Jugal Kishor Tiwari

Halophyte a Forestation, Nature Education Camps and Publication of Awareness Materials for Nature Conservation in the Schools and Villages of Kutch District, Gujarat, India

Nature walk for School organized by the Centre for Desert and Ocean.

Plantation at GMDC School Moti-Virani village 27 th July 2007.

Nature camp at Phot Mahadeo - Moti-Virani Primary School kids collects and burns the garbage at Phot Mahadeo forest Kutch.

Green Bee-eater with Bee-tossed in the air Bibbar, Kutch, gujarat 27 th Aug 2007.

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.

For more information contact cedoindia@yahoo.com or go to http://www.cedobirding.com