Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation
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PARAMBIKULAM TIGER CONSERVATION FOUNDATION REPORT FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01-04-2017 TO 31-03-2018 Introduction Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation (PaTCoF) was established vide G.O (MS) No.87/2013/F&WLD dated 20.09.2013 and as per Section 38 X of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, in observance of the procedures laid down in Notification No. S.O.1008 (E) dated 22.06.2007 of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. Government of Kerala vide G.O (Rt) No.473/2013/F&WLD dated 22.11.2013have also approved the Regulations of the Foundation. Subsequently, the Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation was registered by the Board of Trustees under the Charitable and Religious Trust Act, 1920 on 6th January 2014. Vide G.O (MS) No.38/2014/F&WLD dated 22.04.2014, Government of Kerala has also authorizedPaTCoFto augment and mobilize financial resources including recycling of entry and such other fees received in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve to foster stakeholder development and eco-tourism in accordance with the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and also in observance of provisions contained in G.O (MS) No.87/2013/F&WLDdated20.09.2013. Accordingly, a Bank Account (No.33824089274) with State Bank of India at Anamalai Branch was opened in the name of Secretary, Executive Committee (Deputy Director, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve) of the Foundation. From 03.05.2014 onwards, the receipts from the Tiger Reserve are being collected in this Account. The following two expert members have been appointed by the Government to the Governing Body of Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation. 1. Shri. E. Kunhikrishnan, Professor (Rtd) Expert in the field of wildlife and biodiversity conservation 2. Shri. James Zacharias, Retired Forest Officer and Expert in the field of Social Science 1 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 The Governing Body of the Foundation in their third meeting held on 13.07.2016 approved the nomination of the following members to the Executive Committee of the Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation. a. Representatives from EDCs 1. Shri. Haridasan K, President, Earthdam EDC 2. Smt. Shyamili A, Member Sungam EDC b. Members of Frontline Staff 1. Range Forest Officer, Sungam Range 2. PFM Divisional Coordinator The Governing Body in their first meeting held on 26.06.2014, also approved the following members as representatives of Executive Committee to the Governing Body of the Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation. a. Representatives from EDCs 1. Shri. Haridasan K, President, Earthdam EDC b. Members of Frontline staff 1. Range Forest Officer, Sungam Range Activities of the Foundation I. Administration a. Meetings of Governing Body and Executive Committee: During the reporting period, one meeting of the Governing Body (4thmeeting held on 30th June 2017) and threemeetings of the Executive Committee (14th meeting on 16.05.2017, 15thmeeting on 31.08.207,16th meeting on 06.03.2018)were held. b. Resource Mobilization:During the reporting year, Foundation has received a total amount of Rs. 71,56,336/- by way of entry fees and rent from IBs and Dormitory,fund from Tourism Dept, Bank Interest. Of this, an amount of Rs. 45,81,814/- has been spent for the various activities as below: 2 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 Receipts Expenditure Sl. Amount Amount No. Items Activities (Rs) (Rs) 1 Opening balance 2,57,937 Loans & Advances 6,50,000 Interest received 5,36,280 Impact monitoring and 2 7,17,824 research Revenue from 39,14,998 Check post 3 Training & capacity building 4,00,639 collection and Rent from IBs Fund received 15,00,000 Administrative overhead 4 from tourism 12,72,891 charges department Refund of 5,00,000 Improved protected area 5 advance management & staff 2,71,256 welfare Loans and 4,36,621 6 Eco development Activities 7,51,182 Advances Received cash 10,500 7 due to cheque ACA 998522 returned Bank Charges 678 Total Expenditure 50,62,992 Closing Balance 20,93,343 Grand Total 71,56,336 Grand Total 71,56,336 c. Administrative Support:PaTCoF provided administrative support to the management of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the form of recoupable advances and technical inputs. 3 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 d. Staff: The Forest Development Agency, Parambikulam has offered to hire and engage the following contracted professionals for the Foundation till the Foundation become financially sound. a. Conservation Biologist (1 No) b. Ecotourism cum Marketing Specialist (1No) c. Accountant (1 No) e. Office Assistant (1 No) The above mentioned staff were appointed on contractual basis. Currently all posts are filled up. II. Improved PA Management As part of monitoring of wildlife and habitats of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, the Foundation has assisted in conducting four species surveys during the reporting period. 1) All Kerala monitoring of Tiger, Co-predators and Prey Populations Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation started the work related to above programmeduring the month of July 2016 and continuing. State level meeting of all DFOs and Wildlife Wardens was held in Thiruvananthapuram under the chairmanship of Chief Wildlife Warden to provide orientation about the programmeand to plan for its implementation in a coordinated manner. For this programme the entire forest area were grouped in to 10 landscape units namely Thiruvananthapuram, Periyar I, Periyar II, Munnar, Parambikulam I, Parambikulam II, Silentvalley I, Silentvalley II, Wayanad I, Wayanad II, covering24 territorial divisions and 11 wildlife divisions. The entire programmeincludes two aspects; (a). 8 day Protocol or sign survey and transect survey and(b). Camera-trap exercise. a) 8 day protocol or Sign Survey &Transect Survey: This exercise was carried out during this financial year in eight landscapes covering nineteen territorial divisions and nine wildlife divisions.A series of training 4 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 programmes were organised for the field staff and the anti-poaching watchers in all these divisions to build their capacity for conducting the survey. The analysis of the data is in progress. b) Camera-trap Exercise:This exercise was carried out during this financial year in eight landscapes covering nineteen territorial divisions and nine wildlife divisions. This is the first time that the entire forest area of Kerala is covered under camera-trap exercise.A total number of 1200 cameras were fixed in different locations over a period of time to collect the images of Tiger, other carnivores and herbivores. The process of analysing the images is in progress. 2) Butterfly Survey A butterfly survey has been conducted in Parambikulam tiger reserve from 13 to 16 October 2017. A total of 201 species of butterflies were identified during the survey. Four rare species of rare butterfly species namely Nilgiri grass yellow, Purple spotted flitter, Indian awl king and Autumn leaf. Purple spotted flitter was recorded first time in the southern parts of Palakkad gap. Volunteers from various parts of the Kerala participated in the survey. Eighteen interior camp sheds were selected for the survey, a team of four members including forest guard and watcher were engaged in each camp sheds for the purpose. Camp sheds were selected according to the vegetation types and elevation. Line transect method was used in this survey. An existing trek path, river side or forest roads were considered as a transect. 5 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 III. Capacity Building and Training Programmes A total of 20training /capacity building programmesand workshops were conducted during the reporting period. The details are given in the table below. No. No. of Sl. Date of Subject Location Partici No. Days pants May Kalari – three day art camp for 1 3 Anappady 90 28,2930 students 2 Aug 26 2 Career Development Program Parambikulam 45 Training program on monitoring of 3 Jan 22-23 2 outstanding universal values of Anappady 45 natural world heritage sites Mar 15- 4 3 Training for Naturalists Anappady 45 17 Mar 20- 5 2 Career Development Program Parambikulam 40 21 Mar 24- Training for naturalist on bird 6 4 Anappady 30 27 watching 7 PSC Coaching Elavancherry 6 Three Day Training Camp for the Students – ‘Kalari’ A Three day camp was conducted for the local tribal students in association with Lalithakala Academy, Thrissur from May 28 to 30. Students are engaged in learning about drawing and painting art. Camp was inaugurated by 6 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 Deputy Director Anjankumar IFS, in the presence of Range Officers. From 6 tribal settlement, around 100 students participated in the camp. At the end of the program, paining exhibition by the participants has been organized at Anappady. During the camp, Lalithakala Academy chairman visited and addressed the students. Career Development Program Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation along with FDA Parambikulam conducted a two Career Development Program in association with District Employment Office on August 26 at Tiger Hall, Parambikulam. Experts from various field of knowledge,took classes in various aspects such as job opportunities, entrance tests, interviews, online services, personal skills etc and motivated the students with motivational stories and plays. After the workshop, employment registration program started for the local tribal students. a) Jan 22-23 Training Program on Monitoring of Outstanding Universal Values of Natural World Heritage Sites A training program was conducted at Nature Study hall, Anappady on the monitoring of outstanding universal values of natural world heritage sites on Jan 22-23, 2018. Wildlife Institute of India conducted the program and 7 | Annual Report of PaTCoF - 2017-18 PaTCoF organized it. Staffs from various division attended the program. It explained about the importance of natural heritages and its conservation. b) March 15-17 – Training for Naturalists Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation organized three day training for the naturalists at Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in association with KITTS.