PALNI HILLS CONSERVATION COUNCIL 15TH ANNUAL REPORT 1999-2000 The council has marched in to the new millennium and has been instrumental in bringing about changes in policy of the government that the forest of the hills are to be declared a sanctuary to safe guard the habitat for wildlife. The Executive Committee which met 10 times last year to conduct the day to day affairs of the Council hereby presents its report: Executive Committee: 1. Mr.Navroz Mody President 2. Fr.K.M.Matthew Vice - President 3. Mr.J.Nath Vice - President 4. Mrs.Girija Viraraghavan Secretary 5. Mr.Nevil Moncher Joint Secretary 6. Mr.R.Kannan Treasurer 7. Mr.M.S.Viraraghavan Executive Committee Member 8. Mr.Ajit Mathai Executive Committee Member 9. Mr.C.Jeyakaran Executive Committee Member 10. Mr.Jean Pouyet Executive Committee Member 11. Mr.Israel Booshi Executive Committee Member 12. Mr.Vijay Kumar Executive Committee Member 13. Mrs.Rebecca chacko Executive Committee Member 14. Mrs.Tara Murali Executive Committee Member 15. Mr.Rajagopal Dorai Raja Executive Committee Member 16. Mr.George Roshan Executive Committee Member Membership: The total number of members of the council as on 31st March'2000 is as follows: Life members : 161 Annual members : 31 Institutional members : 2 Introduction: The changing economic scenario has a direct reflection on the activity of the council - there is a trend to cut subsidies and NGOs and donor agencies are in the same playing field of budget cuts and reduction of staff portfolios. The past year has been a turbulent one with many changes and we hope to smoothen the rough edges and cut corners where necessary to make eco development a practical and sustainable proposition. The elements have been unfriendly and as a result the target for tree growing had to be scaled down, but perhaps we can make up for the lost numbers in the coming years. The out going Executive Committee hereby presents its report of activities to members. UPPER PALNIS FIELD CENTERS a. Kodaikanal Centre: The office has a staff strength of ten people and a small part of all of the councils activities are represented here so that any visitor to the registered office gets to see a part of the works implemented on larger scale at the various field centers. The shoal conservation tree nursery is an important activity and it has thus far collected and propagated 50 species of shola trees. The nursery supplies mostly 2 year old tree seedlings, grown in 14"x7" size polyethylene bags of various shola species to the public at Kodaikanal. The past year has seen good sales and the nursery is not covered by any grant and manages well on its own. We managed to sell 37,00 plants from the nursery and the present stock is 85,00. We collected seeds of various shola species that were put under germination trials and this year a number of previously difficult species have been successfully grown. The council aims to start a shoal species nursery in some of the schools who have shown interest in preserving the shoals of Kodaikanal. Medicinal Plants: The tree nursery now has a Controlled Environment Chamber for keeping plants that are liable to be damaged by the low temperatures. It now stocks 40 species of plants that are listed in various publications as being medicinal. We are now working to propagate these to supply the same to users, mainly to practioners of alternative systems of medicine other than allopathy.. Apiary: The apiary here is a reference one and the problem has been one of getting colonies. The apiary has 6 colonies of bees but recently there has been a successful trial with queen rearing and it is now possible that we will have more colonies for providing to the needs of the beekeepers at Kodaikanal in the coming months. Working with the Forest Department for declaring the Upper Palnis as a sanctuary is co-ordinated from the office here. The President Mr.Navroz Mody and staff attended a meeting organized with Forest Department for commemorating the World Forestry Day on 21st March. b. Lake Volunteer Water Quality monitoring programme: The water quality monitoring team has been functioning from here and we have conducted the ecological awareness program for 8 schools in the past year. Fifteen students from each school have participated in the program last year. This year we have also increased the number of parameters monitored from 4 to ten to get an accurate status of the eutrophication of lake waters. Dissolved Oxygen (Surface and Bottom) tests are now conducted once a month at midnight which has revealed a clear inversion which is characteristic of the cold water lake and is responsible for fish kills, as the DO level plummets to 2.0 mg per lt at 12.00 Midnight. But unfortunately all our representations to various authorities have gone unheard and the water quality is deteriorating. The immediate needs of the lake are sealing of the eight hundred soak pit type latrines that are spread out over the lake watershed. A study of the efficiency of the Effluent Treatment Plant is under taken and the results will be known shortly as to the improvement of the water quality of effluents from various commercial establishments. c. Poomparai: The nursery is located at 1900 mts near the village and was started in July 1999 with the objective to cater to the fruit trees and shelter-belt tree species of farmers in this watershed Presently the nursery stocks 11 species of trees the stock at present is 15,800. The main species here is the peach which is to be grafted after a year in the field. Community Centre: An evening class for school children is run from a rented room at the centre of the village. The number of students attending the class is 120, which perhaps indicates the poor schooling facilities available at hill villages. d. Shenbaganur: This tree and fruit nursery was also started in July 1999 and is located at the St.Anne's Convent Land. It is situated at 1800 mts altitude and is growing 27 different species of trees. It has fruit, timber and flowering plants. The nursery helped tribals at Savarikadu plant 5,000 tree and coffee seedlings last year and has supplied about 4,000 plants this year to farmers. The present stock is 72,00. The council runs an evening tution class for students of the nearby settlements. An average of 30 students are attending the program. The council has started a new apiary at the Sacred Hearts College, Shenbaganur in co-operation with the college and has established 7 colonies of Apis cerana indica there in addition to the five colonies that were already there before. e. Melpallam: The nursery supplies mainly coffee seedlings to farmers who are practicing mixed cropping here and it has a stock of 75,00 seedlings and has distributed about 55,00 seedlings to farmers in the area last year. The Experimental Apiary here has maintained 15 colonies of Apis cerana indica and has not progressed further. This is due to the unpredictable climes there and it has been difficult to start queen and colony production thus far. f. Vilpatty: The tree nursery located 8 km from Kodaikanal has a good source of water that is suitable for growing fruit seedlings, mainly Peach and Avocado. The farmers of Pethuparai valley and Tinavarai hills are the main beneficiaries of this nursery. Last year the nursery distributed 36,00 plants and has a stock of 8,000 seedlings at present. g. Pallangi: The nursery is located 2 km before Pallangi and provides for the horticultural and timber seedlings requirement of the farmers in the Pallangi Kombai area. The nursery has a reference apiary with 5 colonies of Apis cerana indica working well for the past two years. Last year the nursery distributed 7,000 plants and the present stock is 11,000. The main stay of the nursery are peach and avocado. MIDDLE PALNIS CENTRES h. Patlankadu: Located in the middle of the coffee growing area at 1325 mts altitude the centre is our best beekeeping training centre. Thus far we have trained 75 youth in Keeping Apis cerana indica. The centre has succeeded in queen rearing with the native bee and has produced 10 hybrid queens and has completely stopped taking Apis cerana indica colonies from the wild. We hope to consolidate and continue the work started here for three more years. The centre has over 50 colonies of Apis cerana indica. Some of the first batch of trainees have harvested honey from their colonies. i. Semmadioothu: The tribal village has a full time Pulayar beekeeper who manages 10 colonies of Apis cerana indica that serve as a reference apiary. The nursery caters to the tribal farmers who require coffee and rooted pepper cuttings. The present nursery stock is 3,000 plants only. j. Palkdai: Situated on the northern slopes of Palni Hills at 750 meters altitude the centre is for training Paliyar Tribal Youth in to beekeeping and the nursery provides grafts and timber tree seedling to farmers in the area. During the past year the nursery has distributed 9,000 tree seedlings and 12,00 mango grafts for the farmers in the watershed. The present nursery stock is 10,500 seedlings. The beekeeping training has now 16 trainees participating in the training program. The participants are predominantly Paliyar women from nearby tribal hamlets. The centre maintains 10 colonies of Apis cerana indica. K. SVK Kombai: The centre started in 1991 to preserve the habitat Grizzled Giant squirrel will be one of the main centers for collection of Non timber forest produce by the tribals resident there. The population of the GGS was last studied by a researcher in 1998 and needs to be updated. The tree nursery here has supplied 2,000 plants to the tribal farmers last year. The present nursery stock is 5,000. The centre maintains 11 colonies of Apis cerana indica that are maintained by the Pulayar tribals resident there. It is proposed to improve the infrastructure facilities there and make it a visitors centre in the future. PLAINS CENTERS l. Athoor: Located on the banks of the river Kdoaganar at the Kamaraj Sagar Dam on site provided by the Dindigul Municipality the nursery provide seedlings for the farmers at the foothills of the Lower Palni Hills. The nursery gets a copious supply of water and is now growing coffee seedlings and shade tree seedlings for supply to the coffee growing regions at higher altitudes. The nursery raised and distributed 25,00 plans for farmers in the area. The present nursery stock is 38,000. The apiary has 25 colonies of bees and the climate and forage are conducive for queen and colony multiplication. The centre provides bamboo for fabrication of the Mulderry hive and has thus far supplied 30 hives to other beekeeping and training centers. m. Genguvarpatti: Environment Education Centre: The environment centre completed last year is yet to become functional due to paucity of funds for infrastructure development. A visiting team of Swedish Students from the Biskofs Arnor school have agreed to raise funds for building a dormitory. It is hoped that the dormitory will be built in the coming year. The centre has been provided with electric supply and soon will house the plains office of the council. The tree nursery has been supplying seedlings and grafts to the farmers who have tracts of dry lands bordring the foothills reserved forest. Last year the tree nursery distributed 2,000 grafts of mango and 25,000 shelterbelt; timber and usufruct trees. The present nursery stock is 40,000 seedlings. The arboretum has been affected by the severe drought prevailing in the area and it is proposed to water the trees in the summer months to help the trees recover and provide a good canopy to prevent the excessive growth of thorny bushes in the arboretum area. A plan to develop the 20 acres centre with layouts for an alternative energy park; sustainable buildings and a pond has been drawn up by Mr.Nevil Moncher. This will be the basis for future development of the Environment Education Centre. n. Kadavakurichi watershed management project: The project is now nearing the last phase of the original plan. The works carried out thus far have been through the Village Planning Committees and has been below expectations. Hence a review committee was formed which now governs the project. The evening schools at the 19 target villages are running smoothly. The self help groups that were organized by the two women co-ordinators are now functioning independently without project support. It is planned to identify land holders who will take up the private land tree planting works towards the beginning of the monsoons in October and complete the project as per the original plan. o. Kudhirayar Centre: Situated on the banks of the river Kudhirayar on land beloging to the PWD the centre represents all the activities of the council and has tree nursery, bee keeping training program and forest tree seed collection centre. But the centre has been affected by the sudden demise of the Supervisor Mr.Duraisamy whose passing away is a great loss to the council. The tree nursery distributed 22,500 seedlings to farmers in the area last year. The farmers were also provided with 22,00 mango and guava grafts from other nurseries. The centre has an apiary that has 30 colonies of Apis cerana indica. It has hosted two internal workshops for beekeepers and trainers. The queen rearing work was initiated here by the Danish Beekeeper Mr.Mogens Jensen, who has been instrumental in fabrication of the Mulderry hive with bamboo too. Thus far the centre has produced about 20 hive in which bee colonies are functioning satisfactorily for the past one year. The beekeeping training program has trained 15 men and 15 tribal women in apiary techniques for minimum management of Apis cerana indica. Seed collection for our Tree Seed Centre at Oddukkam has been going on at this centre for the past season. During the last season seeds of 10 species of forest trees were collected from this centre that is adjoining the Indira Gandhi National Park. p. Oddukkam Tree Seed Centre: Conserving bio-diversity of trees; shrubs and medicinal plants has been the prime objective of our first field centre situated at Dindigul. The centre has managed to carry on the activities without grant assistance from the council during the last year. We have been negotiating with the Dindigul Municipal Council for renewal of the lease for the nursery and seed centre and now there are indications that finally the DMC has recognized the services of PHCC and has promised an early renewal. The tree seed centre has collected seeds of 118 species last year. It has catered to the needs of Forest departments; agriculture departments and NGO's who are doing afforestation work. The quantity of seeds distributed is 22,50 kilograms. The tree nursery grew over 135 species of plants. The nursery distributed over 81,000 plants during the last year and has a stock of 75,000 plants. The nursery has over 25 species of medicinal plants that it has been collected in consultation with Siddha medicine texts. q. Viruveedu Centre: The council owns 10 acres of land here and has infrastructure facilities for maintaining a small office here. The centre has received support from Inter Cooperation, for implementing a Natural Resource Management program based on tree growing; small ruminants for women; draught animal conservation and beekeeping for pollination improvement in farmers lands. The tree nursery had a bulk order from the forest department and has supplied 65,000 tree seedlings to the FD. It also distributed 33,000 seedlings to farmers along with 1,000 mango and sapota grafts. The nursery presently stocks over 58,000 tree seedlings comprising 65 species. The two beekeepers here are good with the grafting technique and have managed to produce 15 colonies of hybrid bees. The centre does not hive colonies from the wild anymore and this will help restore feral colony numbers. The apiarists currently manage 42 bee colonies here. The beekeeping extension program has managed to train 13 men and 16 women in hive beekeeping. The centre also processes honey from Rock bee that is harvested by Honey Hunter tribes of Moopar caste. The sale of honey has been good and it is now planned to go in for a bottling facility in the coming nectar flow season. r. Wildlife Studies: The council has managed to undertake a few studies on the endangered animals of the Palni Hills with a view to press for the sanctuary. The Kudhirayar watershed was completely surveyed and check list of mammals was prepared based on direct sightings and indirect samples. The presence of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel at the catchment area was confirmed. A viable population of the Nilgiri Tahr was also identified in this area. A study of Non timber forest produce extraction from the forest employing the Paliyar Community as wage earners was undertaken. The objective was to explore the possibility of helping the tribals to manage the extraction on their own with minimum disturbance to the forest. An evasive group of otter - poachers were tracked at the Kudhirayar area and information on the value of otter oil was obtained. It was found out that apart from Kuhirayar, otters along streams of numerous dam sites in the Palni Hills were subject to trapping and slaughter. It was felt that immediate action to save the few remaining otters of Plani Hills is urgently required. s. International Bee Workshop: An international workshop on queen rearing and alternative hive production for Apis cerana indica was conducted by the council from Feb 18-23rd at the Anglade Institute of Natural History. The workshop was attended by over 30 participants from India and abroad. It had two days for presentation of papers and two days for field visits to the councils apiaries and training centers. The Danish Beekeepers Federation which helped organise the workshop sent its President Mr.Kristian Skovmose; Ms.Lise Hansted and Mr.Mogens Jensen as representatives for the workshop. Conclusion: Despite the marginal reduction in the grants the council has in the past year managed to distribute, and facilitate plant about 3,00,000 trees. The present stocks with the tree nurseries are good and we hope to do better in the coming year. The activities outlined have been possible with the co-operation of our staff who implemented the works with the available resources and infrastructure, our sincere thanks to them. The various projects have been supported by donor agencies who share our concept of sustainable development of natural resources. We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to them. Our functioning has been made efficient with permission from Dindigul Municipal Council for Tree Seed Centre, Oddukkam and Tree Nursery Athoor; The Public Works Department, Kudhirayar for use of their premises, our sincere thanks for their co-operation. The following donor agencies have supported the respective projects: 1. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Netherlands - Shola Conservation Tree Nurseries 2. Swedish International Development Agency, SIDA, New Delhi - Kadavakurichi Joint Forest Management Project 3. Danish Beekeepers Federation, Denmark - Beekeeping Training Project 4. Swedish Society for Nature Conservation - Sustainable Development Project 5. Joe Homan Charitable Trust U.K. - Genguvarpatti Tree Planting Project 6. Inter co-operation, SDC, Bangalore - Sustainable dry land agriculture Project The accounts for the year have been efficiently audited by our Chartered Accountants M/s.Madhavan & Illango, our sincere thanks to them. Date: 02-08-2000 Navroz Mody President