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Commonwealth NGOs
related to forestry | | |
 Ecological Society
1 B Abhimanshree Society
off Pashan Road,
Pune 41008
Maharashtra
India
Email: pgole@pn2.vsnl.net.in
Website: www.ecological-society.org
Type: Research NGO
Scope: national
Interest in Forestry: peripheral
Description
Human activities affect ecology .Historically human civilizations have destroyed forests, ravaged mountain
slopespolluted water & air-and have perished as a consequence .Even to-day our
development plans directed to enhance the economic well-being of our peopleaffect the drastically
modify ecology, mostly in an adverse manner, and as a consequence imperil our own lives.
Howeververy few of us realize that development plans which neglect ecologycan prove disastrous in
the long run. Through researchthe Ecological Society will endeavor to study the impact of
developmental activities on ecologythrough education, the Society will try to make people aware of
the implication of these adverse effects, and through field projects, will set up model units where
economics planning and ecological conservation complement each other to better the lot of the people.
While research projects undertaken by the Society will cover both rural and urban areas, the
model units proposed to be set up will be based in rural and semi-urban areas .The thrust of the Society`s
demonstration work will thereforebe concentrated in the rural and the so called backward
areas of our country.
SARUS CRANE SURVEY:-
In 1989 the Society embarked upon its first countrywide project to assess the status of the largest
flying bird in the world, the Sarus Crane. The project involved the study o an and bird inter
relationship and after a very extensive survey of continental and eastern India, the Society made its
report to the Wildlife Department of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi. It
highlighted the sad part that the Sarus had disappeared from many regions of its former range.
DISCOVERY OF THE WINTERING BLACKNECKS :-
The Society launched out to ‘rediscover’ the Black necked Crane, as a wintering species in India at
the insistence of Central Ministry of Env. and forests. It turned out to be a four-year marathon, the
final two years being at the Society’s own meagre resources. The Society was rewarded when it indeed
did rediscover this rare highland crane as a wintering
species in India after a gap of about 35 years.
ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT :-
The Society took up the challenge of drafting an eco-development plan for one of the most sensitive
watersheds in our state of Maharashtra, namely, the catchments area of Panshet dam. A two-year
socio-economic and ecological survey of the area preceded the drafting of the plan. The plan was acclaimed
by the central Ministry of Env. and the Planning Dept. of the Government for envisaging
conservation of water in the hill areas, development of the natural resources of the hills and wildlife
conservation.
ECO-DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE RIVER-FRONTS OF PUNE:-
The Society began its work by drafting a development plan to improve the river course of Pune city.
Pune’s twin rivers carry an enormous load of sewage, industrial effluents and other urban waste. It
was a challenge to
improve the water quality, clean the surroundings, rehabilitate the riverine life such as plants, fish
and birds and still retain the uses to which the urban population require the river water. Drafter in
1982,
this was
probably the first river improvement plan in India.
Other projects include conservation of biodiversity, environmental improvement of dams, canals and reservoirs,
cost effective method of afforestation and training of the armed forces for environmental
improvement of their surroundings.
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