Editor’s note
Dear Reader
Greetings from Care Earth Trust !
If you are receiving this email, it is because you subscribed to our newsletter (thank you!).
We are writing to you at a time of lot of change for Care Earth. We are now at a new office location in Chennai (something we have been looking forward to) and we now have a revamped website (something that was long overdue).
Without much ado , here is what we have been up to in the first half of 2024 - from home base Chennai to as far as the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Wishing you more nature walks in the rest of 2024,
The Ainthinai team
Annual Report 2023 - 2024
How exciting that we now have a new website - www.careearthtrust.org
Or rather, the same website with considerable changes and updates. Please do check it out for lots more information on our projects, past and present.
Speaking of information, our annual report for the past year is out and can be accessed at this link here.
Onwards to project updates
Habitat suitability for Spot-billed Pelicans affected by the oil spill
Earlier this year, we joined the team working on rehabilitation of oil spill affected birds to examine suitable habitats for the spot-billed pelican. The assessment journey began at the Adyar River, proceeded to the Napier Bridge, and then extended to the Ennore Creek. Subsequently, exploration encompassed three distinct areas within Pulicat, renowned for hosting spot-billed pelicans. Utilizing a comprehensive habitat suitability form, several key factors were considered to identify optimal locations for these birds, including proximity to their home range, food availability, habitat type, human disturbance, accessibility for post-release monitoring, presence of conspecifics, protection status, disease prevalence, and potential negative impacts on wild conspecifics and other species.
Climate Change and Water Risk in Chennai
The technical report titled ‘Climate Change and Water Risk: A Strategy and Action Plan for Chennai’ is the outcome of an ongoing collaboration between NatWest Group and Care Earth Trust, who share the vision of developing evidence-based strategies and actions to address the impacts of Climate Change, at a scale that is viable in terms of planning, resource allocation and replicability.
The Strategy and Action Plan was officially released in February 2024 in the presence of Dr. N. Krishna Kumar, IFS (Retd.), former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Chairman of the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu and Dr. Sowmiya Anbumani, President of Pasumai Thayagam as the guests of honour.
Forest Management in Western India
We are working with the Department of Forests & Wildlife, UT Administration of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Daman & Diu to prepare working plans for two forest divisions as per the National Working Plan Code (NWPC) 2023 for Sustainable Management of Forests and Biodiversity.
As part of this, the project team has carried out extensive field surveys across the forest divisions largely floral and faunal assessments, and socio-economic surveys. The team also had consultation meetings with various stakeholders, including departmental staff, communities, local bodies, and wood-based industries, to improve the forest health and its sustainable management.
Medicine and Traditional Knowledge in Suburban Chennai
It is no secret that throughout history, humans have relied on plants for a wide range of purposes. From providing food and medicine to serving as sources of dyes and more, plants have played a crucial role in our lives. However, our knowledge of plants and their uses remains limited, with many species and their benefits yet to be identified. Our ancestors possessed a greater understanding of the diversity of plants and their advantages, particularly tribal communities who were well-versed in the benefits and potential harm associated with different plants. We have commenced a study documenting the uses of plants in their daily lives, specifically focusing on how they fulfil basic needs. This study aims to identify medicinal plants, understand their uses, and conserve species that are at risk of extinction.
Surveying Birds
We continue to participate in the multiple surveys conducted by the Tamilnadu Forest Department - the synchronized wetland and terrestrial bird survey and the synchronized vulture survey in 2024 so far.
World Environment Day 2024
Every year, we celebrate World Environment Day across multiple project locations - here is a quick recap of this year’s celebrations
The right native species for the Coonoor landscape - over 300 indigenous saplings planted with students and staff of Laidlaw Memorial School & Junior College, and over 100 soldiers and workers of the Wellington Cantonment
Elephant Whisperers of Palakkad - we provided raincoats to the mahouts of the Dhoni Elephant Camp under the Palakkad Division of the Kerala Forest Department. One of our many small efforts to support those at the frontline of safeguarding our forests.
Helping fight fires in Sathyamangalam - Hooks distributed after a consultation with the Forest Department under the Anti-Poaching Skill Training and Infrastructure Support in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve project, supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The hooks will help in creating fire lines to combat forest fires.
Congratulations to the whole CET team.