Wisdom walk

A tool for generational transfer of rich, local traditional ecological knowledge, practice, and culture.

A poster presented at the partners meet in Kanha

Love in a puff

Love in a puff or Balloon plant (Cardiospermum halicacabum), is a climbing plant commonly found in Madanapalle and NP Kunta.

Flower and unripe fruits of Cardiospermum halicacabum.

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Matured seeds in the puffed&balloon shaped bags.

Cardiospermum is a genus which are native to the American, Indian, and African tropics. The genus name is derived from the Greek words cardio, meaning "heart," and sperma, meaning "seed."

White heart-shaped mark on spherical seeds of Cardiospermum halicacabum

It is a very famous herb in Tamilnadu India, in treating rheumatoid, joint pain, skin diseases and intestinal inflammation.

An irrigation tank in Madanapalle

Madanapalle has numerous wetlands in the form of irrigation tanks, some of which are centuries old, and are traditionally managed by the village communities. These tanks provide habitat for a variety of life forms. Such as frogs, waders, snakes, bird of prays, insect larvae etc. wetland flora is also very rich. I visited one such tank in November and I saw birds, insects, plants, frogs... 

My friend Raghu observes water birds of an irrigation tank in a November morning

A panoramic view of Madanapalle town.

This hilly and undulating semi-arid landscape has mostly thorny scrub with patches of dry deciduous forests. The hills form the broken ranges of the lower Eastern Ghats that connect to the Western Ghats. Most of the water tanks are home to a variety of waders.

A short-toed snake eagle soars above a man made tank on a sunny day in November.

A short-toed snake eagle perches on the ground in Madanaplle

A short-toed snake eagle gazes into the photographer's lens. This bird of prey, a resident about the height of a small goat is very common in the open scrub lands. Looking for a snake and the snake was…

The Green Sandpiper in Madanapalle.

Green sandpiper is a small wader. It breeds across Europe and Asia and is a migratory bird. Feeds on small invertebrate items picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond.

A wood sandpiper (Juvenile) in Madanapalle

The sweeping color of sea and sky, blue is a common thread in nature. This juvenile wood sandpiper forages by probing in shallow water or on wet mud, and mainly eat insects and similar small prey. This bird is usually found on freshwater during migration and wintering.

Black winged stilt and a coot

A flock of black-winged stilt's (adults and juveniles) rest and a coot swims in an irrigation tank in Madanapalle.

Red-wattled lapwing.

The did-he-do-it bird ! The red-wattled lapwing is a lapwing or large plover, a wader.

A lark behind the grass

A bird trying to conceal from me. Their dull appearance camouflages them on the ground, especially when on the nest. They feed on insects and seeds.

A tiny, narrow-mouthed Frog frog, microhyla ornata.

Frogs are a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians. I saw this stout-bodied one on the bank of a irrigation tank in Madanapalle. Don’t know the name of this frog- need help!

Green Pond Frog, euphyctis hexadactyla

Green may be the most common color found in nature—it's everywhere from leaves, grass, and moss to snakes, butterflies, and even the northern lights. Green represents life, vitality, nature, and, of course, environmentalism.

Neighborhood Geography with Young Children

“Where’s my new preschool?” “What does ‘prairie’ mean?” Children’s natural curiosity about places is the basis for learning about geography. The Illinois Early Learning Standards call for children to express beginning geographic thinking and to locate objects and places in familiar environments. These tips can help children in your program meet these benchmarks!

Lots of educational materials can be found from the following website:-

Illinois State Board of Education
http://illinoisearlylearning.org/cgi-bin/iel/searchiel.asp

Remote sensing

We were talking about Geography, Maps and remote sensing in a Govt. Tribal Residential School where Keystone Foundation is having Conservation Education Programs.
Suddenly when we talked about remote sensing the situation became very perplexed (one of my ability)!!
We did not carry our computer, set of maps, globe nothing, there was there to help :(

By the time our audience became very curious (which was rarely seen) to know what is this 'remote sensing'
We were looking around to find a way to explain how to address their wounder...
looking around and round we saw a small hill behind the school, asked teacher can we take children for 2 hours to that hill!!!!(teacher's expression)
It hardly took for us to climb 1000 meters. Most of them were barefoot ecologists, we were carrying no water no snacks, one camera, one binocular, note books, sketch pens and pencils and an interest to know 'remote sensing'
This is what had happened after the trek... 

Seeing school from hilltop

Sobha (barefoot cartographer) is drawing map

Geddesal school through my camera

Geddesal school through Sobha's eyes- 'Remote sensing'!(red rectangular shapes are school buildings, green rectangulars are paddy fields, mushroom shaped greens are eucalyptus plantation..

inviting bees

inviting bees...

As a part of the conservation education program in the Nilgiris, Keystone Foundation have few nurseries of forest plants. Geddesal Govt.Tribal Residential School has one of such nurseries. Last week we had a drawing session on 'conservation activities in your school'...
One of the students Ajith came with a picture, which shows the topography of the area, what they do in restoration and the expected result or the dream!!

Unveiling the Marvel of Apis florea

While accompanying the village elder of Punanjanur on a nature walk, we stumbled upon an extraordinary sight – a colony of Apis florea, a diminutive yet resilient species of wild honey bee, clinging precariously to a tiny twig. These tiny creatures, native to southern and southeastern Asia, construct their nests from a single comb, the upper portion of which expands into a crest, forming a natural honey pot.

Masamma, a barefoot ecologist and esteemed elder from the village, guides countless children (and me) through the wonders of the forest, sharing her profound knowledge and deep connection with nature. For many years, she has educated and sustainably harvested wild honey and medicinal plants, utilizing their gifts for the well-being of her community.

Conservation Education Network

CONSERVATION EDUCATION NETWORK Third Annual Retreat, Kotagiri, Nilgiris.

Building a Network of Conservation Educators

In 2008, ATREE took the initiative to establish a network of conservation educators, bringing together individuals and organizations from across India dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and action. The group's primary goals are to:

Share ideas, resources, and experiences

Foster collaboration and support among like-minded individuals

Advocate for conservation education initiatives

The network's first meeting took place in 2008 at Navadarshanam Trust in Ganganahally hamlet, Gumalapuram Village, Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu. Subsequent retreats have been held in Auroville (2009) and Keystone Foundation (2010).

Keystone Foundation Retreat: A Deep Dive into Conservation

The third retreat of the Conservation Network, held at Keystone Foundation from October 20-22, 2010, provided a rich learning experience for participants. Pratim Roy, Director of Keystone Foundation, gave an insightful overview of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) and the organization's work.

Robert Leo, Programme Coordinator at Keystone Foundation, presented a captivating PowerPoint presentation titled "Bee Buzz – Life and Times of the Honey Bee." Participants were fascinated by the intricacies of honey bee ecology and their crucial role in the environment.

A highlight of the retreat was the meeting with the Barefoot Communicators, indigenous elders who share their knowledge of the forest with children. Their passion and dedication to conservation provided valuable insights into effective communication strategies.

Nimesh from Samrakshan Mizoram led a discussion on tailoring communication strategies to suit different target audiences and situations, further enhancing participants' understanding of effective outreach.

The visit to the Bee Museum in Ooty provided a fascinating glimpse into the intricate web of relationships within the ecosystem. Participants gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of even seemingly insignificant creatures like honey bees in human existence.

A Closing Dialogue with Dr. A.R. Vasavi

The retreat concluded with a thought-provoking presentation and interaction with Dr. A.R. Vasavi, a renowned scholar from the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bangalore. Dr. Vasavi's talk focused on the interlinks between conservation, education, and the rural context, leaving participants with a renewed sense of the transformative potential of conservation education.

To commemorate the retreat, participants engaged in Ajilebottu painting on bags and enjoyed a lively arakol dance, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

The Conservation Network continues to thrive, bringing together passionate individuals and organizations working towards a more sustainable and harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.