The desert district of Kutch in Gujarat State of India is a fragile ecosystem. The already scanty forest is being cut down by thousands of Charcoal makers. The proposed project aims to organize tree plantation (selecting the Salvadora persica Toothbrush trees (native perennial halophyte). At least 10, 000 Saplings are planned to be planted and raised in (10 Schools of 7 villages). 10 nature Camps (1 day each) for these Schools kids will be organized, These nature camps will also include Physically challenged kids from the villages. Three awareness camps one each for all the three villages will be organized.
Education material on trees and Birds will be published in local language (Gujarati) to be distributed to all the 10 Schools in seven villages Salvadora persica is a perennial halophyte desert adapted local tree, which provides fruiting berries to all frugivorous birds, micro and macro-habitat to Wildlife and fodder and tooth brush to villagers. This species can be grown with available saline water and minimum water conditions. The project aim to educate locals about the importance of the native tree species thru nature camps. Planting 10, 000 saplings and raising them with the help of School teachers, kids and villagers will help in understanding the importance of trees.
Project Update: July 2007 Plantation at GMDC School Moti-Virani village 27th July 2007.
One nature camp was organised successfuly for physically challenged children. It was held at Jadeshwar forest
35 plants were planted on 8 th July 2007
From 10 th July till 22 nd July we had collected plants in poly bags from various Nurseries and raised our own plant stocks of 1000 at CEDO in Moti-virani.
So far 2000 plants have been planted in various schools (see the details)
1. Moti-Virani school = 1000 plants
2. Sukhpur primary School = 200
2. Nani Aral village primary School 200
3. Devisar village Primary School 200
4 Vedhar School = 100
5. In the village of Moti-Virani = 100
By the end of July 2007 another 1000 plants will be planted in GMDC high School at Moti-Virani
On 29 th July another Nature camp is planned at Piyoni forest, Plantation of 50 saplings will be done there, nature trail, Nature painting will be organised for the kids.
Project Update: August 2007 We received the following update from Jugal:
'Plantation work is in progress – We have received unexpectedly good rains (21 inches so far for the monsoon season). Good thing happened was as we did plantation it rained. We expect a very good result of for plants growth and survival.
Plantation of Salvadora persica is being carried out in Banni area in as the road are now open in the saline flat country which is flooded in many area presently due to heavy rains.
Vithon village High School will be covered for plantation of native trees. Many other small to big village schools will be covered for plantation'.
Total plants planted till 10 th August 2007 = 6750 Plants
Project Update: October 2007 Nature camp at Phot Mahadeo - Moti-Virani Primary School kids collects and burns the garbage at Phot Mahadeo forest Kutch.
Nature Camp of Nakhtrana town St. Xaviers School 14 th Oct 2007 at Chhri-Dhand Banni.
Total plants planted between August and 5 th October 2007 = 10, 240
The growth of the plants in Schools and in Nature (Wild plots ) is very encouraging. We have done replacement plantation in Schools.
Three nature camps have been organized so far. Kids are very happy, we have done plantation of native trees in the camps, collection of garbage and burning/disposing it in all forest areas. Bird feeders were also installed in some areas.
Students did paintings of Nature in the camp, Plant and bird identification was organized on the trail.
A Wildlife Photo exhibition was organized (on 2 nd October 20070 At Kumari Tejal Damji Velani girls high School. All the students of 12 Schools and villagers, common men, farmers, teachers (over 1000 people) visited the exhibition where 275 rnlarged pictures of birds, plants, mammals, reptiles and butterflies were on diplay. News media gave a very good coverage of the exhibition.
We have plans to organize such exhibition for all nine talukas (sub-district0 Schools of Kutch district.
On 31 st October 2007, a one day Nature camp was organized at Phot Mahadeo Forest of Kutch. 55 Students and 10 supporting staff took part in the one day Nature camp.
The camp participants were the young kids age from 10-15 years. Teachers also took active interest in the camp.
Following activities were carried out
1. Plantation of Neem saplings 20 in the vicinity of the temple by the students and teachers
Students and Teachers of Nani Virani School thanked the Rufford Small Grants Foundation and CEDO for arranging the Nature camp.
Project Update: January 2008 Devisar High School boys and girls on Nature trail in Banni, Kutch, Gujarat India 16th Jan 2008.
We had orgainsed Nature camp at Chhari-Dhand in Banni grasslands of Kutch, Gujarat, India 16 th Jan 2008.
The Devisar Village High School Students 59 and teachers and supporting staff 10 took part in one day Nature camp organised at Chhari-Dhand wetland in Banni grasslands of Kutch.
The students were taken to a Jurassic time fossil bed where they had collected the fossils of Ammonites and Belemnites (Marine Molluscans).
Nature trail, birdwatching, painting and quiz were organised for the students.
On 17 th and 18 th Jan 2008 also we will have camps for two more Schools (Sukhpur and Moti-Virani Girls Primary School).
Final Report Halophyte a forestation, nature education camps and publication of Awareness materials for nature conservation in Schools and villages of Kutch district , Gujarat , India
I feel very happy to say that the RSG grant had helped us enormously to achieve our goals in Kutch district. We plan to continue this work for atleast a few more years with the kind help of RSG,
All the nature camps were held successfully with out any accident or unpleasant experience.
Tree plantation target was 10, 000 Saplings plus 2000 as mortality replacement plantation, but we had planted some 12,800 plants. The success in tree plantation is also overwhelming, as the enthusiasm in students is achieved the plants are 6-8 feet tall in Schools and in nature.
The Awareness campaign was also very successful, the photo exhibition, slide shows and publication of posters for all Schools and villages targetted in the project also generated a lot of good hopes for the conservation of nature in the district.
2nd RSG Awarded Read about Jugal's latest project at http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/jugal_tiwari_0
