Vikram Aditya Mallavarapu(chaperon) [participants:Shravya Mallavarapu , Sneha Prakasamma]
*Group name
Friendship Foundation
*Project name
Projects:
1. Intervention on effects of pollution on the biodiversity of river water circulating in a connected lake system.
2. Afforestation to promote native scrub diversity of the Deccan plateau
3. Domestic water management.
*Country/Region
India / Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
*Type of Group
Others (Environmental group)
*Number of total members of your group/project
Four members and two staff
*Number of regular participants in activities
Three regular participants apart from field staff
*Characteristic of members
Most of our members are middle school children who enjoy nature. They like to go on nature camps to several forests and protected areas around the city, especially to the Friendship Foundation's project area, Vikarabad forest. They especially enjoy birdwatching in wetland areas and tanks. They also like to track animals in the forest. On each visit, the children make sure to clean up the spot of solid wastes such as plastic.
*Theme(s) of your group/project
*Water issues, *Air pollution, *Forests/Tree planting
*Missions and activities of your group/project
Friendship Foundation's mission is to foster greater friendship between man and nature for mutual benefit. Its activities include organizing environmental clean ups, plantations, environmental awareness and nature camps, birdwatching trips, wildlife conservation and a community forestry project funded by Oxfam Australia.
1.
This project addresses the issue of severe pollution to water in three connected lakes, Bellal, Alisagar and Jankampet, drained by the Manjeera river and draining into the Godavari. Pollution from charcoal dust, molasses and other effluents is being caused from a sugarcane industry on Bellal, causing eutrophication and destruction to aquatic life. Over the past year we have been spreading awareness about the issue amongst school children, raising plantations on the lake shore and organizing clean-ups. This issue is critical because of its far-reaching regional impacts.
2.
Native scrub forests of the Deccan plateau have become increasingly threatened because of widespread deforestation and lack of protection. Through this project, we aim to recreate a scrub ecosystem in a plot belonging to Friendship Foundation from neighbouring scrub forests, in order to save the last of the Deccan scrubs.
3.
Water is an essential commodity in the water-starved Deccan, and mismanagement of water resources have caused continuous prevalent draught conditions. This project aims to save domestic water for recharging groundwater through the construction of a percolation sinkhole. The water hole also acts as a breeding site for resident and migratory birds.
*Characteristics of the group/project activities
1.
This project, aims to control and minimize airborne pollution in the three lakes, most notably the Bellal through awareness raising of school children and youth around the lake communities, clean up drives aimed at reducing solid waste around the lakes, and plantations around the lake banks aimed at reducing and filtering water borne pollution. The project has been taken up by a group of local school children and also involves desilting operations. Recently the lake was granted 7 million rupees for a government clean up.
2.
This project aims to achieve a perfectly balanced scrub ecosystem in the selected plot, through the random planting of scrub species collected from nearby reserve forests, in the same order of ecological dominance as present in the forest. This ecosystem will also be self sufficient in water as the land is slightly undulating.
3.
This project deals with collection, storage of domestic water acquired daily. The domestic water is directed into a medium sized water hole where the water is collected and allowed to percolate into the ground, thereby aiding in groundwater recharge. Shading trees have also been planted around the waterhole, acting as agents for bird nests.
4.
The Friendship Foundation believes and works toward a people oriented and participatory approach to environmental conservation. The organization involves children and youth in all its programmes and ensures that youth and children's voices are included in conceptualizing and formulating all of its activities. It works towards the protection of nature through conservation, reversing environmental damage and ensuring the building of sustainable livelihoods.
*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?
The Friendship Foundation would like to exchange information and experience on the following areas:
1. Species and habitat conservation, especially carnivores such as tigers.
2. Community and participatory forest management.
3. Habitat management, including management of wetlands.
4. Waste management and recycling.
5. Conservation of water.
*Short message for exchange with other group/project
The Friendship Foundation seeks to engage in the mutual exchange of ideas, approaches and strategies for developing locally significant positive environmental actions globally.
*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi
The CWS on Environment in Japan was very well organized and succeeded in bringing together children from diverse cultures from around the world. The range of environmental issues brought by different groups reflected the diversity not only of the nature of environmental actions, but also of the diversity in local issues. The field trips and the Aichi Expo also revealed the importance attributed to environmental issues by the Japanese people and nation. The event also led to fruitful networking and friendships amongst the children, leading to an exchange of ideas in taking on environmental challenges.
*Contact person
Vikram aditya,
Programme Coordinator
Friendship Foundation
*Contact Address
F-1, Shiridi Apartments,
Raj Bhavan Road,
Somajiguda,
Hyderabad 500 082
Andhra Pradesh,
India
Phone number
Res: 23046587, 23047274
Off: 23411924, 55611635
vikram_aditya_99@yahoo.com
friendfoundindia@yahoo.com
hyd2_dirans@sancharnet.in
