About Us
Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society (VNCS) is a registered non – governmental organization. It was founded by a group of environmentalists in 1986 with a view to help forest dependent communities to earn their livelihoods from local natural ecosystem. Using this base, from inception, VNCS has worked on environmental education and awareness, natural resource based sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, building partnerships with government departments to implement development programs and schemes. Our Executive Committee (EC) elected from General Body is too diverse in class, caste and gender. Of the 7 members 3 are women.
Geographic Focus
VNCS works in over 150 villages of districts of Gondia, Gadchiroli, Nagpur and Bhandara of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state. This region is part of central India facing climate change challenges leading to depletion of natural resources. VNCS works with tribal and other poor and marginalized communities dwelling in forest areas who suffer most due to these challenges facing drought-like conditions almost every year. It presently covers over one hundred thousand people who are largely small and marginal land holders and landless families surviving on forest produce and locally available farm labor or other casual work.
VNCS has also facilitated formation of a network of similar minded CSOs/NGOs namely Vidarbha Livelihood Forum which operates in Vidarbha region for development of tribal and other poor since 2006. VNCS provides need-based support to NGO members of this network to strengthen their village development activities and convergence with public development schemes. This is also to certify that VNCS do not work for lobbying or involve in any political activity in any form in its operational area or elsewhere.
Executive Committee
President
Dr. Mrs. Kalpana Kalaskar
M.Sc.(Entomology), Ph.D.
Vice-President
Dr. N.R. Ugemuge (Rtd)
M.Sc.(Botany), Ph.D.
Retired professor emirates (Botany), eminent educationist, many research papers to his credit on medicinal plants.
Secretary
Prof. Mr. Shriram Shende (Rtd)
M.Sc. (Chemistry)
Known Educationist and Social worker
Joint Secretary
Mr. Gunvant Vaidhya
M.S.W.
Working on informal education, rural development, health & women empowerment.
Treasurer
Mr. Rajendra Aghav
M.F.A.
Working in the field of environmental education, welfare of the hearing impaired.
Member
Mrs. Meenakshi Gode
B.Com.
Social Worker
Member
Mrs. Hema Deshpande
M.Sc.(Environmental Science)
Environmental Scientist and Social Worker
Advisor (Forestry)
Mr. Amit S. Kalaskar
IFS, B.Sc., P.G. Dip. in Wildlife(WII)
Rtd. Chief Conservator of Forests. Known wildlife conservationist and retired forester, many researches appear to his credit.
Technical Advisor
Mr. Wasudeo Kulmethe
M.Sc., Rtd. DFO
Technical Advisor (Community Forestry & Livelihoods) at VNCS. Working on the management of MFP, FRA, BDA & livelihoods with Gram Sabhas.
Executive Director
Mr. Dilip Gode
B.Sc., NRM & NTFP
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Our Memorandum of Association spells out the need and importance of maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion of poor and vulnerable persons. We work towards the same while working in the field. Our annual General Body meeting and quarterly EC meetings take stock of beneficiaries with special reference to number of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and women are reached out during the year. Persons with diversity and qualification are encouraged to participate in our organization at various level.
Our Mission
Promote ecological balance through nature conservation and people's participation for just and equitable life for communities dependent on natural resources. This is to be achieved through training, capacity building, information sharing, promotion of land, water and forest based livelihood models, networking of CSOs and dialogue with development agencies for implementation of environmental policies and programs.
Issues Addressed
- Depletion of natural resources and its impacts on livelihoods, poverty amongst tribal and rural poor.
- Climate change impact on communities and natural resources.
- Implementation of development programs and policies through convergence
- Gender discrimination and
- Introduction of climate resilient farming practices through community participation.
Past Work Details
Desilting of water bodies in 15 villages for better water management for sustainable irrigation and inland fishing practices supported by State Forest Department.
VNCS and VLF members jointly worked for Community development in 50 villages. This collaboration involved convergence with state schemes for implementation of village forest conservation and livelihood plans. This directly benefited 5,926 households in various districts of Vidarbha with support from Tribal Development Department, Maharashtra Govt.
Developed natural resource management plans in 75 villages of 5 districts in Vidarbha for better community governance and village development with support from Tribal Development Department, Maharashtra Government with VLF members. We have experience of successfully handling finances from foreign donor agencies, government agencies and CSR
Sustainable management of forests in 50 villages for tribal in Gondia and Gadchiroli districts.
Strengthening of community village institutions for development of natural resources in Gadchiroli, Gondia and Nagpur Districts with support from Forest Department.
Developing community governance in 24 villages of Gadchiroli, Gondia and Nagpur District.
Regions We Work In
Nagpur
Gondia
Bhandara
