Projects

INTRODUCTION: Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. Plant taxonomy or classification is the science of naming organisms and placing them in a hierarchical structure, each level being given a name. Taxonomy is the term derived from the Greek words taxis (arrangement) and nomos (law).Plant taxonomy is one of the earliest scientific disciplines that emerged thousands of years ago, even before the important contributions of the Greeks and Romans. In the fifteenth-sixteenth centuries, plant taxonomy benefited from the Great Navigations. the invention of the printing press, the creation of botanic gardens, the use of the drying technique to preserve plant specimens. Taxonomy is dynamic, beautiful and frustrating and challenging all at the same time.

Programs  This program was organized for PHF team to review & analyse progress in implementation of projects they have funded for livelihood development of tribal & Forest Dwelling Communities in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Projects were implemented by Vidarbha Nature Conservation Society. The program started at 12.00 PM and ended at 06:3OPM on 20th of February 2024.   Paulzola visit.   Step 1 Welcome : The session was started with Welcome of Members of Governing Board of Paul Hamlyn Foundation UK  (PHF) by Women Leadership of Gram sabha paulzola. In a very traditional way by cleaning their feet, tilak , Gifting them traditional Gamchha & Gandhi cap to all members of PHF & Trustees of VNCS.     Step 2 : Meeting with Gram sabha & CFRMC : Afterwards both the teams of VNCS & PHF lead to the vanue of the meeting. Where Members of Governing Board of PHF had a long discussion with Gram Sabhas Wemens, youth, & elder’s of the village on Work Of VNCS with Gram Sabha, how VNCS helped tribals in claiming their right over the natural resources & Community Forest Area also had discussion on Women Empowerment, Nature Conservation and sustainable development.  Where Mr. Samsai Hidko, gram sabha adhyaksh of Paulzola . spoke about their struggle for CFR & hurdles that came to their way during the whole process. Where gram saabha standed  firmly together and claimed their ownership on community forest area & lake. Mr. Hidko also described how they are using the CFR area for natural regenratoin & lake for fishing. Where VNCS has helped them to form a  hatchery for reducing their expenses on fish seeds.  After a long discussion PHF team went to the lakeside to see fishing demonstration. Pic; Discussion with Gramsabha Paulzola Step 3 : Fishing Demonstration. Soon after discussion with Villagers PHF team went to nearby Lake to see how Gram sabha is taking care of Lake they got from CFR after year of struggle with Government authority. where Gram sabha, Fisheries group members gave them a Demonstration of fishing & how they are using CFR area as a income source & for betterment of the Village community. After all the Discussion & Fisheries Demonstion paulzola PHF team headed Towards sayyam ji house for lunch at 2.00 Pm   Pic; Demonstration of Fishing by fishery group of GS, Paulzola. Step 3 : Lunch at Paulzola. All the members of VNCS team & PHF had lunch at the house of Mr. Samsai Hidko adhyaksh of gramsabha Paulzola. After the lunch all the members of both team made their way to Dhamditola. Dhamditola Visit.  Step 1 : Grand Welcome at Dhamditola Dhamditola Visit started with a grand welcome to the PHF team with Drums and traditional tribal Dance where wemen involved female members of PHF in dance with them followed by a traditional dance showing tribal lifestyle with people’s wearing Costume of Tiger, Bear, Langoor and a forest guard.   Step 2 : Meeting & Discussion at Dhamditola. After the Tilak & welcome of PHF team headed towards Stage, where in Pandal all the members of gramsabha federation from Armori & Deori block were present. Program at Dhamditola started with a welcome adress by Project Officer Mr. Lalit Bhandarkar, followed by speech of Mr. Narayan Sachiv of group of gram sabha, Deori Block & Anita Salame, Women leader & sachiv of Gram sabha Ganeshpur, Gadchiroli . Where they talked about progress of gram sabha after getting CFR in 2012. Benefits of Lake deepening and increase in the level of groundwater by joint efforts of gramsabha & VNCS for progress of Marginal tribal community. The speeches was stopped in middle by Mr. Sachin Sachdeva sir,(Member Of PHF team) to have Discussion with sitting members of gramsabha federation form Gondia & Gadchiroli Districts. Where all the members of Governing Board of PHF & Trustees of VNCS had a long discussion with random gramsabha federation members on their problems, benefits the had by the help & support of VNCS, How they will Protect Jungle and the Ecosystem, what challenges they have in mind while Working for protection of Jal, Jungle Jameen (Land , Forest & water) How will they deal with bigger players like big companies & factory owners if they came to cut the jungle. & On increasing participation of women’s , youth & developing Women’s leadership on village level. The Governing Board Members of PHF had 2 hours long discussion with all the gram sabha federation member. Understanding their stand on nature conservation, regeneration & Human wildlife Conflict. Vote Of Thanks to all Participants of the Event by Mr. Lalit Bhandarkar, PO VNCS.   Step 3 : Site visits After a long discussion PHF team headed towards community forest areas to see the work on nature regeneration & Bamboo Plantation. Where Gramsabha explained them how they Took care of community forest area where Forest department had planted Bamboos & gramsabha hired a member for protection of 25 Ha. Land area. Which is now densely covered by Bamboo Plantation. Furthermore they visited to see natural regeneration work where Gramsabha has grown a jungle in 20 Ha. Of land area. By plantation and protected the plantation. PHF Governing Board Members Questioned Gram sabha members of Dhamditola on their work how they protected community forest area & what are the future plans they have in mind for natural regeneration and Increase Biodiversity in the Community Forest Area.   Day 2 : Roundtable Meeting On the 2nd day of the event a meeting was held at Roop resort to have a detailed discussion between all the members of VNCS & Members of Governing board of Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The 2 hours long Discusion was started at 9:00Pm and ended at 11:00Pm on 21st of Feb. 2024. Where All members had a discusiion on the future plans of VNCS and how they are going to achive desired result in Strengthening community, creating more Wemen leaders in the designated blocks and involvement of youth at

Involved in rehabilitation and resettlement of Land affectees due to the creation of National Park under Wildlife (Protection Act) in Pench National Park (Nagpur Dist.), Nawegaon National Park (Gondia Dist.), Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (Chandrapur) and Melghat Tiger Reserve (Amravati).

Networking of NGOs and Village forest Protection Communities in Maharashtra involved in environment and Joint Forest Management

VNCS implemented a project in collaboration with the State Government of Maharashtra for village Walani in Nagpur district. An extensive work of watershed area development, soil conservation, tree plantation, roads, community health/education, sanitation and sustainable agricultural development was undertaken.

This project involved working with 2000 villagers in 5 villages around biodiversity rich Nawegaon National Park in Gondia district of Maharashtra. The work comprised capacity building of community members in biodiversity conservation and related livelihoods.

VNCS is working with 15000 people in 150 villages in 10 CD blocks of Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia, Bhandara & Nagpur Dist. on promotion of participatory natural resource conservation, forest and land based sustainable livelihoods to bring reduction in poverty.

This project involved working with 5000 students and more than 140 villagers in 5 protected areas of Eastern Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The major issue being sensitizing the youth and also building a cadre of field level animators. Many of these young men have now promoted their own CBOs with a view to continue the process.

Project Title:  To organize and support forest dependent communities in Vidarbha, Maharashtra for more effective policies and market interventions to raise their incomes from farm and forest produce. The project proposes to address following issues related to:  Farm, forest and water based livelihoods for focused communities with an objective of increasing their incomes and livelihood options which are ecologically sound Active involvement of government programs and schemes in developing farm lands, forests and water resources of tribal and other forest dependent communities Community institution, NGOs and network of NGOs in the vicinity need to be capacitated by building their capacities for NRM based livelihood programs to create wider impact on communities, society and geographic areas Lack of awareness amongst general public groups and stakeholders about need and importance of protection, conservation and regeneration of natural resources through active involvement of communities and partnerships with government and NGOs Geographic Focus:  The project proposes to work directly and indirectly at grassroots and through the VLF ((Vidarbha Livelihood Forum)) NGO network in Vidarbha region. This will include promotion of land, water and forest based sustainable livelihoods working directly in 15 villages (10 villages of Gadchiroli districts and 5 villages of Gondia district) and also support similar activities in operational villages of VLF members in Vidarbha. The project participants are tribal and other poor forest dependent communities developing their farm lands, community forests for Minor Forest Produces and water bodies for irrigation and fisheries. Each NGO is working in at least 40 to 50 villages thus 300+ villages will benefit from inputs from this project in at least poverty-stricken seven districts of Vidarbha region.  The project will address these issues by implementing relevant schemes from concerned government agencies and by facilitating their partnership with local communities.   LONG TERM GOAL Assured natural resource based livelihoods for forest dependent communities through partnership with development agencies. And, various stakeholders including CSOs and their networks are aware of environmental issues and start responding to them by conserving and regenerating their ecosystem around.   Project Objectives: Active village community institutions and their District and Regional level Federations with acquired skills in planning, implementing and managing their local natural resources for sustainable livelihoods Active partnerships between community institutions and government agencies for implementation of various progressive policies and programs related to agriculture, forests, water and Minor Forest Produce (MFP) resources for development of forest dependent communities. Increased incomes of the community from agriculture, forests especially trading of MFPs (Tendu, Moha and Bamboo) and fisheries at least by 40% from third year with assured nutrition. Women’s demonstrated representation at leadership, livelihood benefits, dialogue with government agencies and active participation in all decision making processes. Strengthened NGO network (Vidarbha Livelihood Forum) effectively managing their grassroots development programs and helping communities to access programs and schemes meant for them. Responsive larger public groups and stakeholders especially youth, schools/college students, medical practitioners, CSOs, environmentalists/experts, etc. and aware of the need of environmental conservation and management and propagation of the same on the ground.   Major Activities Developed Village Level livelihood Plans for implementation by seeking resources from concerned development agencies Capacity Building of village community leaders to help them manage their development programs in long run and evolving sustainability of land, water and forest based intervened development activities Technical Experts (Consultants) have been engaged for need based inputs in the areas of land and sustainable farming practices, water conservation, nursery raising and plantation, MFP processing and trading, formation and capacity building of Regional and district Federations of village institutions, promotion of fisheries, constructive dialogue with authorities and traders, use of GPS, etc., to create sustainable livelihoods.  Staff Capacity Building and Meetings on project themes for effectively promoting and strengthening community institutions and facilitating project activities and processes at various levels (communities, development agencies, VLF members and stakeholders).  Facilitate Partnership with government line departments for land, water and forest based sustainable livelihoods for focused communities  District Coordination workshops with Line Departments for Partnerships and Convergence for realization of livelihood plans  Promoting Minor Forest Produce harvesting and trading  Marketing feasibility studies for trading of MFPs, Inland Fishing and Eco-tourism.  Strengthening CSO Network through capacity building and field level support for wider impact on focused communities in Vidarbha Region Communication with diverse stakeholders for propagation of successful environmental management interventions of VNCS network for wider impact on society  Midterm Review and End Project Evaluation for mid-term corrections, if any and learning for VNCS and stakeholders