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 these are our ongoing projects:
In-situ conservation of the Gooty Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)
P. metallica or Gooty Tarantula is one of the most beautiful looking Tarantula species found in India, which is confined to a small, isolated single reserve forest of less than 100 square kilometers between Nandyal and Giddalur in Andhra Pradesh and also (very recently) found in a reserved forest near Gingee, extending its known range to parts of the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu.
We are currently studying on the distribution of these species in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Apart from this we are also working on their ecology and analyzing their threat factors. Apart from this we are also executing community engagement programs to spread awareness on the Gooty Tarantula among the local villagers.
Studying Phenotypic Plasticity or Adaptation of Common Evening Brown
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.
Expanding Chamomile Cultivation in Chotanagpur Plateau Region to Escalate the Economic Condition of the Forest Adjacent Villages
In this financial year 2025-26 we have planned to expand our chamomile cultivation in more 10 Ha lands in Murshidabad and Birbhum district West Bengal apart from Bankura and Purulia District. So far we have involved 77 farmers in this activity till the last year which we have planned to increase up to 200 farmers this year. During this work we have planned to engage 50 more SHGs in this program.
