Apr 22, 2016

Nagpur: Satpuda Foundation teams at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve,Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and Satpuda Tiger Reserve and Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh has observed a Global Earth Day(22nd April) yesterday by arranging several conservation actions and awareness programmes. Villagers appreciated this unique way of Satpuda Foundation to observe the Global Earth Day!

Mr. Bandu Kumare, Community officer of Satpuda Foundation at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve created a water hole at Udiya Tola (Adegaon) village near the hand pump.Villagers volunteered in the work to gather the waste water from the hand pump.Around 8 youths and 10 students participated in this task. It will help the village cattles and birds to meet their thirst.

"Only such village level conservation actions would help now rather than simple leap service", said Kishor Rithe, President of Satpuda Foundation. In Satpuda Tiger Reserve in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh, Mr.Hamid Khan, Community officer of Satpuda Foundation arranged a programme at Matkuli Grampanchayat hall to observe the Earth Day. Serpanch of a village, Forester and other guests were present to address the community gathering. Later on ,he along with 25 villagers and students gathered the earthen pots and installed them for birds.

In Pench Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra, the SF team assisted PTR staff to fight the forest fire near Khapa village till mid night.In East Pench, around 130 seeds were properly sowed by Kids from Sillari, Ghoti and Pipariya villages. A film show was also arranged on plantation drive and sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.In Pench MP, the programmes were arranged at Amzari and Thuyepani village where villagers dig up plantation pits and soak pit.Mr.Anoop Awasthi, Assistant Director of SF conducted these programmes in Madhya Pradesh Pench whereas Mandar pingle, Conservation Officer,Dilip Lanjekar, Community officer of SF had arranged the same in Pench TR Maharashtra.In East Pench, Bandu Uike arranged a nature walk, shramadaan and lecture for school kids along with the forest staff.

In Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve,the SF team under the leadership of our Conservation Officer Mr.Mukund Dhurve arranged a big programme at Jindatola (Ghoti) village. SF team explained the different issues which can be addressed by our well designed programme called “Gaon ke Mann ki baat”. Villagers planned and discussed the crop protection strategies for coming monsoon, cleanliness campaign(Gram Swacchata), installation of improved smokeless chulla(Sudharit Chul), water conservation works (Akhari Pani) and locations to create Soak Pits to improve the human health in a village.The demonstration of making of smokeless chulla was also given to women. SHG members and EDC members from Jindatola (Ghoti), Mangezari, Govindtola, Kodebarra, Bodalkasa also participated in this programme. Round Officer of forest dept. Shri. Duarrani, Guard Shri Sonawane, Wildlife guard Shri Mehar and Wan sevak were also present on this occasion.

Pictures: Waterhole created by village youths of Adegaon.

Vijay Pinjarkar | Apr 12, 2016, 03.15 AM IST

Nagpur: As delegates prepare for the 3rd Asia ministerial conference on tiger conservation in Delhi, over 23 NGOs and bodies in the country want a commitment to zero demand for tiger parts in order to achieve zero poaching.

The Asia ministerial conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. More than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders are gathering to discuss issues related to tiger conservation. Ministers and government officials from all tiger range countries — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand, Vietnam, besides Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan are also participating in the meet.

This conference is being co-organized by ministry of environment, forest and climate change, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), Global Tiger Initiative Council (GTIC), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), WWF and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT).

"Conservation successes are visible in tiger range countries with enactment of strong laws and where wild tigers are valued for the role they play in the ecosystem, compared to those tiger range countries where 'tiger farming' exists and where they are valued as a commodity," the NGOs said. "It is time for tiger range countries to unite in a commitment to end tiger farming and to end all domestic and international trade in parts and derivatives of tigers from captive facilities," they said.

The signatories include Satpuda Foundation, Tiger Conservation And Action Trust (TRACT), Born Free, Conservation Action Trust (CAT), Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), Wildlife SOS India, Sanctuary Asia, The Corbett Foundation, BNHS India, Big Cat Rescue among others.

The NGOs have reminded the conference that many facilities that keep tigers are engaged in legal and illegal trade, both domestic and international, in parts and derivatives of tigers. There are estimated 7,000 tigers in captivity in tiger farms in South East Asia and China — and there are no signs that these facilities are being phased out.

Chinese government allows domestic trade in the skin of captive-bred tigers for use as luxury home decor and for taxidermy. This stimulates the demand and increases pressure on the world's remaining 3,200 wild tigers.

"How can we expect demand-reduction campaigns to work in China if the government itself permits people to buy tiger skins," the NGOs asked, adding tigers in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Russian Far East are still being targeted for markets in China and for Chinese consumers in Myanmar and Lao PDR.

There is also a thriving market in Vietnam and Indonesia. Tigers are not just killed for skin, but their bones are used to brew 'tiger bone wine', meat is sold as a delicacy and teeth and claws are sold as charms. "We collectively call on the conference to urge the countries with facilities which keep or breed tigers for trade to demonstrate genuine commitment to tiger conservation," the NGOs demanded.