programme. Similar programmes were organized on February 6 at Sitarampeth in which 20 students participated.

Kondegaon - following up on last year's saplings

On February 11, Bandu organized a nature trail on Zilla Parishad Upper Primary School, Katwal in which 26 students participated.

Environment Education

During February, Bandu made 10 classroom visits to speak to students of village schools on various aspects of nature and wildlife conservation.

Katwal - students on a nature trail with Bandu

Education Van

There were10 film shows on nature and wildlife conservation in February.

Mudholi - students watch a film on nature and wildlife

MHU

6 medical camps were organized by us in February.

Kolsa - Dr Dhiraj Tapare examining a patient at our free medical camp

Junona - awareness programmes on forest fires and fire prevention

Melghat children enjoy green lessons on World Sparrow Day and World Forest Day

29 March, 2015

Nagpur

Tribal children in Melghat celebrated World Sparrow Day on 20 March and World Forest Day on 21st March, by learning and sharing their ideas on wildlife and forest conservation. Satpuda Foundation in collaboration with Nature Conservation Society, Amravati (NCSA) organized a special nature camp for them on 20-21 March at the Muthawa Community Resource Centre near Harisal in Melghat Tiger Reserve. 30 children from six buffer zone villages (Tangada, Kotha, Harisal, Keni, Chorakhund, Bhiroja and Tarubanda) participated in the camp.

Assistant Education Officer Ashok Athawale conducted an introductory session and made students aware of the importance of both the days. The nature camp was financially supported by IndusInd Bank.

Education Officer Jyoti Sorout explained about the biodiversity of India and threats to it, the role of carnivores in the tiger reserve, the food web, and human-wildlife conflict. She motivated the children to follow simple steps to conserve the forest and sparrows, like making water available for birds in their backyard, planting trees, and avoiding the use of plastic. Students also played nature games to get several conservation messages.

Forester Mrs Dehankar spoke on birds and the actions to be taken on World Sparrow Day. A wildlife documentary was shown to the children during the evening session. Assistant Conservation Officer of NCSA Rahul Kalmegh shared his practical knowledge on various techniques and methods of water conservation works.

Students were also taken to the forest to get first-hand experience. They were told about tracks and signs of wild animals during trekking in the forest. A jungle safari was also arranged by Melghat Tiger Reserve. The children saw wild boar, a goldenback woodpecker, a treepie, Indian Roller, Paradise Flycatcher and many other birds.

Students learned about medicinal plants and their uses at the nursery established at the Community Resource Centre. Mr Neharu Yeole, Bhura Kasdekar, Gajendra Gayan and Narayan Gayan of the CRC worked hard to make this nature camp successful.