Get the full story here at :http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/press.html
Earlier this year, doctoral researcher at ATREE, Dharavala L.Kothavala had interviewed Al Gore.
You can listen to the interview here at: http://www.kcsb.org/?p=328
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Karnataka FD organizes, ' Run for Wildlife'
The Karnataka Forest Department organized a "Run for Wildlife" event yesterday. Participants included school and college students and senior citizens too. The run was from Gopala Gowda Circle, near Vidhana Soudha, to Lalbagh. To know more about this event, check out: http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/08/stories/2007100860021100.htm
Friday, October 5, 2007
Lantana Mela is on at MM Hills on Oct 6th.
Lantana camara was once a troublesome weed that colonized nearly 60% of the forest land in MM hills. Also known as Spanish flag, the plant is a native of South America.Sustained efforts made by ATREE’s Conservation and Livelihoods team have helped transform Lantana from a disturbing weed to a utility plant. Working with Lantana camara has become an attractive livelihood option for the Soligas as well as other tribal communities.
Perhaps you may want to spend this Saturday meeting with the craftspeople and seeing for yourself the lovely works of art and craft that can be made with Lantana.
Lantana camara is a tough, hardy plant which thrives well in low rainfall conditions and is not affected by bugs or microbes. To know more about the Lantana initiative at ATREE, you can check out this link: http://www.atree.org/lantana_confl_07.html
Here's the agenda for the Lantana Mela
11.00 am: Invocation by Divyajyothi members
11.30 am: Laying of Foundation stone for Community-based Conservation Centre, MM Hills
by Mrs Parimala Nagappa, MLA, Hannur - Chief Guest
11.40 pm: Distribution of certificates to the Lantana Craftspeople
13.00 pm: Lunch
14.30 pm: An interaction session with the Craftspeople
15.30 pm: Field trip
19.00: Cultural program: Janapada geethegalla nruthyarupaka by Soliga artisans and Adima Kala Shale, Kolar
Event Organizers : Lantana Craft Centre (LCC), Divyajyothi SHG (Self Help Group)Federation, University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore and ATREE.
ATREE's Rural CE Workshop on Oct 9th
Dear Friends,
Attached is the notice for the Rural CE workshop on October 9th, 2007 at ATREE. The primary focus of the workshop will be to look at the existing CE (conservation education) initiatives in our field sites, and see how best we can come up with a CREATIVE ASSESSMENT PLAN for each of these areas. Each team will ideally share with the group what they think needs to be done and this can be consolidated into an overall plan.
The assessment itself while looking at Conservtion Education in particular will also build up baseline information that will help us plan further CE work in each of these areas. We look forward to your presentations (please feel free to use any format to present) and the kite flying that will follow. Both Gladwin and I are looking forward to veering away from the usual questionnaire type of assessments and would like to make it as experiential and hands-on as possible. We will all need to pitch in to decide how best we take this forward.
Please bring along anything (non-textual material, photos, art work, crafts, seeds etc) or written material that will help in building up our plan. If there are any clarifications or pre-workshops discussions you need, please do get in touch with me.
A line confirming who will participate will be appreciated. I am also sending this to some of our Urban CE folks with the request that they also attend if interested.
Thanks and regards,
Sunita
Member and Programme Coordinator,
Kalpavriksh, Pune & Adjunct Fellow,
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE),
Bangalore, India
Here's our tentative agenda for the meeting on October 9th, 2007
10.00 am: Introduction to the meeting
Expected outcomes/outputs including the assessment methodology
Gladwin and Sunita
10.30 to 13.00: Presentations by teams from ATREE’s 6 CCC field sites (with CE as the focus)
o KMTR: Soubhadra/Ganesh/Savitha
o Natham: Sarvanan
o Kanakpura: Kavitha
o MM Hills: Kannan
o BR Hills: Siddappa/Sunita
o Vembanad: Priyan/Jojo
Each presentation can be about 15 minutes long followed by a discussion that is within the context of the purpose of this meeting, and will lay the way for the afternoon discussions.
Moderator: Gladwin
13.00 to 13.45 pm: Lunch
13.45 pm: “Generating a creative assessment methodology for CE”- Gladwin/Sunita
14.30 to 16.00 pm: Group discussions and presentations on what each site team would ideally like to have as an assessment plan.
Moderator: Gladwin
16.00-17.00 pm: Wrap up and consolidation (work plan, task list, team)
Attached is the notice for the Rural CE workshop on October 9th, 2007 at ATREE. The primary focus of the workshop will be to look at the existing CE (conservation education) initiatives in our field sites, and see how best we can come up with a CREATIVE ASSESSMENT PLAN for each of these areas. Each team will ideally share with the group what they think needs to be done and this can be consolidated into an overall plan.
The assessment itself while looking at Conservtion Education in particular will also build up baseline information that will help us plan further CE work in each of these areas. We look forward to your presentations (please feel free to use any format to present) and the kite flying that will follow. Both Gladwin and I are looking forward to veering away from the usual questionnaire type of assessments and would like to make it as experiential and hands-on as possible. We will all need to pitch in to decide how best we take this forward.
Please bring along anything (non-textual material, photos, art work, crafts, seeds etc) or written material that will help in building up our plan. If there are any clarifications or pre-workshops discussions you need, please do get in touch with me.
A line confirming who will participate will be appreciated. I am also sending this to some of our Urban CE folks with the request that they also attend if interested.
Thanks and regards,
Sunita
Member and Programme Coordinator,
Kalpavriksh, Pune & Adjunct Fellow,
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE),
Bangalore, India
Here's our tentative agenda for the meeting on October 9th, 2007
10.00 am: Introduction to the meeting
Expected outcomes/outputs including the assessment methodology
Gladwin and Sunita
10.30 to 13.00: Presentations by teams from ATREE’s 6 CCC field sites (with CE as the focus)
o KMTR: Soubhadra/Ganesh/Savitha
o Natham: Sarvanan
o Kanakpura: Kavitha
o MM Hills: Kannan
o BR Hills: Siddappa/Sunita
o Vembanad: Priyan/Jojo
Each presentation can be about 15 minutes long followed by a discussion that is within the context of the purpose of this meeting, and will lay the way for the afternoon discussions.
Moderator: Gladwin
13.00 to 13.45 pm: Lunch
13.45 pm: “Generating a creative assessment methodology for CE”- Gladwin/Sunita
14.30 to 16.00 pm: Group discussions and presentations on what each site team would ideally like to have as an assessment plan.
Moderator: Gladwin
16.00-17.00 pm: Wrap up and consolidation (work plan, task list, team)
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Tiny frog discovered in Western Ghats
A stamp sized frog has been discovered by S D Biju and colleagues, researchers at the University of Delhi. The team have named the frog, Nyctibatrachus minimus. Get to know more about this fascinating discovery here at: http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/sep252007/854.pdf
Friday, September 28, 2007
Invitation to Jalpaadom
Dear Readers,
I am very happy to invite you all for the formal inauguration of ‘Jalpaadom’. Jalapaadom is a unique environmental educational program designed for the students in Vembanad backwater region, Alappuzha, Kerala. Jalpaadom is an initiative of the Vembanad conservation program of ATREE.
Kerala's Minister of Education, Mr. MA Baby, has agreed to inaugurate the program
and Mr. KC Venugopal, MLA will preside over the function.
The program schedule is outlined below:
10.30 am - Prayer
10.35 am- Welcome Address
10.40 am: Briefing on Jalapaadom : Mr Jojo T.D. (Jalapaadom Program Officer)
10.50 am: Presidential Address: Shri K.C. Venugopal (MLA)
11.05 am: Inaugural Address: Shri M.A. Babay (Minister of Education and Culture)
11.25 am: Official Logo Release : Mr Shivasankar M, IAS (Director of Public Instructions,
Kerala)
11.40 am: Release of Resource Materials: Shri P. Nazar, President, District Panchayat,
Alappuzha
11.50 am: Felicitations: Shri P.P. Chitaranjan, Municipal Chairman, Alappuzha
Dr Ravi Chellam, Director, ATREE
Shri K.C. Dayal, Environmentalist
12.15 pm: Vote of Thanks: Dr Latha Bhaskar
Place and time: YMCA Hall, Alappuzha at 10.30am, 4th October 2007
If you wish to attend this event, please contact Shali (shali@atree.org) for the details and for making arrangements.
Thanks
Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, PhD
Fellow Scientist, Insect Taxonomy and Conservation
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
#659, 5th A main, Hebbal, Bangalore - 560 024, India.
Ph:91-80-23530069/23533942/23638771(R) 91-80-23535287;
Fax: 91-80-23530070
Other ID: priyadarsanan@gmail.com
url: www.atree.org/priyan.html
I am very happy to invite you all for the formal inauguration of ‘Jalpaadom’. Jalapaadom is a unique environmental educational program designed for the students in Vembanad backwater region, Alappuzha, Kerala. Jalpaadom is an initiative of the Vembanad conservation program of ATREE.
Kerala's Minister of Education, Mr. MA Baby, has agreed to inaugurate the program
and Mr. KC Venugopal, MLA will preside over the function.
The program schedule is outlined below:
10.30 am - Prayer
10.35 am- Welcome Address
10.40 am: Briefing on Jalapaadom : Mr Jojo T.D. (Jalapaadom Program Officer)
10.50 am: Presidential Address: Shri K.C. Venugopal (MLA)
11.05 am: Inaugural Address: Shri M.A. Babay (Minister of Education and Culture)
11.25 am: Official Logo Release : Mr Shivasankar M, IAS (Director of Public Instructions,
Kerala)
11.40 am: Release of Resource Materials: Shri P. Nazar, President, District Panchayat,
Alappuzha
11.50 am: Felicitations: Shri P.P. Chitaranjan, Municipal Chairman, Alappuzha
Dr Ravi Chellam, Director, ATREE
Shri K.C. Dayal, Environmentalist
12.15 pm: Vote of Thanks: Dr Latha Bhaskar
Place and time: YMCA Hall, Alappuzha at 10.30am, 4th October 2007
If you wish to attend this event, please contact Shali (shali@atree.org) for the details and for making arrangements.
Thanks
Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, PhD
Fellow Scientist, Insect Taxonomy and Conservation
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
#659, 5th A main, Hebbal, Bangalore - 560 024, India.
Ph:91-80-23530069/23533942/23638771(R) 91-80-23535287;
Fax: 91-80-23530070
Other ID: priyadarsanan@gmail.com
url: www.atree.org/priyan.html
Thursday, September 27, 2007
"Monsoon – India's God of Life" to be screened on 2nd Oct
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to invite you to attend the screening of:
"Monsoon – India's God of Life"
by
Growing Wild in association with Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS), Centre for Wildlife Studies(CWS) and Wildlife First.
Screening of the film will be followed by an interaction with SHEKAR DATTATRI.
Date and time: Tuesday, October 2nd 2007, 10.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
(please be seated by 09.45 a.m.)
Venue: Mangala Mantapa, NMKRV Women's College, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore
Total seats available: 900
IMPORTANT: As seats for this event are limited, seating at the auditorium will be on first come first served basis .
Entry is free.
About the film:
'Monsoon – India's God of life' is a fascinating chronicle of how the wildlife of India copes with the dog days of summer, and how the arrival of the south-west monsoon transforms their lives and the land they live in. Filmed in some of India's most spectacular wilderness areas, the cast includes one horned rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, lion- tailed macaque and a host of lesser known animals. Two years in the making, this film was part of the 'WILD ASIA' series produced for international television. It is a Natural History New Zealand production. Shekar Dattatri is the producer and cinematographer of the film.
During the last two decades, he has produced over 20 documentaries, several of which have aired worldwide on international channels such as National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and the BBC. He is the recipient of a Rolex Award for Enterprise, and co-founder of 'Naturequest', a forum in Chennai that seeks to promote greater awareness of wildlife and conservation issues among the general public. He recently received the Prithvi Ratna award for his outstanding contribution to the cause of wildlife conservation.
We look forward to your participation along with your family and friends.
Thanks and regards,
Killivalavan R
Program Coordinator Growing Wild
Source: email communication from Sushmita at sushmita@atree.org
We are pleased to invite you to attend the screening of:
"Monsoon – India's God of Life"
by
Growing Wild in association with Wildlife Conservation Society(WCS), Centre for Wildlife Studies(CWS) and Wildlife First.
Screening of the film will be followed by an interaction with SHEKAR DATTATRI.
Date and time: Tuesday, October 2nd 2007, 10.00 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.
(please be seated by 09.45 a.m.)
Venue: Mangala Mantapa, NMKRV Women's College, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore
Total seats available: 900
IMPORTANT: As seats for this event are limited, seating at the auditorium will be on first come first served basis .
Entry is free.
About the film:
'Monsoon – India's God of life' is a fascinating chronicle of how the wildlife of India copes with the dog days of summer, and how the arrival of the south-west monsoon transforms their lives and the land they live in. Filmed in some of India's most spectacular wilderness areas, the cast includes one horned rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, lion- tailed macaque and a host of lesser known animals. Two years in the making, this film was part of the 'WILD ASIA' series produced for international television. It is a Natural History New Zealand production. Shekar Dattatri is the producer and cinematographer of the film.
During the last two decades, he has produced over 20 documentaries, several of which have aired worldwide on international channels such as National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and the BBC. He is the recipient of a Rolex Award for Enterprise, and co-founder of 'Naturequest', a forum in Chennai that seeks to promote greater awareness of wildlife and conservation issues among the general public. He recently received the Prithvi Ratna award for his outstanding contribution to the cause of wildlife conservation.
We look forward to your participation along with your family and friends.
Thanks and regards,
Killivalavan R
Program Coordinator Growing Wild
Source: email communication from Sushmita at sushmita@atree.org
Aranyam 2007 On in Bangalore from Oct 5th to 7th
Dear friends,
Aranyam is back... Celebrating Wildlife and Environment for the second time in Bangalore. ActNow in collaboration with Aranya Bhavan – The Government of Karnataka, Forest Dept, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, British Council, Wild Screen U.K, Vodafone, Radio Mirchi, and Epson is organising "Aranyam 2007- Wild Life and Environmental Film Festival" in Bangalore on 5th 6th and 7th during Wild Life Week on October 2007.
The festival will screen documentaries, animations, PSAs, music videos and feature films that relate to wildlife conservation.
Films will be presented along with discussions with consumers of eco tourism, environment and wildlife organizations, forest department personnel and documentary movie producers. Audience participation is invited.
Dates: 5th, 6th and 7th October 2007
Venue: Gurunanak Bhavan, Jasma Bhavan Road Off Millers Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560001. India
Aranyam 2007: Schedule
5th October 2007
INAUGURAL FUNCTION ( 5.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
6.00 pm: Wild Dog Dairies by Kripakar Senani - 38 mins
7.15 pm: Earth Calling - Episode Coorg by Rita BanerjiShilpi Sharma - 28 mins
6th October 2007
10.00 am: Are We Changing Planet Earth? by The BBC - 59 mins
11.15 am: A Green Agony by Geeta Singh - 26 mins
11.50 am: Climate Change: Hard News, Hard Facts : Greenpeace - 03 mins
12.00 am: Can We Save Planet Earth? by The BBC - 59 mins
Open Forum
Lunch
12.45 am: Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One Degree Factor - National Geographic
56 mins
02.00 pm: Global Dimming by The BBC - 49 mins
03.00 pm: Climates First Orphan by Eleanora Images - 20 mins
03.30 pm: A degree of concern by Syed Fayaz - 45 mins
04.15 pm: The weeping apple tree by Vijay S Jodha - 45 mins
05.00 pm: The Fridge by Lucie Stamfestova - 7 mins
Panel Discussion: Carbon Neutral Bangalore (05.30 p.m. to 07.00 p.m .)
07.15 pm: Diminishing Resources by Himanshu Malhotra and Sabina Kidwai - 49 mins
7th October 2007
10.00 am: Tiger Death Chronicles by Krishnendu Bose - 63 mins
Workshop: RTI for solution (10.15 a.m. to 11.45 a.m.)
12.00 pm: The Queen of Trees by Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble - 54 mins
Break (1.00 p.m to 1.30 p.m.)
01.30 pm: Silenced Witness by P. Balan - 63 mins
02.30 pm: Angels in Tigerland by Suresh Elamon - 35 mins
03.15 pm: Once there was a Purple Butterfly by Sonia Kapoor
03.45 pm: The Last Dance by Ashima Narain - 26 mins
04.15 pm: Cherub of the mist - Bedi Films - 50 mins
Break
05.15 pm: Leopards in the Lurch by Gurmeet Sapal - 13 mins
05.45 pm: Turtles in The Soup by Kalpana Subramanian - 30 mins
06.15 pm: Just another death by Vilas Kane - 20 mins
06.45 pm: Concert for India's environment by Chinmaya Dunster - 15 mins
07.00 pm: The Hunted by Jay Mazoomdar
07.20 pm: Right to Survive by Rita Banerji - 25 mins
07.45 pm: Discovery of God - 30 mins
08.15 pm: Riding Solo to the top of the world
Thanks and regards,
Vishal Verghese,
ACT NOW
# 1, Gullamma St,Karavalli Main Rd,Kacharakanahaiil Extn,Behind Jalvayu ViharBangalore- 560 084Tel: 080- 254380299886222678
http://www.aranyam.org/
Source: email communication from Sushmita at sushmita@atree.org
Aranyam is back... Celebrating Wildlife and Environment for the second time in Bangalore. ActNow in collaboration with Aranya Bhavan – The Government of Karnataka, Forest Dept, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, British Council, Wild Screen U.K, Vodafone, Radio Mirchi, and Epson is organising "Aranyam 2007- Wild Life and Environmental Film Festival" in Bangalore on 5th 6th and 7th during Wild Life Week on October 2007.
The festival will screen documentaries, animations, PSAs, music videos and feature films that relate to wildlife conservation.
Films will be presented along with discussions with consumers of eco tourism, environment and wildlife organizations, forest department personnel and documentary movie producers. Audience participation is invited.
Dates: 5th, 6th and 7th October 2007
Venue: Gurunanak Bhavan, Jasma Bhavan Road Off Millers Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560001. India
Aranyam 2007: Schedule
5th October 2007
INAUGURAL FUNCTION ( 5.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
6.00 pm: Wild Dog Dairies by Kripakar Senani - 38 mins
7.15 pm: Earth Calling - Episode Coorg by Rita BanerjiShilpi Sharma - 28 mins
6th October 2007
10.00 am: Are We Changing Planet Earth? by The BBC - 59 mins
11.15 am: A Green Agony by Geeta Singh - 26 mins
11.50 am: Climate Change: Hard News, Hard Facts : Greenpeace - 03 mins
12.00 am: Can We Save Planet Earth? by The BBC - 59 mins
Open Forum
Lunch
12.45 am: Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One Degree Factor - National Geographic
56 mins
02.00 pm: Global Dimming by The BBC - 49 mins
03.00 pm: Climates First Orphan by Eleanora Images - 20 mins
03.30 pm: A degree of concern by Syed Fayaz - 45 mins
04.15 pm: The weeping apple tree by Vijay S Jodha - 45 mins
05.00 pm: The Fridge by Lucie Stamfestova - 7 mins
Panel Discussion: Carbon Neutral Bangalore (05.30 p.m. to 07.00 p.m .)
07.15 pm: Diminishing Resources by Himanshu Malhotra and Sabina Kidwai - 49 mins
7th October 2007
10.00 am: Tiger Death Chronicles by Krishnendu Bose - 63 mins
Workshop: RTI for solution (10.15 a.m. to 11.45 a.m.)
12.00 pm: The Queen of Trees by Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble - 54 mins
Break (1.00 p.m to 1.30 p.m.)
01.30 pm: Silenced Witness by P. Balan - 63 mins
02.30 pm: Angels in Tigerland by Suresh Elamon - 35 mins
03.15 pm: Once there was a Purple Butterfly by Sonia Kapoor
03.45 pm: The Last Dance by Ashima Narain - 26 mins
04.15 pm: Cherub of the mist - Bedi Films - 50 mins
Break
05.15 pm: Leopards in the Lurch by Gurmeet Sapal - 13 mins
05.45 pm: Turtles in The Soup by Kalpana Subramanian - 30 mins
06.15 pm: Just another death by Vilas Kane - 20 mins
06.45 pm: Concert for India's environment by Chinmaya Dunster - 15 mins
07.00 pm: The Hunted by Jay Mazoomdar
07.20 pm: Right to Survive by Rita Banerji - 25 mins
07.45 pm: Discovery of God - 30 mins
08.15 pm: Riding Solo to the top of the world
Thanks and regards,
Vishal Verghese,
ACT NOW
# 1, Gullamma St,Karavalli Main Rd,Kacharakanahaiil Extn,Behind Jalvayu ViharBangalore- 560 084Tel: 080- 254380299886222678
http://www.aranyam.org/
Source: email communication from Sushmita at sushmita@atree.org
Monday, September 24, 2007
Talk on Conservation of Orchids
Dear Readers,
You are cordially invited to attend a talk by Dr. K.S.Shashidhar (Director, IWST) on:
Conservation of orchids and climate change
Date: 24th September 2007 (Monday)
Time: 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Venue: ATREE Terrace
All are welcome
Regards
Kalpana Prasanna,
HR Officer, ATREE
Here's the abstract
Natural ecosystems have evolved over a period of time with a complex and intricate life supporting interrelationship with its components. Unabated human activities leading to overexploitation of natural resources have disrupted this sensitive balance in nature. Some of these components in the ecosystem are extremely sensitive and few are hardy and can survive the consequences of these disturbances. Epiphytes, especially orchids are known to be the suitable indicators of, the health of the ecosystem, changes in the local climate and biodiversity as they provide nutrition to other flora and fauna and are highly sensitive in nature.
Identifying such indicator species in the ecosystem and monitoring will help in taking adequate precautions for conservation of the ecosystem and forewarning the consequences of these disturbances. Orchids are unique group of flowering plants highly evolved and have developed special mechanisms to ensure pollination and survival in nature in association with insects. Apart from this, the zonation of its occurrence in the forest structure and ecosystem makes it an interesting species.
The rise in global temperature due to emission of CO2 and other green house gases such as methane and Chlorofluorocarbons have resulted in glaciers disappearing, average sea level rising, coastal areas and islands submerging. On the other side, it has played havoc on the living and vibrant Forest ecosystem resulting in loss of biodiversity, species extinction, and totally disrupting the delicate life supporting, complex interdependent activity almost to an extent of irreparable stage.
Effects of these changes on the ecosystem are being observed in the form of changes in the community structure, alteration of phenological events, migration of the species, sensitive activities like synchronized pollination through insects are few of them. Conservation approaches in such a scenario are to be in a holistic manner taking in to account the entire ecosystem rather than focusing on any particular species for both short as well as long term. Along with the known conservation practices of insitu and exsitu, assisting species to migrate to locations of better adaptability will compliment the on going programmes. A well conceived conservation programme of restoration, reintroduction and new introduction will ensure the conservation of these important indicator species.
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