Understanding Forest Communities

DAY 1:

What drives me? The participants were asked to reflect upon the primary motivational questions that would colour all their involvement with the forest, not just at the workshop, but in the working contexts where they are.

• Why are you doing this?
• What do you need to do?
• How will you go about doing it?

It is not enough to do a series of activities because the Project/Management requires it. It is important to get in touch with the inner drive (why), to make it one’s own. This spirit is contagious and will go a long way in making the beneficiaries, co-owners of the project.
The “What” and “How” seek to understand the thinking, strategies behind the activities prescribed by the Project and open the door to contextual creativity.

It is not enough to do a series of activities because the Project/Management requires it. It is important to get in touch with the inner drive (why), to make it one’s own. This spirit is contagious and will go a long way in making the beneficiaries, co-owners of the project.
The “What” and “How” seek to understand the thinking, strategies behind the activities prescribed by the Project and open the door to contextual creativity.

The participants were then introduced to various sampling methods and the required skills. They then went in small groups to different habitats in the campus, and marked quadrants to quantify the vegetation there. They applied various principles depending on the habitat – species count, density, foliage count, canopy height and cover, tree trunk girth …etc.

In the evening, the focus shifted from vegetation to spotting and identification of birds.

DAY 2.

The participants were introduced to Google Earth Pro and other GPS tools that could assist with the work back in the project areas. They were given an assignment and a time-frame within which it is to be completed.

In the last session each Centre was invited to reflect on how the learning here could be applied back in the Project area and what further skills could be acquired to boost activities.

Shirpur

Need to address the question of barren hills and depleted vegetation cover as part of the Climate Change response.

1. Collect information on earlier forest cover by quadrant sampling in forested areas of Shirpur taluka or bordering areas of Chopda taluka.
2. Use Snowball sampling technique to gather information from village elders.  This could contribute to the Project by building participation and ownership of the villagers.
3. Gather bio-ethnic information transmitted through cultural channels – songs, stories, traditional practices …etc.
4. Dedicate a part of the Shirpur campus to propagation of RET vegetation (Rare, Extinct, threatened), gathered with assistance of village elders. The Project could also create dedicated private spots in villages where locals are highly motivated.

Manor

While Manor has been earmarked as an Eco-campus and a blueprint for the campus already deployed, it doesn’t have a formal Project to guide the way forward.  Some of the thoughts that came up:

1. Using natural processes to reclaim the terrain from the tall grass — Build canopy cover, rebuild alternative ground cover. 
2. Collect information by sampling neighbouring forests and village elders.  Contact Forest Department for recorded information.
3. The animators showed interest in the protection of birds and reptiles.  Annas offered to put them in contact with someone in that area who catches snakes.  Dr. Merwyn will prepare a small PPT presentation they could use.
4. The 500 children covered by the village classes could be a good starting point. Warli stories and songs that evoke the bonds with nature, could catalyse the process.  Mr. Madhukar Vadu could be approached for further ideas.

Sudhagad

Two of the three animators are newly recruited, with no prior exposure to the Project.

1. The various sampling skills could be usefully employed to further explore the diversity of NTFP. 
2. A further training aimed at sampling of aquatic life in the main river and tributaries could also be planned.
3. GPS plotting could be usefully employed in locating and assessing the forest plots of locals.
4. Agroecology practices to boost NTFP as a supplement to millets.

Tara

The workshop helped confirms JVT’s status as an Eco-campus.

1. It offered a deeper insight into the different habitats on the campus.
2. It confirmed “Nature-based solutions” as the focus for the Tara campus and identified a couple of experimental projects that could be initiated.
3. A greater appreciation of the resources available at the Tara campus and possible linkages to develop.
4. Mr. Annas has expressed his desire to work on an experimental project highlighting the human-nature interaction to retake parts of the campus from two invasive species.  A project will be drawn up and funding sought.
5. Further interaction with MSC-I at SXC has to be worked out.

The Workshop was short and very introductory in nature, but the response and participation were very encouraging.  We look forward to furthering our efforts in supporting other eco-related projects and developing the eco-campus at Tara.  Sincere thanks to all the participants, resource persons and the Institution heads that supported the workshop.

Wendell D’Cruz, S.J.
Director, JVT, Tara.
30 December 2024