Introducing the research activities

Generation, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and solution for addressing issues regarding forest and promotion of positive interactions between people, forest and environment is necessary for the conservation of the forest resources of a country. The Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree breeding (IFGTB) was formed in 1988 at Coimbatore considering this fact as their mandate. The champions were taken to their research, education and extension facilities after the lunch of the first day.

Briefing at IFGTB

They put their research focuses mainly on genetic transformation, DNA fingerprinting, tissue culture, biotechnology, phyto-chemistry etc. field having some huge modern facilities like Nurseries, vegetative propagation complex, open top chamber, seed bank, glass house and mist chambers etc. Through the lecture about their study during the recent years we came to know that they are doing research on some exotic species of high economic importance like Casuarina, Eucalyptus etc. to enhance their productivity. But I had a feeling that sustainability is still being ignorant compared to the economic needs! We all know that exotic species like Eucalyptus etc. has a long run impact of soil-water regime like depletion of nutrients and water, antibiotic impact on soil microbes etc. But these high yielding and fast growing species are getting priority rather than the natives. To me preserving future opportunities, identification of endangered species and development of appropriate and sustained techniques to adapt to the changing circumstances is of urgent need to combat ongoing climate change. It can’t be possible discounting the natives. To curtail the pressure of increased population on the forest areas we need to work extensively on the indigenous species.

We were visiting nursery

The institute has some huge research achievement on genetic improvement, micropropagation, agro-forestry, pest & disease management etc. I was impressed to see their experiments on plants to assess their response to the elevated CO2 using a Automated Open Top Chambers (AOTC) .

Automated Open Top Chamber (AOTC)

This will help them to develop a regional model and a risk assessment based on the socio-economic aspects. The experiment is going mainly on Casuarina and Teak seedlings.

Gass Forest Museum

Visiting their facilities we headed towards The Gass Forest Museum where we have seen many wildlife dummies, arms and utensils used by the tribal peoples, ancient logs etc.

Skeleton of Elephant ( kept in Gass museum)

Coming back from the museum we had our dinner at the KKIDE. We, the champions, were divided into four different groups. The groups were named after four different tribes living in the Nilgiris- Toda, Kota, Kurumba and Irula. Each group members were a given a unique bracelet which bears group identity. I was placed into the Toda and Sumaiya was in the Irula. We were introduced with Mr. Venugopal, the president of Nilgiri Documentation Center (The Organizing partner of the whole program); Godwin, the very very passionate guy about Nilgiri; Mr. Jayaprakash (Lecturer in Communication, Coimbatore) and his students Deepak and Pavel (Who were going to cover the whole camp taking pictures) and M.J. and his team (Who is going to make a film on us).

After dinner I, Khalid vai, Sashank, Mohammed, Kristi, Edwin and some others had a huge gossip together. We talked a lot about animal behavior, environment, religion and lastly ended the session with song and some crazy (!) dances (Khaled vai named so!) of Kristi and Edwin.

We were leaving KKIDE

At the morning after the breakfast we had to say goodbye to KKIDE. We then moved out to Coonoor to the Salvation Army House (SAH) where we going to stay for the next week.

Photography courtesy: Angshuman

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Where nature teaches

Some scholar says, ‘the biggest educational institution of the universe is nature’.  I think Karl Kübel, the founder of the Karl Kübel Institute for Development Education (KKIDE), knew this truth which influenced him to build such a nature friendly institute for personal growth and holistic development of children by enhancing the quality of life of parents and families bearing different culture. If you come to this place surrounded by the hills touching the clouds, you’ll surely  come to know what does it mean by ‘living in harmony with nature’! We were accommodated into the dormitories. Some champions from Coimbatore- Sashank, Anirodh, Sunoj, Narmada & others  and some local lads Kristi, Edwin, Balaji joined us there.

Having our breakfast there was an introduction & registration session and we started to the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology (SACON) then. I can remember we were taught about Dr. Salim Ali, the father of the Indian ornithology in our school. Dr. Aziz, the Director of the center delivered a welcome speech to us. Then we were facilitated by Dr. Promod, one of the eight researchers of the center. In his short briefing, Dr. Promod told us the activity of the organization, which is learning of the nature of the birds from the birds themselves. First the research was confined only to the birds. But later, they are doing some good research works on wildlife, plants, ecosystem and others. They have a museum  of wildlife. There were seed research laboratory and herbarium also.

I loved that place very much. This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited! I would say it was an institution for the nature within the nature.We, the Champions from different countries have planted at least one tree each there. Some of us planted more than one!

I’ll always remember a line from Dr. Promod ‘…..It’s not very much important that how many trees you have planted in the soil…it may grow or not…important is that how many trees have you planted inside your heart!! ’

Yes! That’s it! Planting trees inside our heart and its proper rearing up is very much important. One must water it, weed it, give it proper nutrients time to time, otherwise it’ll die. And having a pale heart how can we think of making a green surroundings?

Karl Kübel Institute for Development Education

Salim Ali Center for Ornithology

We planted trees

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Exciting moments

Today the 10^th of December also the Global Youth Day, rushed fast to the train station, get it and got to the Bella Centre. We all were excited and busy with the preparation for the Photo Shoot and the Presentation as soon as we got in. In the busy busy time, I just opened my inbox and saw the message to meet with Mr. Thakur Prasad Sharma, Minister of Environment, and Nepal. We had very little time for our preparation but meeting with the country delegate, how can we miss that. Then we rushed to the place and met with our country delegates including our minister though for a flash time.

It was awesome at the photoshoot. We did that in 3 spots, at the Central place where many people pass by, near a tree and a big Globe. Holding and saying OUR FUTURE we did a big cheer up in front of many cameras.

And, followed by that, we did some practice for the British Council’s Youth presentation. Then we got the stage. We started with the British Council’s Climate Champion program that how the young people are working above culture, religion for a common Goal, to take our future to a better way which was followed by the wonderful performance of Indian Champions and a short play.

Also, our Nepali youth are in very much into the Mountain action preparation. They have been working hard since months for the preparation and the big day is tomorrow for us to express about our issue of mountain and mountain livelihood. We are taking it really crucially as mountain ecosystem is not only for mountain but it holds the chain for other ecosystem as well. Billions of people’s lives are in the verge of Mountain. It’s a great opportunity for all to do it to the best.

It was amazing that Mountain Action team from India and Nepal were on their traditional Costumes to draw the attention from the crowd. Wow!!!

People are really busy around preparing for the Press release today evening at 6:30 pm. We are going to reflect all mountain voices around the world.

Looking ahead..

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