Farmers urged to shun use of chemical fertilizers to save biodiversity

NAGPUR: Satpuda Foundation, an NGO working for community-based wildlife conservation in Satpuda landscape in Central India, celebrated International Biodiversity Day with tribal villages situated in the buffer zones of six tiger reserves.
United Nations has adopted May 22 as International Biodiversity Day to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity issues.This year the theme for the celebration is ‘Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods’.
“Biodiversity is the foundation for life on earth and is an essential part of living ecosystems. Conservation of biodiversity ensures provision of various essential services through these ecosystems. It is also closely related to people’s livelihood and sustainable development in various areas like agriculture, forestry, fisheries and eco-tourism. There is a substantial loss of biodiversity each year and we need to stop it as soon as possible,” said Satpuda Foundation president and Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board member Kishor Rithe.
Various events were organised in buffer zone of villages of Pench, Tadoba-Andhari, Navegaon-Nagzira, Satpuda and Kanha tiger reserves on the occasion.
In east Pench, a programme was organised for farmers from Salai, Pipariya, Ghoti and Wagholi villages to explain conservation of agricultural biodiversity. Around 21 farmers attended the programme at community centre of Satpuda Foundation. Conservation officer Mandar Pingle and community officer Dilip Lanjewar guided the farmers and facilitated discussion regarding indigenous crops and organic farming practices.
Farmers were urged to control use of chemical fertilizers and rely on harmless organic fertilizers as prolonged use of large quantities of chemical fertilizers have caused loss of agricultural biodiversity.
Several schemes and trainings of National Centre of Organic Farming were shared with farmers. Various other issues like tree plantation, creation of biodiversity parks near villages, cleaning water bodies etc were also discussed.
Community officer Bandu Uikey organised a similar program in Ghatpendhri in west Pench.
In MP Pench, short films on biodiversity conservation were shown to villagers. A drawing and painting competition was also arranged for kids. They painted colourful pictures of various birds, animals, insects and trees Community officer of Satpuda Foundation Niranjan Hinge arranged these programmes. Similarly, a shramdaan programme was arranged at Kunai to construct a waterhole for wild animals and birds.
In TATR children were taken to Mohurli lake to explain wetland eco-system and role of various organisms. Similar programme was arranged for kids of Sitarampeth in Tadoba buffer.
Assistant director Anoop Awasthi, conservation officers Mandar Pingle, Bandu Kumare, Ashfaq Aarbi, Kamlesh Pawar, Dilip Lanjewar, Bandu Uike and Mukund Dhurve took efforts to make these programmes a success.