A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices
Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices Aug 2016 Authors: MV Rama Chandrudu Beneta Mahanta Waseem Mohammad Anitha Reddy V MB Vali Saab Editors: K Suresh MV Rama Chandrudu Visuals:Cheriyal Nakashi Artists Family - Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons). Design and Layout : Ankush Copy Left : These case studies could be used for non-commercial use, with proper acknowledgement. Supported by : Indian Foundation for Humanistic Development, Bengaluru Produced by : WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities Network) Produced for Leaders For Nature Program. This program is collectively organized by CII; Hivos; IUCN; Wild Life Trust of India. IFHD is anchoring the Leaders for Nature Program. Published by: IFHD, Bengaluru
Acknowledgements I am very happy to present "Imprints of Ecological Footprints ‌. A compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices". I take this opportunity to thank all organizations and individuals who contributed to the process of documenting these good practices. They were kind to frankly share with us their experiences, thoughts, challenges and achievements. They also shared relevant data to substantiate any critical point from their experiences. Some of them even prepared the first drafts of these case studies. They also revised them, based on our feedback. All the organizations/ individuals happily gave consent for publishing these case studies and using them for learning purposes under "Leaders for Nature" program of IFHD, IUCN, CII, Hivos and Wild Life Trust of India. The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is also a humbling experience for us to learn several lessons from these interactions and visits to several villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program. The Writeshop was one of the important events of this process. We got guidance and feedback on the '0' drafts from the participants of the writeshop. This was useful in refining the initial drafts. The participants of writeshop also made important suggestions on the presentation and utility of these case studies. From their busy schedules, they spared few days for refining these case studies, which is a very kind gesture. I thank everyone who participated in the writeshop. Their inputs are invaluable. I thank Ms. Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD for having faith in WASSAN and entrusting us the responsibility of compiling these case studies. She is an active team member at all critical stages of the project and guided us on choice of case studies, structure/ framework, presentation, etc. The partnership with IFHD is really cherished by all of us, at WASSAN.
I also thank the family of artists of Cheriyal - Shri D Vaikuntam, Mrs D Vanaja, Mr D Vinay and D Rakesh, who visualized these experiences in their own unique style. My team -MB Vali, Anitha Vustela, Waseem Mohammad, Benita Mahanta, Radhashree who spent considerable time on this agenda. I also thank K Suresh for providing editorial inputs and support at various stages of this process. MV Rama Chandrudu WASSAN Aug 2016
Foreword It is almost three decades back, the threats to "Our Common Future" were formally identified and deliberations started gaining more steam and support from governments too‌ (Our Common Future,Gro Harlem Brundtland, 1987). Climate Change and its implications were also slowly getting recognized during this period. The need for "producing more with less" was also part of this thinking process, as a means to address the challenges of the future. Over a period of time, the world witnessed more economic distress, unemployment, political turmoil and ecological disasters across different countries and regions of world. Those early predictions seemed to be less threatening than the current reality. The global gloom got predictable companions - unscrupulous industrial growth, irresponsible urbanization, careless global politics, dishonest governments, self-centric citizenship, which tried to glorify the current trends as achievements and inevitable solutions. In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of this trend. These experiences bring cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They were able to take a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities. These case studies give a hope and confidence that we can face the cruel world and transform the same into a comfortable place for all - including endangered species, poor and marginalized communities. While Corporate Social Responsibility is gaining more support
from governments, corporate agencies and development agencies, these experiences provide guidance and help them to think about alternatives. These experiences help the willing and discerning development agencies and investors in social change, to transcend the mundane "photo stories" of majority of current CSR interventions. They provide an array of options, strategies and ideas that proved themselves in different parts of the country. I thank all the organizations and agencies who shared their stories - highs and lows of it, with us frankly and completely. I thank them for providing leadership on the chosen theme - promoting biodiversity; conservation and governance of natural resources; promoting ecologically sensitive production processes; enhancing livelihoods by developing environmentally harmonious economic models and several others. These experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which are jointly organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other like-minded organizations. I thank WASSAN for producing this compilation of case studies and supporting us in this endeavor.
Aruna Rangachar Pohl IFHD, Bengaluru Aug 2016
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yotika Chatterjee (12th Standard Student, Gowahti, Assam) was very excited. For the first time, she stood first in her class in biology and also got a first prize in essay competition on importance of biodiversity in economic development, in her town. She found her source of inspiration on these subjects in an unlikely place - a specially designed train on the railway platform of Gowhati town. Exactly on the other side of India, in Rapar Taluka, Kutch district of Gujarat, Karshan Bhai was also pleasantly surprised with his son's hidden capacity. His son was awarded as the most knowledgeable person in the village on the local environment. His son could accurately recall names of 728 plants that are available in the village and also enlist the uses of 156 plants. During Sodh Yatra by SRISTI, a competition was organized by Yatrees for the local youth/ students. Till then, no one knew that Hasmukh, Karshan Bhai's son, is so knowledgeable about local plants, for that matter that there are so many varieties of plants in a village in Kutch that is almost like a desert. Albert is busy learning a new song on his guitar, along with his friends in a small village near Doyang Reservoir in Wokha district, Nagaland. The Reaching the Unreached
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song is about Amur Falcon, an unusual theme for a Conservation of natural resources, promoting biodiversity and ecological security and group of young boys and environment - are important for current and girls, who are part of a future generations. As these issues require local orchestra. These action at local level and also global level, it is young students call very important to orchestrate actions at both themselves "Friends of the the levels. A common citizen is busy with dayAmur Falcon" and they are to-day activities and survival related issues and planning to perform not necessarily informed about the importance of these issues. This could lead to apathy and several special musical further degradation. In such a situtation, it is events in the district that very important to create awareness and give a message on improve sensitivity on these issues. It is "importance of providing expected that awareness and sensitivity would safe passage to Amur lead to action (for change). Campaigns on Falcons". Moving away conservation and biodiversity are important part of this process. These campaigns need to from normal songs, this be organized with consistency and focus. These orchestra picked up new campaigns require considerable resources - songs and they are happy human; financial; infrastructure and time. Each singing them all the way‌. campaign also should have a specific focus and They believe that they are expected end result. These campaigns bring inspiring the youth and attention to the specific issue among the target others in the district, for groups and motivate them to take necessary protecting the Amur action. Falcons, which visit their district each year. This group of singers is inspired by lessons learned from the Eco Club in the village. Importance of Campaigns‌
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Jyotika, Hasmukh bhai, Alberts stand apart, while thousands of young persons are ignorant about the issues related to destructive development processes and degradation of environment and biodiversity at local level. Absence of public awareness on the importance of biodiversity to human well-being ranks as one of the most seriou issues in India. Without this awareness, citizens and stakeholders are not likely to take steps needed to mainstream biodiversity considerations into their lives. Lack of public awareness also contributes to the relatively low political priority of biodiversity. Jyotika, Hasmukh bhai, Albert are fortunate to get an opportunity to learn about nature, environment & biodiversity and discover their own surroundings. They were also able to spread their newly acquired knowledge to others and inspire them to take action on protecting their environment, nature and biodiversity. How did this happen? All three of them had an opportunity to participate in campaigns that highlight importance of conserving nature, environment and biodiversity. Some of these innovative campaigns in India celebrated the biodiversity of India. They could reach out to large population, create awareness, inspire them to take action and also made them sensitive about the importance of biodiversity.
Biodiversity on Wheels - Science Express This train did not carry passengers, but an important message. This message was specially designed to celebrate the diversity of India ecological, environmental and biological. The Science Express is a unique initiative of the Department of Science & Technology and Ministry of 4
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Environment & Forests, Government of India. First launched as 'Science Express' in October 2007, the innovative mobile exhibition, mounted on a specially designed 16-coach AC train, travelled across India in 4 phases before it was redesigned as 'Science Express - Biodiversity Special' (SEBS). Since then, the SEBS exhibition train has travelled over 86,000 kms across the country. With over 87 lakh visitors at 270 halts and 1000 exhibition days to date, SEBS is the largest, longest and most visited mobile science exhibition in India. Eight out of the 16 SEBS coaches are dedicated to showcasing the biodiversity across India's bio-geographical zones through interactive exhibits, films, displays, kiosks, backlit panels, etc. The remaining coaches display exhibits on climate change, energy and water conservation, and other topics in science. The popular Joy of Science lab, mounted on an exclusive coach, guides students through activities on scientific concepts. Teacher training workshops also take place on the train in half-coach 'classrooms'. On railway platforms, children can also participate in games, quizzes, painting competitions, elocutions, just-a-minute, etc. Forty science post-graduate students are also available to facilitate and explain the exhibits' contents. SEBS is considered a landmark awareness campaign in creating/ changing children's attitudes towards biodiversity and its importance to sustainable living. As SEBS stops in all Indian states, it will make a difference nationwide and change the idea of conservation on a large scale. Recently, Government of India changed the main focus on this campaign from biodiversity to climate change. This express is now called "Science Express - Climate Action Special". The mode of operation remains the same. Reaching the Unreached
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SRISTI: Celebrating Local Knowledge Sys SRISTI's food festivals have generated awareness tems on Biodiversity among children and women about organic and Innovations Food - As an Indicator of Biodiversity
farming and organic farm products. During these festivals, participants showcase foods and organic food products from across India. Women and children participate in recipe and quiz competitions. Considering the critical links between food and culture, the food festivals which have brought together an assorted group of foods, recipes and food products - provide not only a cursory glance at the existing cultural diversity within Indian society, but also the importance of maintaining biodiversity for bringing in diversified food items on to the plate‌.
While SEBS took available knowledge and message to each town on train, SRISTI did the opposite. While they walked along the villages, "Sodh Yatras" of SRISTI explored the hidden, new and local knowledge systems in each village and made them visible to the world outside. SRISTI, Ahmedabad (Honey Bee Network) believed that local communities are repositories of knowledge and there are several innovators and innovations that could solve some of the toughest problems in rural areas. Sodh Yatras are designed to explore these hidden talents, knowledge and celebrate them in their own context. SRISTI organizes Sodh Yatras each year in different parts of India. In these Sodh Yatras farmers, innovators, students, development activists, teachers and others join. A typical Sodh Yatra would cover about 30 to 100 km of walk, covering villages on the selected route. Each Sodh Yatra would be for 10 to 20 days, depending on the distance and number of villages on the path. The Sodh Yatrees (members on the yatra) halt at 6
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each village and interact with the local villagers. During these interactions, they explore the issues related to biodiversity; innovations that local villagers have invented; knowledge systems related to agriculture/ livestock; food and culture. During these interactions, SRISTI organizes competitions to children, women and others on a variety of themes including biodiversity of the village. As an illustration, Sodh Yatras would conduct a competition for local youth in which prizes are given to those members who could identify maximum number of trees/ plants/ grasses and their uses. The competition reveals the local biodiversity in each village and also about the knowledge of this biodiversity in the local communities. After conducting village level competitions, SRISTI also conducts district/ state level competitions on biodiversity for students. These competitions are very popular in Gujarat and other parts of India. For instance, in Rapar Taluka, Kachchh District, the winner accurately recalled 728 plant names, wrote 572, and recalled the use of 156. In another competition in Banaskantha District, 364 students from nine schools participated. The winner accurately named 612 plants, wrote 265, recalled the use of 258, and obtained 89 samples. SRISTI's biodiversity competitions help shape children's attitudes towards biodiversity and its sustainable utilization. During these competitions, village children bring to school a list of plants in their area, identify the plants' uses, and collect non-endangered plant samples. They are awarded points and prizes based on meeting the criterion and score on quizzes about their respective lists.
Singing a New Song‌ The Nagas have traditionally hunted wild life, including the Amur 8
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falcon. These migratory raptors, weighing under 200 gms each, pass through the Indian subcontinent on their way to southern Africa every year, where they spend the winter. In October 2012, Conservation India first revealed news of mass killing of Amur falcons in Nagaland. Subsequently, Conservation India also visited Doyang Reservoir in Wokha District to produce a film on the local capture and sale of Amur falcons. The message was clear for them - the Amur Falcons would be extinct, if local communities do not change their practices. Conservation India collaborated with a large number of agencies such as Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Bird Life International, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Raptor Research and Conservation Foundation (RRCF) and Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) - as well as the Government of Nagaland. Nagaland Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Trust (NWBCT), an NGO based in Dimapur, Nagaland took the lead in sphere-heading a sustained campaign with the support of these organizations. These agencies decided that a large community based campaign should be organized to halt the process of killing Amur Falcons. Setting up base in Pangti village, NWBCT launched its 'Friends of the Amur Falcon' Campaign with a conservation education programme in the village in 2013. Eventually, the campaign successfully turned the site of the 2012 mass killing into a peaceful haven for tens of thousands of Amur Falcons during their annual migration. Credit goes to the Government of Nagaland and local communities, who swore to end the killings by becoming 'Friends of the Amur Falcon'. Daily, tens of thousands of falcons gather along the Doyang reservoir in Wokha District - probably the largest congregation of Reaching the Unreached
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migratory raptors in the world. The Forest Department, district administration, local NGOs, and police patrolled this area for local markets still selling the birds. The church, which exerts a major influence on Naga social life, also conducted services to spread the conservation message. The Government of Nagaland also worked with the local administration, Forest Department and communities involved in hunting to prepare to face the 2013 season, with NWBCT associates staying in contact with the government and community throughout. The Wokha District Deputy Commissioner's office issued a hunting ban and maintained its momentum through 2013, keeping the Forest Department appraised of developments in the villages and interventions by NGOs. NWBCT formed threeeco-clubs with 70 students from Wokha District's Pangti village, Sungro and Asha village, Doyang. During a preceding week-long workshop, NWBCT recruited teachers to create and manage the eco-clubs. NWBCT and Go Wild and Dusty Foot Productions developed a general introductory manual on the Amur falcon, wildlife and nature. The core focus was on Amur falcon - specific program with customised teaching manuals. NWBCT's 'Under the Canopy' programme also trained 20 teachers to run four eco-clubs and educate children on Amur falcons on a weekly basis. Eco Clubs promoted awareness among common citizens through music festivals and other awareness events. This campaign envisaged to establish a permanent safe haven for Amur Falcons in this region, by engaging local communities. As fisher community is engaged in killing and trading of Amur Falcons, there is a need for addressing their livelihoods, which is linked to killing of these birds. The campaign is focusing on creating such alternatives/ options for these Reaching the Unreached
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families so that they are engaged in conservation and protection of Amur Falcons too.
Creating Knowledge and Sustaining Action‌. Awareness campaigns, sensitization program, capacity building initiatives are an important first step in triggering action. This action could be towards conservation, protection and sustainable production processes. While there are huge successes of these campaigns, there are also challenges related to sustaining these knowledge sharing processes, actions based on newly acquired knowledge. There are several specific themes on which sustained campaigns have to be conducted. The agenda of creating awareness, sensitization and capacity building is not the mandate of governments and committed NGOs anymore. It is important that several agencies have to be part of this process to continue the efforts, for a sustainable development. Waseem, Benita and MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN
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About Cheriyal Paintings Shri D Vaikuntam and his family members Mrs. D Vanaja (wife); D Vinay and D Rakesh (sons) are keeping the tradition of Cheriyal Paintings of Telangana state, for generations. All members of the family are engaged in protecting and conserving this rare art form, that is not likely to survive for long. This is the only family in the country that is still engaged in this traditional art form. The Cheriyal Art has a unique character - red color background; vivid presentation of figures (men, women, animals, flowers, plants and others) with unique strokes and style. This art form belongs to "nakashi" form of paintings in India. But Cheriyal paintings contextualized this nakashi format to local Telangana and improvised it, with their unique styles. Apart from paintings and scrolls, Cheriyal Masks are also very attractive and unique with their bright colors and large eyes. D Vaikuntam received several awards from Central/ State governments, for his unique contribution to Cheriyal Art. D Vaikuntam and his family members agreed to present the key messages of these case studies. They spent time with us to understand the essence of each case study and presented it in their own style. These pictures further enriched the experiences, which are already exemplary in several ways. WASSAN thanks the family of artists of Cheriyal for their support in visualising these case studies. Pictures of some of the paintings/ scrolls and masks could be seen on this blog: http://vaikuntamnakash.blogspot.in/
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"…..In the middle of such despair and misery, there is a hope. "Imprints of Ecological Footprints - A Compilation of Ecologically Sensible Good Practices" is a compendium of good practices that brings the efforts made by relentless civil society organizations, citizens and community based organizations, to change the direction of the trend. These experiences brought cheer and hope in the lives of thousands of rural, tribal and urban citizens in India, who are part of these experiences. They took a different path that is less travelled and troublesome. There were several challenges, at each step and milestone. But they continued their journey and proved that "producing more with less" is possible. They also ensured that the ecological and environmentally sustainable processes are feasible for improving economic standards and quality of life of poor communities…"Aruna Rangachar Pohl, IFHD, Bangaluru. "……these experiences are invaluable and are certainly useful for provoking thoughts in the minds of participants of "Leaders for Nature" programs, which is organized by IFHD, IUCN, CII, Wild Life Trust of India, HIVOS and other likeminded organizations.The entire process of producing this compilation was an enriching and fruitful experience. It is a humbling experience for us to learn lessons from the interactions and visits to their villages/ sites. We genuinely believe that this compilation truly enriches the learning processes of "Leaders for Nature" program" - MV Rama Chandrudu, WASSAN