NATURE CLUB
SURAT
Environment Education & Research centre
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Environment Education & Research centre
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Nature Education Camp - Dangs 2008 Wild Venture Camp Dandeli, Karnataka Bird Watching Trip Nalsarovar 2009 Himalayan Experience camp Manali 2009 Nature Art & Craft Workshop, Saputara Opportunities @ Nature Club Surat |
Jungle Book is a Bimonthly newsletter of Nature Club Surat
JUNGLE BOOK... JULY - 2007 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK Dear Friends, Monsoon has begun and tree planting has started at a frenetic pace. The good news is that phase II of the Gavier project has begun. All the formalities for ecological development of the land adjoining Gavier lake has been completed. This gives us an ample opportunity to plant trees. Members of the club are visiting Gavier wetland every Sunday morning at 6:30am for this purpose. So, do join us for the same. The club plans to make a Nature Interpretation Center on the periphery of the lake. For this purpose, I request our valued members to contribute. The center will serve a multi purpose location to have exhibits and will serve as a guide to visitors. It will also provide a classroom structure for our regular one-day camps conducted for schools on regular basis. As of every year, we celebrated the environment day. The environment day, this year assumed special importance, as the club with help of residents of Adajan rescued 300 year old Baobabs from road expansion. The expansion could easily have been done with careful planning, without requiring to cut the trees. SMC staff members saw the point and the road expansion was reorganized without requirement to cut the trees, by creating a traffic island. So, this Environment day, the club organized competitions beneath the Baobab tree. As a part of conservation activity, the club also conducted an extensive vulture survey during this period over South Gujarat region and identified key sites. A detailed report is available on our website. ActivitiesSnake showsTo create awareness amongst the public and school children on snakes, various snake shows were organized. Through these programs, the participants were informed about the importance of snakes in our life and their role in the ecosystem. During the months of April, May and June Snake shows were performed at the following schools on the respective dates. A total of 4350 students participated in this program.
Anti-Plastic Cycle RallyAn anti-plastic rally was organized on 20 April 2007, to create awareness amongst the people about the harmful impacts of plactic. The purpose was to educate people to avoid and reduce use of plastic bags in routine life.The rally started from Piplod heading towards Ichhanath and Umra, Parle Point, Ghod-dod Road and onwards. In the modern age, the uses of plastic have increased tremendously. There are many advantages of plastics, but on the other hand there are many disadvantages. Plastic is one kind of thing which does not get decompose. Plastic particle intake is carcinogenic. If it is recycled, plastic can be reused reducing plastic waste. However, very thin plastic bags are hard to recycle and need to be disposed. In a city like Surat, tonnes of plastic waste is disposed off every day. Besides being an eyesore, due to this disposal of plastics, on an average 2-3 cattle die everyday, by swallowing plastic. People throw flowers for religious purposes in the river, along with plastic bags. Such bags are swallowed by many fishes and turtles and they die due to it. Vulture conservation activitiesTo protect and save Vultures our club in conjunction with BCSG, have undertaken the Vulture Conservation Project. Awareness programs are done in various schools, and meetings and discursions are organized with public and veterinary doctors of that region. Our club also conducted a very extensive survey on vulture nesting and roosting sites. On 17th June 2007, a film show was organized at Suvali village on “Vanishing Vultures” followed by the same in the Umarigar School on 23rd June, 07. Click here for Detail Report of Vulture Survey, Surat and Dang District One day camp at Gavier and Eco farmDuring this camp children participated in various activities such as bird watching, photo show with bird calls, nature trail, balancing, rock climbing, river crossing, nature talk etc.
Nature Art and Craft Work-shop, SaputaraOur club had organized Nature Art and Craft workshop at Saputara. Three batches were conducted where, participants from various schools took part and had fun with learning. 1st batch from 22nd-25th April, 2007 2nd batch from 26th-30th April, 2007 3rd batch from 24th -28th May, 2007 Himalayan Nature Education CampDuring summer holidays, as usual, our members participated in Himalayan Nature education camp near Manali. The camp conducted every year, was from 9th -21st May, 2007. Jeep SafariWe often organize Camps at various places in Gujarat and also in the Himalayas but this year we went for something new and exciting. We arranged a Jeep Safari in Leh and Ladakh. The safari was conducted during 1st -14th June, 2007. Report: Volunteers training camp -Darshan JardoshVolunteers are the backbone of any organization. This is true for Nature Club Surat as well. Our volunteers play an important role in conducting different activities of the club. To conduct these activities, volunteers must possess skills in many areas. It is therefore essential that the skills of the volunteers are continuously enhanced. It is precisely with this objective, that the club had organized a training program for the volunteers at Polo forest in Sabarkantha district. A total of 15 volunteers participated in this Volunteers’ training camp. The training was held under the able guidance of Mr. Mayur Mistry, Ulupi. Mistry and Manishaben. The program spanning 5 days covered a wide range of topics in running an organization. The topics covered the aims and objectives, day-to-day management as well financial concepts. The role of volunteer as a vital cog in the organizational structure was clearly identified. One of the interesting things we learned was creating an Environment Education Game. For making such a game one needs to have aim, concepts, the proper age group, good number of participants, accessories and tools. We worked on the above mentioned requirements and were able to make 6 such games during our stay. Polo is a very dense and rich forest, teeming with bird life. With many experienced bird watchers on the team and with the expertise of Mr Mayur Mistry, bird watching was a great fun. We recorded several species of birds during our stay. The terrain also features many rocky patches and it gave a vent to our adventurous side, as we did rock climbing and bouldering We also visited a temple located in the forest. The Government has placed this temple in "World Heritage Site". The architectural structure of this temple was explained to us by Mayurbhai. Looking closely it appears like a person lying down on the floor in the position like "Padmasana". As at this time there was moonlight at night we had a short trek by the road side and due to the moonlight we enjoyed the beauty of the forest in a different way at night. I would like to conclude this note, by stressing the many advantages of the camp in enhancing our skills. We hope our Club organizes such training camps in future, so other volunteers can also participate. SPCA ReportVolunteers of our Club had attended various calls in last few months. A large number of birds and reptiles were rescued and cared for. If you find any injured bird, animal or reptile in or around your place, please contact our SPCA wing on the following numbers: 98254-80908 and 99797-30036 Upcoming ProgramsNature Education CampsMonsoon camp DangsCome rains, and Dangs is at its greenest and best. The streams are in their full flow and at every corner and the beauty of clouds treading in the hills is truly a glorious sight. So, let us go to Dangs, this monsoon. Departure from Surat: 6.00 am Arrival at Surat: 8:30 pm Fees: Rupees 900 for members, 925 for non-members. Dates: Batch 1: 21-22 July 2007 Batch 2: 28-29 July 2007 Batch 3: 04-05 August 2007 You should be above 8 years to participate in this program Please book your seats at the earliest. Please contact Viral. Prajapati. – 98250-57678 and 99797-30036 Butterfly WatchingSo, you have participated in our bird watching activities. Do you know how many species of butterflies are found in our area? How do you identify them? How do they breed? Have you seen a migratory swarm of butterflies? All there is know on butterflies – we have primer for you! And it is no classroom – right in to field study! Don’t miss it! Date: 26 Aug 2007 Time: 7:00 am Location: Eco Farm, Vesu. Tree plantation at Gavier wetland protection projectAs members are aware that we have taken up the project to protect Gavier wetland, located close to the city. Gavier Lake houses numerous species of resident and migratory birds, aquatic life as well as smaller mammals like the otter. Nature club Surat has fenced the entire perimeter of the lake and has raised native species of trees along the banks of the lake. Additionally, we have hired gardener to maintain and protect the fencing and plantations from grazing. The campaign has borne results as was evident from the waterfowl census conducted this year, which was the highest in recent years. The good news continues, as the club has acquired adjoining area of the lake for ecological development. So, we will be conducting tree plantation in this region. If you haven’t visited Gavier Lake recently, now is the opportunity to do so and see the changes for yourself! The following days, the tree planting program is scheduled.
Nature education camp DangsWhat’s better than a winter camp, with songs around lantern fire, hiking, swimming and making new friends? Only one thing -NATURE EDUCATION CAMP. We take all fun of a regular camp and add something special: Nature study and exciting adventures and experiences to develop love for nature. Set deep amidst the most beautiful and dense part of Gujarat’s thickest forest, be party to songs of the Shama and listen to beckoning of the jungle fowl. Our Nature education camp is designed to help you to discover the wonderful world of nature. It is a change of pace – a chance to learn about the natural history and ecology of our forests. So this Diwali break, be there! Because, being with nature can be one of the life’s unforgettable experiences. Activities
Dates:
Age group: 8 years and above. Please contact Viral Prajapati for further details. – 98250-57678 and 99797-30036. Also do not miss our regular programs, Slide shows, Talks and short trips. Visit our weekly meetings on regular basis to stay informed! Features An amazing experience- Darshan Jardosh. I would like to share a small experience of mine with you here. Hope you all will enjoy reading it and knowing what I observed. It was a very unique experience I witnessed. One early morning as I was passing by my house, I found a Pupa stuck on a wet wall. The size of the Pupa was about 1.3 cm and it was dry light brown color. After 10 days once again I went to check for the Pupa on the wall. And on reaching I was surprised to see that one insect was trying to come out from the pupa in the bright sunlight of the morning. I thought the effort was being made by one single insect to come out but I was totally wrong as to my astonishment I found more than 25 black colored insects coming out of the same pupa. My eyes couldn't believe this scene. They were of 0.3mm in size. I was astonished and was anxious to know what exactly that was. So I went and got a magnifying glass and had a closer look at it. And I found that they were small babies of a Praying Mentis which came out the pupa. Isn't it amazing!!! ?
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