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 originally started this newsletter as a half-yearly. We have since witnessed its readership grow in leaps and bounds. Given that we have had a very eventful quarter in Jul-Sept, we thought the time is ripe to shift it to a quarterly newsletter. It means we are busy and that’s good right ?
We are also beyond thrilled to share this good news - Care Earth is now an accredited CSO of the United Nations Environment Programme. This marks a significant milestone for our organization and underscores our commitment to global conservation efforts. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our well-wishers who have made this achievement possible. Together, we look forward to amplifying our impact and collaborating with partners to drive positive change for our planet.
Wishing you plenty of time outdoors,
The Ainthinai team
At the Forest Frontline
Anti-Poaching Watchers (APWs) serve as the frontline protectors of our forests. To enhance their skills and provide them with essential protective kits, we are implementing a project focused on forest conservation, supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). This initiative primarily aims to provide skill training and supportive kits for both APWs and Anti-Poaching Camps. The project involves 310 Anti-Poaching Watchers across 62 Anti-Poaching Camps within 14 forest ranges in 3 forest divisions: Sathyamangalam, Hasanur, and Erode.
As part of the infrastructure support component of the project, on 21 August 2024, Mr. K. Rajkumar, IFS, Conservator of Forests and Field Director of STR, distributed kits to the APWs. Joining him were Mr. Kulal Yogesh Vilas, IFS, Deputy Director of the Sathyamangalam Forest Division; Mr. K. Sudhakar, IFS, Deputy Director of the Hasanur Forest Division; and Mr. Kumuli Venkata Appala Naidu, IFS, DFO of the Erode Forest Division. Mr TS Ajith, Deputy General Manager SIDBI, graced the occasion and delivered a special address.
Is Biodiversity your Happy Place ?
A significant occasion was marked with the launch of the book ‘Be My Happy Place: a guide to create, curate and establish a Living Lab’ on September 14, 2024.
The book was unveiled by Ms. Tara Gandhi, renowned conservationist, ornithologist, & author, and received by Dr. M. Jayanthi, IFS, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and Thiru. I. Anwardeen, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Project Director, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR).
It has engaging exercises and conceptual explanations written by a team of experts at Care Earth with illustrations set in our local ecological context. ‘Be My Happy Place’ is targeted to middle school students, teachers, and educationists and we are currently working on ensuring it reaches a wider audience.
This learning resource was brought out as part of the “Youth led, Nature-Culture Living Labs in India” project supported by SwedBio, a programme at the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Sweden.
From Depletion to Opportunity - Exploring Reuse of Abandoned Quarries
The feasibility study aims to gather foundational profiles and evaluate potential repurposing opportunities for selected quarries in the Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts. Out of the 60 depleted quarries listed by the Department of Geology and Mining, 16 are situated in Kancheepuram and 44 in Chengalpattu. To date, 53 of these sites have been inspected. Fieldwork has been conducted under the guidance of the Department of Mines and Geology. This assessment will identify viable adaptive reuse options, such as water conservation projects, sustainable waste management, afforestation, and the development of public spaces, to promote the sustainable development of these sites.
Wetlands Abound
Our work restoring wetlands remains ongoing at full speed to reach milestones before monsoon season starts. Here is a quick look at ongoing projects
Events and Conferences
Care Earth Trust, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), is currently evaluating the efficacy of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation measures in selected forest divisions in Tamil Nadu, through a combination of questionnaire surveys and fieldwork. Preliminary findings from the project were shared at an international conference organized by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, emphasizing the value of stakeholder collaboration and data-driven solutions in addressing HWC.
Our team members Jeya Kumar and Sunanda participated as jury members of different panels in an environment-focused school symposium ‘Action for Community Transformation’ organised by Budding Minds International School. They listened to students from classes 7 to 12 present their research on environmental issues ranging from waste segregation to urban flooding in Chennai, and encouraged the students to take their research further. Sunanda also participated in a panel discussion on ‘Youth engagement in social work and environment policy – barriers, importance and the future’, and shared her insights.
