PALNI HILLS CONSERVATION COUNCIL 14th ANNUAL REPORT 1998-1999 The outgoing members of the Executive Committee of the Palni Hills Conservation Council thank everybody for their co-operation during the past year and herewith submit the Annual Report for 1998-99. 1. Mr.C.Jeyakaran President 2. Rev.Fr.Matthew Vice-President 3. Mr.Navroz Mody Vice-President 4. Mrs.Girija Viraraghavan Secretary 5. Mr.R.Kannan Treasurer 6. Mr.Nevil Moncher Joint Secretary 7. Mr.M.S.Viraraghavan Executive Committee Member 8. Mr.J.Nath Executive Committee Member 9. Mr.Ajit Mathai Executive Committee Member 10. Mr.R.Ramachandran Executive Committee Member 11. Mrs.Rebecca Chackko Executive Committee Member 12. Mrs.Tara Murali Executive Committee Member 13. Mr.Israel Booshi Co-opted Executive Committee Member This year the Executive Committee met 12 times since the last Annual General Body Meeting was held on 22-8-98 Membership The total membership of the Council as on 31st March '99 was as follows: 1.Life Members 154 2.Annual Members 31 3.Institutional Members 2 Total 187 Introdution The past year has been favorable with respect to natural resources and tree growing. The rainfall has been average and evenly distributed thus enabling all our tree nurseries to cater the targeted tree seedlings for planting in suitable places. The council has had a reasonable year with respect to funding and we hope to continue the performance in the coming years. IN THE HILLS a. Kodaikanal Centre The head office at Kodaikanal serves as the hub for co-ordinating the activities of the council. The office has 10 people who implement various projects at Kodaikanal and surroundings. The tree nurseries: These are located at the office premises and at Vilpatti and Pallangi The nursery at the office conducts research in growing of shola species; the staff there collect seeds regularly from the nearby sholas and these are sown in mother-beds for germination trials. Thus far about 18 species of shola trees have been regenerated at this nursery and the important ones are added to the seedlings stock. Presently the nursery has a seedling stock of 7500 for distribution during the coming monsoon season. b. Vilpatti Nursery: Located at Vilpatti the target of the nursery is to change the present land use pattern of vegetable in to one of permanent orchards of temperate fruits. To meet this objective the nursery during the past year has grown and distributed 2500 seedlings and grafts to farmers in the this watershed. The nursery has a stock of 4000 seedlings of fruit trees; shola species for catering to the farmers in the coming planting season. c. Pallangi Nursery The nursery is located on a well watered place with road access. It has grown and distributed 7000 fruit tree seedlings and sholas species to farmers in the Pallangi area last year. The nursery is able to get better germination for Avocado and there is good demand for the seedlings of Butter fruit here in the Pallangi watershed. Present stock in the nursery is 7000 seedlings. d. Gundupatti Tree planting program: This year saw the final phase of the CAPARTDANIDA assisted project and the works relating to soil and water conservation. The terracing of the lands were completed and the plants at the nursery distributed to the farmers who took part in the project. e. Water Quality Monitoring at the Kodaikanal Lake: The Council has been monitoring the water quality at the Lake for the past four years. Our analysis using physical and chemical methods show that the oxygen level of the lake water is good for aquatic life only during times of copious rains, i.e. during Oct-November, when the rains stop the oxygen level deteriorates. The testing is done at six reference points and the data is recorded for spreading awareness among the public. The Water Project with its two researchers has been conducting awareness programmes for school students of Kodaikanal. In the past year 12 schools have sent their students to learn lake ecology and test the water for seven parameters. The Kodaikanal Boat club has been lending a helping hand in this venture by providing boats for the students free of cost, our sincere thanks to them for this gesture. An update of the number of point sources of pollution was done by our field staff and they have identified that there are up to eight hundred toilets that leach nutrients in to the lake. The Council called for a public meeting at the Boat Club and the findings were discussed by all concerned with lake water quality. A three dimensional model was made of the lake watershed and the point sources of pollution were marked on it so that the public can get a view of the problem. ii)Stream Study: The study of stream water quality using Macroinvertebrates is continuing. We have concentrated on the Pambar stream this year. The findings indicate that the water flowing down is heavily contaminated with domestic sewage that is untreated. iii)Students environment club Based on the water quality monitoring program, a team of Swedish students worked with most of the school students who have participated in the lake water quality monitoring program and initiated environmental clubs in these schools. The clubs have been focusing on the lake and its watershed last year and plan to look in to other environment related issues in the future IN THE PLAINS f. Environment Education Centre: Genguvarpatti The environment centre building has been completed and was opened on 14th February'99 in a well attended ceremony by Miss.Karin Gregow of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Stockholm, Sweden. About 100 farmers from nearby villages participated in the opening function. The building has been completed using compressed mud blocks and has a built-up area of 43 mts.sq and an open meeting hall measuring 140 sq.mts. It has an open terrace with a solar panel mounted on the roof. The centre has been powered by a wind cum solar generator that will produce electricity. The centre is to serve as a place for discussions and training programs for environmental issues that affect Palni Hills. The Reuben Arboretum has about 5000 trees that are now four years old, comprising of 120 species. The arboretum will serve as a learning centre for students and interested people about trees. Training program: The Environment Centre has conducted three training programs for farmers and students about sustainable agriculture. The three womens' groups are from NGOs that are interested in Bio-dynamic and organic farming methods. The training programs were conducted for a duration of one day each and a total number of 83 persons underwent training. Environment Education for Students: There were fifteen students from the Future Earth Network of Sweden during the month of March who stayed at the centre for a week and participated in nursery work; tree planting; and learned methods of organic and bio-dynamic farming. There was a training program for students from the local school and 202 students and two teachers participated in this event, where tree growing with soil and water conservation was taught with slide shows. Tree Nursery: The tree nursery caters to the needs of the local small and marginal farmers in planting shelter-belts and fruit trees in their dry lands. The nursery distributed 20500 seedlings at cost and helped plant about 4700 seedling in the fields of marginal farmers. g. Viruveedu Tree Growing and Bee-keeping Centre Situated on the banks of the river Vaigai on the road connecting Batlagundu and Usilampatti at the 10th K.M the Viruveedu centre has managed to raise and distribute 40,000 tree seedlings to farmers at subsidised cost. Under the watershed development program soil and moisture conservation works were constructed in land belonging to small farmers. The centre helped farmers plant 6000 seedlings in their wastelands. Bee-keeping Training Programme: The program is for farmers and rural folk who wish to take up bee-keeping as part of their mixed farming activities. The project envisages training of 75 beekeepers during the project period of three years. The project further aims to give equal opportunity for women bee-keepers. This year saw the first batch of trainees complete the training and the trainees were provided with a bee hive each with a colony to work with. The second group of trainees are now taking part in the program, there are at present 12 men and 17 women who are participating in the program. There are now 35 colonies of Apis cerana indica spread over farmers fields. We have started work on fabricating a bamboo based low cost hive and queen rearing to produce colonies and provide alternatives to hiving colonies from the wild. The centre has collected about 100 kg of honey from the Honey Hunters, who harvest the same from Apis dorsata, the Rock bee, for processing and sale. The objective is to ensure better price for the producer and good quality honey for the consumer. Ensuring sustainable methods of harvest without destroying bees will be the objective for working with the Honey Hunter Groups. h. Athoor: Tree growing Centre The centre is at the Kamaraj Sagar Dam site on the Kodaganar watershed, at the foot hills where the river enters the plains. During the past year the tree nursery has planted, in co-operation with small farmers about 12,000 tree seedlings. The nursery has also distributed 2,000 tree seedlings at cost to farmers in the area. The nursery has an experimental Apiary which maintains 25 colonies of Apis cerana. indica The honey production has been affected this year as the bees have been ravaged by the Thai Sac Brood virus. The plus activity at the tree nursery is the growing of Calamus rotang, The slender chair bottom cane from seeds. We now have a stock of 2500 seedlings of the slender cane and these will be planted in suitable wet provenances, and preserved, as cane has been highly exploited and in the Palni Hills is almost extinct. Last year we provided 2,000 cane seedlings to farmers who planted the same in their land boundary adjoining the riverbed. We thank the Dindigul Municipality for providing us with the space and water for maintaining the nursery at the Kamaraj Sagar Dam site. i. Kudhirayar Tree Growing and Bee-keeping Centre: This year the tree nursery raised and supplied about 30,000 tree seedlings to farmers and NGOs. The project also carried out Soil and Water Conservation works in lands belonging to small and marginal farmers. The centre helped small farmers at the village of Thathanaicken patti plant 7000 seedlings in their dry lands. At present the tree nursery stocks 37,000 tree seedling that comprise about 30 species. The nursery also maintains about 15 colonies of Apis cerana indica as part of the experimental Apiary. The centre is situated on land leased from the Public Works Department. Kudhirayar which has extended co-operation in all works at the centre, our sincere thanks to them. Bee Keeping Training Programme: The project has constructed a training centre for beekeepers. The centre has a tile roofed building which has a plinth area of 460 sp.ft. The training is imparted by a tribal lady for the girls who take part in the programme. The farmers who take the training are assisted by a male trainer. The training programme has started fabrication of Top Bar Hives and multiplying colonies. The first set of trainees were 12 tribal girls and 13 farmers from nearby farms. Now they all have a colony each and are maintaining the same. Evening School for children: The centre runs an evening class for children from the tribal and Kudhirayar settlement and about 40 students attend the classes regularly. Work with honey hunters: a tribal group who harvest honey from Apis dorsata has been identified and about 100 kg of honey was procured from them and processed for sale and for ensuring better prices to the harvesters. But the harvesting methods were found to be not sustainable and it is proposed to work with the tribals in the future to improve the methods of honey collection. j. Kadavakurichi Joint Forest Management Project This project aimed at increasing forest cover at the degraded hillock of Kadavakurichi Reserve Forest has been implementing many activities to reach this goal which are as follows: i) The entire Reserved Forest area has been divided in to five major watersheds and all the 19 villages that fall within these micro watersheds have been included in the program of reducing dependency on the already degraded forests. ii) All the 19 villages have community centers that run evening classes for about 1300 children. The villagers have also been formed in to village Forest Protection Committees that restrict grazing and firewood gathering in the forest. iii) Training farmers from the Kadavakurichi area in organic farming methods has been one of the major programs of the project. About 300 people from all villages were also taken for training in Natural History at Anglade Institute of Natural History. iv) The project could only maintain a nursery at Batlagundu, which supplied 38,000 seedlings to farmers and for planting in community land. The area planted with these plants and seedlings is about 325 acres of private lands and 57 acres of community land. v) The project has mobilised many a government programme for the villages. These are routed through the Panchayat and implemented by the villagers but the project staff act as facilitators. It is hoped that in the coming years the Forest Department will take a note of what is being done and help the Council's efforts in actually implementing a Joint Forest Management Project. k. Oddukkam Tree Seed Centre: This is our first tree nursery and is situated at Dindigul. The nursery distributed about (46,750) plants belonging to 104 species. The nursery has not had any project support for the past 5 years and is almost self sufficient. The seed centre has had project support from the Small Project Fund, GTZ for the past two years for Up-gradation of the facilities. From now on the Tree Seed Centre will operate from sale proceedings of the seeds. The GTZ has provided a revolving fund that will be utilised for running the seed centre in a commercially viable manner. The seed centre collected and distributed 3250 kg of seeds of 104 species during last year. The Dindigul Municipality has been requested to renew the lease for another five year term to permit us operate from this centre. Our sincere thanks for the Dindigul Municipality for the co-operation extended thus far. IN THE MIDDLE PALNIS I. SVK Kombai and Palkadai The tree nursery has raised and distributed about 8000 plants to the tribal farmers in the enclave. The nursery at present stocks about 9000 plants for distribution in the coming season. The centre maintains 7 colonies of Apis cerana indica in the Tribal settlement of Thalaioothukkadu. The preservation of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel is the main objective at this watershed. The Council conducts tow education programmes for the tribals at Puliyangasam and Thalaioothukkadu. This is the only opportunity for the forest dependent settlers to gain basic reading and writing skills. The settlements fall within the proposed sanctuary area and it is important that the tribals gain reading and writing skills so that they can voice their rights with the Forest Department. Palkadai: As the SVK nursery and activities are not accessible easily it was decided to start another centre at the village of Palkadai bordering the Pacchamalai Reserve Forest. This was opened as a Bee Keeping Training Centre and the Danish Bee Keeping Federation have assisted in setting up of a building measuring 360 sq.ft with Sheet Metal Roofing. Infrastructure for establishing a tree nursery has been created here. The nursery distributed about 5,000 plants to the farmers in the area. The first Bee-keeping training program was attended by 15 persons. There are 10 women and 5 farmers. But the second batch has improved to 20 trainees and the training is in progress now. The centre now runs an evening school for the Paliyar tribes. The classes are regularly attended by about 30 tribal students. I. Patlankadu Bee keeping Training Centre: This centre is located near Thandikudi at an altitude of 1,300 mts. This has excellent forage for the bees and the staff have managed to hive 46 colonies of Apis cerana indica which are emerging out of the Thai Sac Brood virus. The first set of trainees were about 25 in number and have all taken up bee-keeping with the hives provided by the project. The bee keeping training programme has two trainers who are now imparting training to 32 trainees in the second batch, twelve of whom are ladies. It is proposed to start queen rearing at this centre for colony multiplication. m. Melpallam Nursery and Apiary: The nursery started last year has been able to stock coffee seedlings which are in demand. But the growth rates are slower. Hence the last years stock of 5,000 will be ready for planting only this season. Further increase in number of plants is possible this year as the water availability has been improved by laying of a pipeline to irrigate the nursery by gravity flow. The apiary has 15 colonies of Apis cerana indica that are now resistant to the Thai Sac Brood virus. The availability of forage is good at this site due the thriving hill banana. It is proposed to increase the number of bee colonies further and also embark on a colony multiplication work at this centre in the future. n. Semmadioothu Nursery and apiary This is situated on the tribal hamlet of Semmadioothu on the Kodaganar river bank in the coffee growing region of the Palni Hills. The inhabitants of the hamlet belong to the Pulayar tribes. They have been assigned land in which they can grow coffee and pepper. The nursery last year provided the tribal farmers with 4,000 plants of coffee and pepper. At present the nursery stocks 5,400 plants for distribution in the coming year. There are 10 colonies of Apis cerana indica maintained by a tribal beekeeper at this centre. o. SUSTAINABLE ECO-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE The Council has been promoting ecologically sustainable forms of agriculture in the hills for the last four years. Last year the council coordinated two programmes of three week duration, in Biodynamic Agriculture last year. The programmes were attended by participants from abroad and other states of India. There were also four two day programmes on sustainable agriculture in various villages across the Palni Hills. The council has staff who are now trained in the Biodynamic Agriculture concepts that are now taught to farmers in many watersheds. The Council serves as a nodal point for education on sustainable agriculture in India and coordinates the publication of a newsletter on Biodynamic agriculture. p. Vilpatti Village Project: The project funded by Intercare UK has been progressing steadily towards self sufficiency. The main activities this year are grouped under the welfare and Income generating sections. Welfare Program: The project runs a creshe for the school children of age 2-5 years in which there are about 16 children. There is a sponsorship program which benefits about 68 students. The after school club for enhancing learning skills is attended by 150 students. The project runs a clinic that serves the villages and children. Income Generating activities: The project hopes to improve the current income from activities like candle making; greeting card production and paper conversion. MINOR FIELD STUDIES: q. Tribal Settlement Survey: This was carried out in 20 settlements during last year and a report prepared to strengthen the case for provision of rights for tribals in the forest areas when the proposed sanctuary and protected area network are in place. The survey was extended this year to complete the work in the remaining 12 tribal hamlets. r. Brick Kiln study: We are keeping a keen watch on the proliferation of brick kilns over the years and a study revealed that in areas with suitable tank bed mud many farmers are even leasing their land and water for the brick kiln owners for manufacture of burnt bricks. His in fact has prompted us to go in for compressed mud blocks for construction of our Environment Centre Building at Genguvarpatti. This apart from having a negative effect on the forests and tree cover, has been polluting the air in many localities. Now kilns are mushrooming on the Batlagundu - Dindigul main road and they are a traffic hazard when the bricks are fired as the smoke completely blocks vision during night time and is leading to road accidents. The council is exploring possibilities to try a new model of brick kilns that use coal instead of wood in the future. s. SANCTUARY PROPOSAL: It is unfortunate that the proposal for the Palni Hills sanctuary is pending before the government for over four years. We learn that it is due to a legal hurdle, which can easily rectified by the government in the state and central forest acts. We hope that the same will be rectified soon and the notification for the sanctuary will follow immediately. The Council has enjoyed the co-operation of the Forest Departments of Kodaikanal and Dindigul in its work relating to the sanctuary proposal and we thank the respective officials for their co-operation. CONCLUSION: The councils' efforts have fallen short of the previous years' in that it has managed to plant only 250,000 trees. At present the combined nursery stock is about 400,000 and we hope to plant most of these in the coming season. The works carried out in the past year have been possible with sincere co-operation from our staff who share the vision of, "Health of the Hills is wealth of the plains". Our hearty congratulations to them on completion of the 14th year of functioning of the council. In a world that is moving from welfare state to market economies, the aid budgets are shrinking and it is taking a toll on our activities. Despite this declining trend in aided projects we have managed to increase the level of budgetary support and this has been possible because of our donors who have helped us with funds for the various projects, our sincere thanks to them. The following donors have supported the respective projects: 1. GTZ - Small Project Fund, New Delhi, Tree Seed Centre 2. Swedish Society for Nature Conservation-Sustainable Development Project 3. SIDA-Kadavakurichi Joint Forest Management Project 4. Danish Bee-keeping Federation - Bee Keeping Training Project 5. Capart-Danida-Palni-Hills Watershed Project The accounts for the year have been efficiently audited by our Chartered Accountants M\s.Madhavan and Illango, our sincere thanks to them. Date: -Sd/ C.Jeyakaran September'99 President