Forest department honours conservation work

The forest department on Friday awarded individuals, villages and non-government organisations (NGOs) for their outstanding contributing to wildlife conservation.
The forest department held the initiative on account of Wildlife Week being observed from October 1-7.
The Sant Tukaram Award at the district level was also given to villages that have been involved in conservation of forests and wildlife.Vinshi village from the Kalwan taluka was awarded the first prize of Rs 51,000 for excellent joint forest management committee (JFMC) work.They worked on restoration of the jungle, conserved and secured it and also banned grazing and tree cutting. There have been no reported incidents of forest fire in the jungle. Kachurli village in the Trimbakeshwar taluka bagged the second prize of Rs 31,000. Villagers and JFMC conserved the forest, banned axing , protected birds and animals in the forest area and also provided sufficient water for them. There have been no encroachments or fire in the forest.
Visapur village in Yeola was awarded the third prize as villagers and the JFMC contributed to conservation efforts.
An essay competition on various topics relating to wildlife was organised for school students and prizes were distributed on Friday.
Shantaram Shirsat, Valu Gaikwad and Vilad Bagar, residents of Borgad, were felicitated for their outstanding work towards forest conservation over the past eight years. Borgad was almost barren when the environmentalists' group, Nature Conservation Society of Nashik began reviving it.