We are distributing Gumboots to the forest adjacent villagers to reduce snake bite cases during the Cultivation works in the Paddy Field back in July, 2024
Currently there are 7 ongoing projects run by the organization. These projects are as follows:
Forest Land Survey in Kalaikunda Range, Kharagpur Division
Field Survey with RO Kalaikunda inside the study area
Under this project we are demarcating the actual forest lands (as per the governmental notifications) of two particular Mouza's of Kalaikunda Range of Kharagpur Forest Division. This work will be done through DGPS and GIS based study of the lands. As an outcome of this project, it will be possible to identify the forest lands as per the Govt notifications along with calculating the exact area of the forest lands. This data also shows the ground level truthing of land encroachment issues. With this data, Forest Department can start handling the encroachment issues by themselves.
Understanding the Conservation Threats of Schedule I Mammals inside Durgapur Forest Division
Installing Camera Traps to understand mammal movement at night
Being one of the most fragmented forest landscapes in the entire West Bengal, Durgapur Forest Division is facing huge conservation crisis of wildlife for long period. Moreover, being a major industrial belt, this area is becoming more fragile to wildlife. In this hostile environment, Schedule 1 Mammals like Indian Wolf, Striped Hyenas, Fishing Cat and others have evolved themselves to manage their existence against all the odds. Our objective is to prepare a proper conservation planning for them and submit it to the Durgapur Forest Division. So that in the upcoming year Forest Department can work accordingly to ensure conservation of these mammals.
Studying Phenotypic Plasticity or Adaptation of Common Evening Brown
Common Evening Brown Butterfly captured at Eastern Ghats
Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda) butterfly is a widely spread butterfly across the world. This project aims to closely study this species across various habitat and in time determine whether changing habitat and certain variation in the environmental cues brings any change to their genes leading to occurrence of events like phenotype plasticity or adaptation. This project is an international multi-year Program running in these following continents, Africa, Europe, Asia and North America run be Freerk Molleman and We are one of two partners from India (other is IISER-TVR). Our role is to prepare all the required equipment of this project and deliver it throughout the world and secondly conduct the field study in Foothills of Eastern Himalayas, Chotanagpur Plateau and Eastern Ghat areas. This Project will continue till the financial year 2026-27.
Studying the Natural Floral Dominancy inside the Forest Area of Jhargram Forest Division
Field Team conducting quadrat Transact Method during the field work
The entire condition of Forest Landscape of Southern West Bengal is not so bright. Due to massive fragmentation of forest lands, the natural increase of forest cover is not seen currently. We have organized a scientific study inside the forest land to understand the natural germination of native trees from natural seed dispersal to understand the natural dominancy of flora species in the study area. The expected outcome of this project is to have an idea of native floral species wise dominancy in the study area. Moreover, we shall also predict which species are needed to be conserved in near future in the landscape so that that particular flora species can be saved.
Building Butterfly Garden to promote Community Based Conservation
Common Raja Butterfly found in Ajodhya Hills
Inside the Ajodhya Hills, of Chotanagpur Plateau region, we are preparing one Butterfly Garden which will be managed by the local villagers. Proper capacity building training for the villagers are provided. This program is in its basic stages and this program is expected to be completed by the 2nd Quarter of the upcoming Financial Year. This project will be engaging 12 beneficiary families directly and 13 more indirectly. Under this initiative we are not only conserving the local butterfly community but also spreading awareness on the butterfly and their role in the ecosystem among the youth as well as other people. This Butterfly Garden will be the first of its kind in the entire Chotanagpur Plateau Region.
Helping to Renovate Ambedkar Shiksha Kendra
Ambedkar Shiksha Kendra School's Current Condition
Ambedkar Shiksha Kendra is educating more than 400 students who come from marginalized poor families. But the school is struggling to provide proper facilities for the students. We are currently supporting them through renovate their buildings So that they can serve more students from the upcoming year of 2025-26. Currently the work is ongoing (April,2025) and expected to complete the work by the end of June, 2025. This support not only help the current 400 students more over from the next year, but the school will also be able to increase their student strength up to 500.
Distributing Artificial Nests & Water Bowl for Birds
Ambedkar Shiksha Kendra School's Current Condition
Back in the year 2024, we conduct a study on the residential birds of Dhamtiri and Dharamjaigarh Forest Division. As an outcome of the report, we found that a massive declination of the residential bird population has been observed. Major reason behind this declination is climate change, forest habitat loss and illegal hunting of wildlife for bush meat. To make a difference for the residential birds we have planned to provide support for the local residential birds of Dhamtiri District through distributing 100 artificial nests for them where they can easily stay and 200 water bowls where they can drink water during the upcoming summer season. We are distributing this items to the local villagers so that the awareness regarding them will also increases and the case of illegal hunting for bush meat also reduce. This initiative is currently ongoing, and it need your support still. To support this initiative, you can also contribute here ==> Donate