Palni Hills Conservation Council 19th Annual Report Introduction: The year has been a dark one as far as personalities are concerned. The guiding light of the council, Rev.Fr. K M Matthew. S J has left for heavenly abode. The spirit of the Rev Fr remains with the Council, to guide us through these times of crisis, on the climate and other fronts. Here we dedicate this report to his memory and add a note from our Founder President M S Viraraghavan: "We received the news of Father.K.M.Matthew's passing away with a sense of profound shock, indeed disbelief. It was difficult to imagine that one so full of vitality - life force was no more. In his passing, India, and indeed the world, has lost one of its most eminent taxonomists, whose contributions to biodiversity conservation and environment education were of an incredibly high standard. Endowed with unbelievable mental and physical energy, Fr.Matthew's work as a field botanist was in the exalted tradition of Roxburgh, J.D.Hooker, and other "greats" who have enriched India's botanical knowledge. But Fr.Matthew with all his scientific accomplishments was hardly a mere inward looking scientist. Those who knew him well were fascinated by the warmth and humanism in those sparkling eyes. The later quality enabled him to establish an immediate rapport with his audience, so much so that his environmental awareness courses were recognised as the most stimulating of their kind in India. Here we mention that Fr.Matthew was posthumously awarded the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Award for the Year 2003. Unfortunately the announcement came in June 04. We in the Palni Hills Conservation Council were fortunate that Father Matthew was one of the original founders of the organisation. It was his meticulous research and scientific integrity which enabled the PHCC to establish whatever reputation it has today. As a tribute it is proposed to name the PHCC Environment Centre in the Palni Foothills after him. In his personal life Father Matthew maintained an unostentatious but very strict discipline- an unselfconscious austerity so relevant in these days of unabashed and soft consumerism. Even after a gruelling day's work in Kodaikanal he would insist on returning back to Trichy by bus late at night so that he could be in time for next day's schedule. Time and the use of it was a constant concern for him always punctual and to the point. In his death the world has lost a very splendid man, indeed we can say a genius.(we are sure he must be frawning down upon us for calling him this). And we personaly have lost someone who we were honoured to call' our good and trusted friend'. When I first met Father Matthew what struck me was his incredible energy and his indomitable dedication to flora. However, saying this he also had a marvelous sense of humour and excellent general knowledge and one could never be bored in his company. Lunch with the Jesuit Fathers at the Anglade Institute was an exhilarating experience. I remember one of the first things he ever said to me was, "You must come down and have lunch at the Anglade Institute as we have the best cook in South India." His interest in young people and his desire to share his knowledge was legion, but he was also a perfectionist and no tiny error could be tolerated in his work. His material needs were few and this allowed him to take off at a moment's notice to visit a lone rare plant or tree that had been reported to him, even if it meant walking 5 or 6 hours into remote areas. His loss to flora, particularly of the southern region of India is enormous and the fact that he was involved with so many projects at the time of his death has made his loss all the more terrible. Pippa Mukherjee The Executive Committee for the year 2002-03 consisted of the following members 1. Mr.J.Nath President 2. Late .Rev.Fr.K.M.Matthew Vice President 3. Mr.Navroz Mody Secretary 4. R.Kannan Treasurer 5. Mrs. Girija Viraraghavan Jt.Secretary 6. Mr.Rajagopal Dorai Raja Vice President 7. Mr. M.S. Viraraghavan Executive Committe Member 8. Ms.Pippa Mukerjee Executive Committe Member 9. Mr. N.Natarajan Executive Committe Member 10 Mrs. Rebecca Chacko Executive Committe Member 11 Mr. George Roshan Executive Committe Member 12 Miss.Meenakshi Subramaniam Executive Committe Member 13 Mr. Vijaykumar Johnson Executive Committe Member 14 Mr.Madhu Ramnath Executive Committe Member 15 Mr. R.Arun Nagarajan Executive Committe Member The Executive Committee met 11 times during the past year to conduct the affairs of the Council and hereby presents its report for the year. The Membership details are as follows: Life Members 176 Annual Members 22 Institutional member 2 A. Upper Hills Watershed Works 1. Conservation and development of Poondi Watershed The action plan has been prepared and is now waiting approval by CAPART, New Delhi. The preparation of the action plan was facilitated by the Support Voluntary Organisation trained staff in coopeation with villagers at the three microwatesheds or Poondi, Kilavarai and Polur, all at the Pulawatchiar catchment basin. At each of the villages a Water Users Association or Watershed Treatment Council has been formed. The action plan has been prepared in full consultation with the Watershed Treatment Committee members, who have been involved with the project formulation through Participatory Methods. The year long work is to capacity build for the local bodies who are to implement the action plan. The council's role will be to provide the necessary framework and ensure that the planned activities are carried out as per budgetary allocation. The activities planned for the 900 ha treatment basin are: i) Land reclamation in about 200 ha ii) Terracing for S W conservation - 150 ha iii) Gully control through RFD 155 RF Dams iv) Irrigation canal rehabilitation 2600 mts v) Farm Ponds - 15 nos vi) Check Dams - 3 nos After the land treatment works are effected, it is proposed to carry our activities like Shola Conservation through planting native tree species ; fodder plantations and horticultural nursery for orchard development. The total cost of the project will be about 120 lakhs and the project duraition three years. This will be an ambitious project for the Council to take up in the coming months. 2. Upper Hills Shola Tree Nursery: The only tree nursery catering Shola seedlings is at the Kodaikanal office of the council. Last year the nursery managed to facilitate growing and planting of 5000 plants at Kodaikanal through the Clean Kodaikanal Schools and Community Outreach programme. The summer rains have improved the water situation at the office and we have started to collect seeds for about 35 shola species and at the time of writing the report the tree nursery had a stock of 9000 seedlings. 3. Sanctuary proposal: At a meeting organised by Forest Department, Coimbatore during April 04 a proposal on Human Animal Conflicts, vis a vis, creating an Elephant Corridor by identifying suitable land was discussed by the Forest Department, Pollachi division. The PHCC made a representation at the meet, where it was learnt that the Upper Hills Sanctuary proposal is still alive and needs to be pursued at the appropriate level. 4. Kodaikanal Lake: The council has been monitoring the progressive decline of the water quality at the lake, through its Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring programme. The summer rains have brought to light the quantitative flows from various sources in to the lake. It has been observed that meagre rainfalls of 20 - 30 mm intensity are bringing flood waters ladden with silt and loam in to the lake. At present we are mapping areas of tarmac and concrete coverage, which has incearsed in all the residential areas, that in turn has incerased the run off in to the lake. The maps will form the basis for a GIS based inventory of the Hill Towns'. unplanned expansion which is leading to deteriorating water quality. The task of the council will be to facilitate, through awareness campaigns at the stakeholder level, who are either living at Palani. or the tourists who spend only few hours at Kodaikanal, for an ecological clean up... 5. Mercury contamination from Thermometer Factory Hindustan Lever's mercury contamination in Kodaikanal was further confirmed by a study initiated by the Department of Atomic Energy, Hyderabad, which show that one and a half years after the closure of the plant, there is still sufficient mercury in the physical environment of Kodaikanal such that its persistent release into the ambient air some 600 m from the factory is seven times higher than considered safe for inhalation by general populations in the European Union. A second study by Greenpeace Research Lab, University of Exeter, was a spatial exploration of mercury content of lichen along the ridge of the entire lake watershed, from Vattakanal to the bridge, which indicates elevated levels of mercury in the entire watershed. The TNPCB's Hazardous Waste Monitoring Committee on which PHCC is represented along with former workers and other community members, is in the process of ensuring that the cleanup of the entire factory site is undertaken without further damage to this sensitive environment. B. Community Lead Environment Action Network Programme: The project to involve students in cleaning their neighbourhood with community involvement has been extended to Palani and Udumalpet towns this year. At Kodaikanal, the team comprised of 32 students from four classes at each of the selected six schools. Thus a team of six teachers and 192 students were involved in the CLEAN KODAIKANAL, programme that was aimed at creating models for : * Solid waste management by setting up sepearate dustbins for degradable and non degradable waste materials * Water and air quality monitoring in the neighbourhood of selected communities * Afforestation in wastelands * Setting up small school nurseries for medicinal plant garden that will help grow plants for home remedies. The water and air quality monitoring was with portable kits that measure 14 parameters of significance. The team was able to organise the testing at different seasons at foursites for each of the schools in the CLEAN team. The sites analysed were Vilpatty, Pallangi, Attuampatty, Prakasapuram, Naidupuram, Pakiapuram, Annandagiri,Ugarthenagar,Shenbaganur,Munjigal, Dophikanal, and Silvercascade. It was found that the waters at Vilapatti were the most contaminated. The need for community action to clean the water through improving their land use practices and waste disposal system will be priority topics for addressing,through future programme. A simple segregation based solid waste management system was put in place at 3 sites where the community was showing great interest to cooperate with school students. These were at Pakiapuram ; Naidupuram and Keezhbhoomi area. The selected schools were provided with Plastic Green Houses where they could grow medicinal plants for home remedies. There is keen interest and one of the school's team managed to grow as many as 10 species. During the coming year we propose to upgrade the plastic chamber to a shade net covered controlled environment chamber. The bio degradable waste seperated through solid waste managemant was composted to make fertiliser for the medicinal plant nursery. The exposure of students of classes 7,8,9, to the concepts of nutrient cycling and waste management has been the thrust of the programme. 2.CLEAN Palani Programme: During the later half of the year, similar programme was extended to Palani and Udumalpet.As a preliminary to screen the best student, teacher team initially water and air quality testing were the entry point activities. Six schools with 32 students and one teacher from each of the schools have now been selected to form CLEAN, PALANI team. An orientation program for the entire team was conducted at Thekkan Thottam at the point where the Palar Porandhalar rivers enter the plains. The team was exposed to issues in, water quality parameters; forest and watersheds; wildlife forms and problems surrounding man animal conflicts. A quizz programme was conducted to test the ability of the participants to grasp the concepts in environment related issues, prizes and certificates were distributed. A team of four students and one teacher along with our researcher, Mr. Shekar were selected for participating at the CLEAN, INDIA meet held at New Delhi on February 5th and 6th of 2004. The meet was presided over by the Chief Minister of Delhi Mrs. Sheila Diskshit who had a word of appreication for the CLEAN KODAIKANAL team's works exhibited there. C. Foothills Bio diversity conservation programme 1. Genguvarpatti Environment Centre The centre has managed to survive the water crisis as our borewell has been pumping continuously at one third of its previous capacity. This has enabled the centre to grow and distribute some 28 000 seedlings to farmers in the forest fragments around the coffee farms at the Middle altitudes. The nursery has now a stock of 50 000 seedlings that comprise more than 100 species of trees. The most notable feature of the biodiversity conservation programme is the gowing of over 40 species of trees from Central India. This has been made possible by our exchange programme with the groups of tribes there under the IUCN assisted programme for conservation of Biodiversity in forest fragments. The dormitory was used by school students from Agnu Sundar School Madurai, Laksnmi School. Kallupatti and Govt High School, Genguvarpatti for 2 days each during May, August and October of 2003. A total of 80 students participated in the environment education course there. A visit to the nearby Pachiamman Water Fall is a high point in the environment exposure course.This stream has water for only three to four months in a year and is a spot to visit during those periods. D. Andipatti Tree Growers Association Project 1.ATA Project Centre: The project office functions as last year, from a rented building at Udumalpet. A small library is being developed there which will cater to the needs of the members of ATA once the organisation is formally registered. The small nursery at the office was kept running for six months to cater to theurban forestry needs of Udumalpet town. This has now been temporarily relocated at Andipatti due to water shortage. 2. Andipatti Tree Nursery: The nursery had raised only 25 000 seedlings, out of this 12 000 were of just two species, Casaurina and Teak. An initial survey revealed that the farmers of the area were familiar with only these two species. During the last year the tree planting effort managed to facilitate growing of 28 000 seedlings through various models. The total number of species at the nursery is now 69 and the seedling stock is 30 000. 3.Enlisting new tree growers: The Assistant Field Coordinators make field visits to meet prospective tree growers and explain the advantages of becoming a member of the, to be formed ATA. This process gives an opportunity to the tree growers to learn more about the various species of tree species that can be grown for different soil and agroclimatic regimes. Further reference is made with the survey of 2002 at Andipatti which gave useful set of data as to farmers' preference and feasibility to integrate tree cropping with field crops like legumes ;pulses and orchard development. The outcome of the extension visits and suggestions of farmers are documented and discussed at staff meetings for further action. The focus will be to enlist farmers who will pay a membership fee for the ATA and avail the facilities and technical services of the ATA Thus far the AFC's have identified about 150 prospective members for the future tree growers association. 4. Trial and Demonstration plots Despite the earlier 1994-98 CAPART- DANIDA project at Andipatti Kallapuram enclave the AFC's felt the need for trial and demonstration plots to make farmers aware of the many species of native trees and their suitability for integration in to the existing farming system. A total of 28 demo plots , were established out of these 20 were in farmers' fields out of which 15 had irrigation facilities/( the wells had dried up at the time of planting). The others were 2 school campuses; one college ground, two temple lands and one community owned land sites respectively. The farmers who are resource poor and willing to give up cropping for a number of years were the beneficiaries under the Demonstration Plot scheme. This mode of tree growing is not consonant with the ATA objective of forming a self sustaining tree growers association. From this year onward the AFC's will develop membership or services paid for, mode of operation for achieving tree growing targets. The poor rain fall of the last four years had its effect and the demoplots were watered during the summer months so that farmers do not lose interest in tree growing. The area for the ATA has been extended to cover few taluks in Dindigul and Coimbatore districts keeping in view the requisite number of members for the independent tree growers association. 5. Motivating Farmers : Seeing is believing Farm field schools and visits to successful tree growers' fieds were the primary thrust to convince farmers to go in for different methods of growing trees and select from a wide range of native tree species. Thus farmers were taken to good tree growing sites to witness grown up trees in Ayakudi; and Lakshmapuram Further to envince interest among farmers that there exists a demand for native timbers. a visit was arranged for a group of 50 farmers from Andipatti area to Dindigul where they visited timber shops to learn , first hand the market price of native timbers. At the project office wooden articles were made of timber from eight year old Gmelina arborea ; 6 year old Acacia auriculiformis and mature Toona ciliata trees to prove their utility value to visitors to the Udumalpet office Three phamplets have been prepared for explaining the benefits of native timber trees and their suitability for integrating with common field crops. A script in Tamil for making a video film for explaining the value addition role of trees in farming is under preparation. 6. Capacity buidling for project personnel New recruits visited other tree growing centres of PHCC. where the senior supervisors advised them on different aspects of tree planting. The Dansih Forestry Extension experts Mr.Karsten Raae, Mr.Thorsten Hansen and Mr.Per Bundguard Larsen took efforts to the teach the team about the concept of the project, field extension visits, qualities of good extension workers, techniques to prepare booklets and pamphlets, project planning and budjet preparation. A teacher was appointed to improve spoken English skills for those deficient in the subject .Enhancing personnel capacity to operate computers and software independently has been one of the thrust areas. One of the AFC's has has been studying the marketting of wooden logs by farmers to timber shop owners and unfavourable present market conditions for the tree growers. 7. Project Steering Commitee:formation and activities The ATA is slated to become a model tree gower association that is self governing and financially independent of the PHCC and DFE at a future date. To accomplish this objective a PSC has been formed, which at present consists of members from farming communities in Andipatti and planned extension areas. Apart from the elected officio of the PSC, the Project Coordinators of DFE and PHCC are also sitting members of the PSC. The PSC will be advisory in nature till the independent association takes over the running of the project. Thus far six PSC meetings have been held, where many useful suggestions have been given to the the ATA project team, who are trying to fulfill the tasks laid out before them. 8. Project Extension An independent Review of the project by DANIDA took place during February 2003 The primary objective of the review was to determine, whether a Second Phase was required to achieve the targets set forth in the first phase of the ATA project. The review was taken up by Mr.Flemming Shephested of DANIDA. The Director of DFE Mr.Karsten Raae and DFE PC Mr.Larsen were accompanying him. There was an open meeting of farmers from Andipatti and extension areas onthe 22nd at Udumalpet. About 40 farmers attended the meet and expressed willingess to join the ATA formally. This will be the platform from where the ATA is slated to crystallize as an association formed and run by stakeholders for their benefit through tree growing. 9.Community welfare Activities at Andipatti The project has helped to repair and purchase a new electric motor for a borewell in Andipatti. This will help 50 families get potable water. An evening study centre for the students has been initiated where apart from regular curriculum , subjects related to environment are taught. At the present time some 70 children are attending the same. 10. Study Visit to Terai area of Nepal The DFE are operating a similar tree growers' project in the Terai area of Nepal. The DFE organised an 18 day field trip for all the team at Udumalpet so that they could grasp the essentials of the project at Nepal. The ATA team along with our accountant Mr.Alexander made a successful visit to Nepal during May 2004. E.Athoor Tree Planting Works The tree growing effort at Kodaganar watershed has been succesful in growing 26500 seedlings in farmers fields in the Kannivadi, Athoor and Dharumathupatti areas. The centre has managed to facilitate planting of 1500 grafts of Phylanthus embelica, which were grafted at our tree nurseries. The total area covered under the tree growing effort is 60 acres and 25 farmers have good crop of standing trees in their fields. The nursery at Kannivadi has been affected by water shortage and was able to raise only 10 000 seedlings for the coming planting season. It is also proposed to plant 50 000 plants of Jatropha from these two nurseries in the coming October 2004 planting season. We are in the process of fabricating hand operated presses for extracting the oil from the Jatropha seeds, as part of the value addition strategy to generate income for the rural folks. It is also proposed to supply water storage tanks for tribals in the Thoni Malai area on the Eastern Slopes of the Palni Hills, as the triblas resident there have been seriously affected by drying of hill streams. At the time of writing this report the Joe Homan Trust have sanctioned our proposals for impelmenting these one time welfare measures. F.Sustainable agriculture in drylands programme This programme is implemented by the Vuruveedu Centre with support from Intercooperation, which is part of Swiss Agency for Development Coopeartion. 1.Soil and water conservation through live hedging with Jatropha curcas The programme supported by IC SDC, has managed to distribute and facilitate growing of 21 000 seedlings of multipurpose trees. The farmers in the area have also cultivated 25 000 seedlings of jatropha curcas in their farm periphery , where field bunds to the extent of 14000 mts were formed. The target group of farmers have come from five villages at the Vaigai catchment basin area. These villages are Thathapatti; Santhaiyoor Semmetuppatti; North and South Valayapatti and Rajadhani Kottai. 2.Income generation for women's SHG Five womens's SHG's have been formed in these villages with the objective of utilising non edible oils seeds like Neem, Jatropha and Pongamia for income generation. They collected and processed 9 tonnes of non edible oil seeds in to oil and cake. The oil was sold to soap makers and the profits credited to the accounts of the SHG's. Leaders from these five groups have been sent to Gandhigram Rural Institute for training in processing of oil seeds and making of soap. The SHG's have also sourced Jatropha seeds from SVK Kombai through the project. This has been converted in to oil for further processing in to bio diesel. Further the SHG's members have all been trained in to soap making for their own use. The jatropha soap has a good potential to compete with other brands in the market. 3. Farm Ponds construction At the nursery water shortage has forced us to go in for a farm pond where rainwater harvesting has been very successful in keeping our only borewell alive. Yet with only 712 mm of rainfall during the last year and all nearby farming communities drilling deep beyond 200 mts depth the water table in the area has been sinking. 4. Water User Association Formation The formation of water users association to self regulate the use of underground water will be the future thrust of the project team at Viruveedu. For the purpose a series of meetings have been held at the five villages. Where all concerned agreed that there has been an excess of ground water drawing from deep borewells depleting probably an irreplaceable resource The farmers who have benefited from last years activities are 51 and the area covered is about 100 ha. G. Middle Altitude Centres 1.SVK Kombai The centre has partly recovered from the severe water crisis it went through during the last year. The nursery produced and facilitated growing of 2100 seedlings of Silk Cotton ; Silver oak and Lime required by tribal farmers in the area. 1.Ethnobotany study The use of forest by tribals for various livelihood options has been analysed by a botanist, who has collected seeds of as many as 13 Foodweb species that are important for small mammals and birds endemic to the area. The propagation of these will be taken up during the coming year at the tree nursery as the summer rains have improved the water position at our well. Visit by Folk School students During January 2004 a group of 20 students from a Folk School. in Sweden visited the centre at SVK Kombai where they spent three days studying the forests and the birdlife there. An evening study centre for the tribal children is run by the centre, which is attended by 15 pupils. 2.Palkadai Bee and Tree Nursery The centre had to depend on water from a drinking water borewell done by the government for maintaining the nursery , which stocked 3200 plants and facilitated planting of 1980 seedlings of shade trees for coffee farms in the upper reaches. The beekeepers there maintained 16 colonies of Apis cerana indica and succeeded in porducing grafted queens. 3.Semmadioothu Bee and Tree Nursery The nursery grew and facilitated planting of 1000 pepper cuttings and 500 orange trees in farmers fields at the tribal enclave. A tribes person managing the nursery maintains 10 colonies of Apis cerana indica by the shola forest there to maintain a healthy number of colonies in the wild. Presently the nursery stocks about 2000 seedlings of oranges and pepper. The demand for coffee seedlings has increased after many years of decline. It is hoped that soon the above three nurseries will produce and meet the growers requirements. H. Khudhirayar Tree growing programme The tree nursery has been shifted to a nearby farmers field as the water table at the centre has gone below 100 ft. The nursery produced 12000 seedlings for planting last year in the watershed area. Some of the trees platned in 1988 at the centre have died due to the severe drought conditions prevailing there. From the dead wood of Acacia auriculiformis we were able to make good number of furniture articles. The centre has hosted two internal workshops for the bee project and has played a role in recruitment of new staff members for the ATA project. This has also served as the meeting point for visitors and volunteers. The present nursery at farmers field has a stock of 25 000 seedlings and these will be for the October 2004 planting season to cater to the needs of the farmers. 1. Odukkam Tree Growing and Seed Centre The first tree growing centre of the PHCC has done very well even in these days of unfavourable rainfall pattern. The two nurseries there put together have managed to facilitate growing of 67 000 seedlings. The species diversity at the nursery stands at 70 with new species being added all the time. The seasoned workers at the nursery are well versed at the art of bringing to life dormant seeds. This season they have succeeded in germinating Adina cordifolia, a very valuable timber and with therapeautic properties. The seed centre there caters to the needs of nurseries; various departments who are planning to make their own tree growing ventures and Forest Department Nurseries. The seed centre collected and distributed 1125 kg of seeds of 90 species of native trees. J. Apiculture projects: The project focus has been on three aspects of Apis cerana indica bee keeping * To improve the existing stock of colonies through selective queen rearing * Multiply TSBV resistant colonies for training and supply to beekeepers * Identify new areas where regular forage for bees are available * Train rural folks at six centres in to Minimum Management Techniques for Apis cerana indica 1. Training rural folks The training centres have managed to impart beekeeping training for 60 days each to 100 men and 120 women during the last year. The combined colony strength of the bee project are about 250. The acute drought that affected the tree growing and agriculture activities at the hills and plains have meant that only once at the Hill centre of Palankadu and Palkadai, were the trainers able to rear new queens. Otherwise the primary activity has been to stabilise the colonies in the absence of forage crops. 2. Bee workshop for value addition to produce During January 14th to 20 a week long workshop was organised at Khudhirayar for the 12 trainers and 6 lady assitants who implement the bee project. The Danish Beekeepers Federation sent Dr.Lise Hansted and Mr. Mogens Jensen as resource persons for the event The focus of the workshop was for value addition to beeswax products and honey. Candles were made using silicone rubber moulds of many shapes and exquisite designs. The participants were also taught to prepare a variety of food preparations using honey as primary ingredient. The creams and ointments prepared and sold for rural folks at cost were also refined to make better products. These products are marketed through the Genguvarpatti Environment Centre Alternative Products Shop and at Kodaikanal during the Flower Show during the month of May 2004. 3. Collection and processing of Honey from the Rockbee. The processing and sale of honey from hunter gatherers has been going on for two years now. Last year at the three centres of collection, the bee project collected, processed under low temperatures; bottled and sold 2000 kg of honey. The sale proceedings are now used to buy and supply honey to the local population as the primay objective of the apiculture projects is to increase the low per capita intake of honey in India. K.Extension Field Studies 1. Tree Growing areas identification A study was undertaken to evaluate seed collection provenances at the Pachamalai Hills which belong to the Eastern Ghats, during November 2003. It was found from the natives there that there are no reliable supply of native timber species, even if they want to switch over to tree or alternate crops from the present uneconomical tapioca. We plan to spread some of the better performing tree species there during this years planting season. 2. Field Biology Course A team of four students from St. Olaf College, Minnesota. USA worked on various aspects of sustainable development at the hills as part of their Field Biology Course. The programme of work and logistics for them was organised by Ms. Pippa Mukherjee. 3. Volunteer exposure to field activities A teacher from Belgium, Mr. Olivier spent two months at the Middle altitude centres learning all aspects of the Council's project activities. His field work was coordinated by Mr. Madhu Ramnath. L. Conclusion The ecological restoration of habitat at the Palni Hills has proceeded at an average pace, while comparing perfomance, at all the spheres of work. The poor precipitation pattern around the foothills has continued for the fourth year in succession. Yet we march on with new vigour to fulfill the vision of our founding father. The GREEN BELT around the hills through vegetative restoration of the ecology of the drylands has been the brainchild of Fr.Rev KM Matthew, for which we work. The tree growing effort has managed to facilitate growing of 200 000 saplings from its different tree growing centres. Our sincere thanks for the following donors and the team of dedicated personnel who have stood with us at all times. The following donors have supported the various projects: 1. Both Ends - Amsterdam 2. CAPART - New Delhi 3. Danish Beekeepers Federation - Denmark 4. Danish Forestry Extension - Denmark 5. Development Alternatives - New Delhi 6. Forgotten Children - U S A 7. Joe Homan Trust - U K 8. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Netherlands 9. Intercooperation, S D C, Bangalore 10. St. Olaf College, Minnesota, U S A The Executive Committee expresses it sincere thanks to the Forest Department, Dindigul and Kodaiakanal for co operation in the work at the various centres. Our sincere thanks for the Dindigul Municipal Council and Public Works Department, Khudhirayar for providing space for our Ahtoor, Dindigul and Khudhirayar tree growing centres. The role of Boat Club, Kodaikanal is acknowledged in providing boats for water quality monitoring. The EC expresses its sincere thanks to our Auditors M/s. Elango and Madhavan who have efficiently audited the accounts of the projects. Kodaikanal Mr.J.Nath Dt: 04-08-04 President