8
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND INFORMATION
Index
Forestry Education, Training and Extension
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
The ICFRE, Dehradun, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, organises and manages research, education and extension in the field of forestry.
Details of ICFRE s activities relating to forestry research are given in Chapter 7. Major
activities relating to forestry education, extension and training undertaken by the Council and
its institutes are given below :-
- In consonance with the National Forest Policy of 1988, the syllabi of the post graduate
courses of universities are being studied to evolve a model syllabus.
- Universities providing forestry education are being given grants-in-aid for
strengthening their infrastructure and technical capabilities. The total grants-in-aid given to
various universities between 1990-91 to 1996-97 amounts to Rs. 644.50 lakhs.
- Opportunities are being provided for furthering the academic advancement of
Foresters/Scientists and others in the field of forestry. Currently, nearly 300 persons are
registered with the FRI-DU for Ph.D. degree. The number of SRF, JRF, and RA s is 30, 192
and 50 respectively.
- Forestry curricula are being developed at various levels to accelerate the pace of
research and to provide expertise in different fields of forestry research.
- The Council is running two post graduate degree courses of two years duration in
Forestry Economics and Management and Wood Science & Technology . Two post
graduate diploma courses of one year duration in Paper & Pulp Technology and Plantation
Technology are also available.
- Overseas training courses are being organised for Foresters/Scientists in the latest
research methods in the field of forestry in association with international agencies like the
World Bank, UNDP, FAO, IRDC, USDA etc.
- Training programmes at the national level are also being organised on topical issues
like Research Management, Human Resource Development, Computer Skills and Research
Methodology, etc, relating to forestry.
- The ICFRE has developed environment friendly technologies which will go a long
way in conserving forest resources and bio-diversity of the country. At present, 33 tested
technologies are available for transfer. Seven of these technologies relate to improved
commercial use of secondary plantation species raised under agro-forestry/social forestry, two
for value addition to products, thirteen for improving forest productivity, seven to new
product/substitution of scarce products, and four to environmental conservation/reclamation.
- The council helps the States in adopting these technologies by financing projects
based on these technologies under the Extension Support Fund. These projects include
demonstration of technology and training of users and unemployed youth to create
entrepreneurship.
- The National Forest Library and Information Centre (NFLIC) under the council is
being upgraded to provide to State Forest Departments, universities, etc. latest information on
forestry and allied subjects through electronic networking.
Index
In Service Training of Indian Forest Service Officers
In-service training courses of one week, two week and three week duration have been
organised for the Indian Forest Service Officers in the premier Institutions of the country on
various forestry related disciplines and applications of modern techniques in forestry. The
main thrust of these courses is on Computer Application in Forestry, Wildlife Management,
Participatory Forest Management, Project Identification, Formulation, Monitoring and
Appraisal, Forest Tribal Inerface, Forestry in Rural Development, Financial Management in
Forestry Sector Management in Government, etc. In the year 1997-98, about 1500 IFS
Officers have been trained in these courses.
Index
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun
The IGNFA was established in May, 1987, as a successor institute to the erstwhile Indian
Forest College. It is a premier institution imparting in-service professional training to the
Indian Forest Service probationers. The main objectives behind the training are to impart
professional knowledge of forestry, managerial skills and to help the probationers imbibe the
fundamental ethos of the All India Services.
The Academy has so far trained 1757 IFS probationers and 228 foreign trainees from
neighbouring countries. Currently, there are three batches of IFS probationers undergoing
training. There are 39 probationers in the 1995-98 course comprising of 6 lady probationers
and three foreign trainees. There are 39 probationers in 1996-99 course and 55 probationers in
1997-2000 course. The probationers of the 1995-98 course have returned back to the
Academy in December, 1997 for the advanced phase of training after the eight months on-
the-job training in their respective state cadres.
Details of other activities of the Academy during the year are as follows :-
- The probationers of the 1996-99 course underwent Parliamentary attachment for one
week in July 1997 during which they had an opportunity to call on the Hon ble President of
the country. The Hon ble Minister for Environment and Forests and veteran Parliamentarians
addressed the probationers.
- The magazine Aranya and The First Impression continued to be published by the
IGNFA club which is managed by representatives of the probationers under the overall
guidance and supervision of senior faculty members.
- The Academy participated in the Sixth All India Forests Sports and Games Meet at
Bangalore.
- Three faculty members of the Academy were deputed for training in the U.K.
- Upgradation of the computer laboratory of the Academy was continued during the
year and GIS hardware and software have been procured to set up a GIS lab.
- Two Induction Training Programmes for SFS officers promoted to IFS were
organised during the year.
- A one-week compulsory course on Policy and Legal issues in Forestry and a 2-weeks
long course on People s Participation in Forestry were organised for IFS Officers.
- A workshop on the Draft New Forest Bill was organised in March 97 in
collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Law of the WWF-India.
- A workshop on issues pertaining to Joint Forest Management (JFM) was organised in
November 97.
Index
Directorate of Forest Education (DFE), Dehradun
The Directorate of Forest Education, delinked in 1991 from the Forest Research Institute and
Colleges, Dehradun, now functions directly under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The Directorate is responsible for controlling, coordinating and managing all the regular
training courses of the State Forest Service (SFS) and Forest Range Officers in the country. It
also organises short-term special Refresher Courses and other courses related to Computer
Application in Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Rural Development for
in-service officers. The State Forest Service Colleges located at Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh).
Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), and Burnihat (Assam) and the Eastern Forest Rangers College,
Kurseong (West Bengal), are under the administrative control of this Directorate. The five
State-run Forest Rangers Colleges i.e. (1) Forestry Training Institute, Haldwani (U.P.), (2)
Forest Rangers College, Balaghat (M.P.), (3) Forest Rangers College, Angul (Orissa), (4)
Gujarat Forest Rangers College, Rajpipla (Gujarat); and (5) North Eastern Rangers College,
Jalukbari (Assam) are also controlled by this Directorate, with respect to admission, curricula
and examination.
Details of various courses and training programmes organised by the Directorate and its
colleges during the year are as follows :-
- Two years Diploma Course in Forestry was conducted in the SFS Colleges and 12
officers have completed the same and 38 officers are under training.
- Forty one Range Officers have completed the two years Certificate Course from the
various Forest Rangers Colleges and 127 are undergoing training.
- The three SFS Colleges conducted 12 in-service Refresher Courses each of two-weeks
duration. The average number of participants in each course ranged between 12 to 14.
- Courses on Sustainable Rural Development and Biodiversity Conservation each of
two weeks duration, were also organised at the S.F.S. College, Dehradun.
- Computer Laboratories have been established at the S.F.S. Colleges at Dehradun and
Coimbatore. Seven courses on Computer Applications in Forestry , each of three-weeks
duration, were organised in these two colleges, in which a total of 61 SFS officers were
trained.
Index
Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute (IPIRTI), Bangalore
The IPIRTI, Bangalore was added as an autonomous organisation of this Ministry on its
transfer from the Ministry of Industry, Government of India on 1.5.1990. It is recognised
internationally as a centre of expertise in the mechanical wood industries technology sector
and is equipped with modern facilities for research and training in saw milling and plywood.
The Institute conducts research to enlarge service life of wood and wood products, economise
wood utilisation by reducing wastage in conversion as well as application. (Details of the
research activities of IPIRTI are given in Chapter 7.) It hasa well stocked library which
provides referral services to industry and scientific community apart from the Institute s staff
and students.
Highlights of the activities related to education and training carried out by the Institute during
the year are as follows :-
- Twenty four candidates from various States completed the one year Post Graduate
Diploma Course during September, 1997 and 12 candidates have been admitted to the 9th
batch of the course in October, 1997.
- Nineteen candidates were trained in various short term courses such as plywood
manufacturing, resin manufacturing, pre-pressing, hot-pressing and testing of panel products.
- Scientists of the Institute visited plywood mills to carry out demonstration to study the
productivity aspects, calibration of instruments, maintenance, etc.
- The Institute received a number of technical enquiries and provided information to
industries, consultants, research workers and students, etc.
Index
Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
The IIFM, Bhopal was established in 1982 and is an autonomous organisation under this
Ministry. Its objectives are to provide training in management and related subjects to officers
from the Indian Forest Service, Forest Departments, Forest Development Corporations and
Forest Related Industries with a view to inculcating professionalism in forestry management.
The activities of the IIFM fall under four realms viz. education, training, research and
consultancy related to forest management. Highlight of the activities carried out during the
year are as follows :-
- The two year Post Graduate Diploma in Forest Management popularly known as
PGDFM was first launched in July, 1988. The tenth batch of students will be completing the
PGDFM Diploma in March, 1998.
- An one year M.Phil level course on Research Management is being conducted for the
personnel of Forest Department, Forest Development Corporations, forest based Industries,
NGOs and other Forest development institutions to upgrade their managerial skills.
- The Management Development Programmes (MDP) of IIFM continued to impart
training to serving forestry personnel from various State Forest Developments, as well as to
officials from NGOs and from Forest Departments Corporations. During 1997-98, nine fee
based and 10 sponsored programmes were conducted.
- A consultancy project entitled Information Need Assessment (Forestry) for Jhabua
Development Communication Project sponsored by the Development and Educational
Communication Unit, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Ahmedabad was
undertaken and completed by the faculty of the Institute.
Index
Wildlife Education and Training
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Established in 1982 under the erstwhile Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, the WII is now
an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Environment of Forests. The main
mandates of this Institute are to impart training to government and non-government
personnel, carry out research and advise on matters relating to the conservation and
management of the wildlife resources of the country. Highlights of the Institutes activities
relating to wildlife education and training during the year, are given below :-
(Details of WII s research activities are given in Chapter 7).
During the year the following regular long and short term training courses, workshop/seminar
etc were organized by the WII.
- The XIX Diploma Course (9 months long) commenced from 1st September, 1997 and
is being attended by 23 officers including five foreign trainees from Sri Lanka, Vietnam,
Myanmar and Nepal.
- The three months Certificate Course conducted between May-July 1997 was attended
by 29 participants including 2 from Bangladesh, 3 from Vietnam and 3 from Malaysia.
- The two years M.Sc. Wildlife Science Course (Vth) in Wildlife Management has been
successfully completed by 11 students including one from Nepal.
- Nine students have been admitted to the VI M.Sc. course initiated in July 1997.
- A one week compulsory training programme on wildlife management was organized
at WII during 8-12th Setepmber, 1997, which was attended by 11 officers from seven States.
Critical issues in protected area management were the main thrust of this training programme.
- A three months India Component (November 1997 to February 1998) of the 2nd
Special Diploma Course in Wildlife Conservation and Management was organized by WII for
the officers of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Government of Srilanka. The 9
months course is being jointly organized by the National Wildlife Training Centre, Giritale
(Srilanka) University of Colombo, Srklanka and the WII and is being sponsored by the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations under a GEF Project in Srilanka.
The course was attended by 16 trainee officers who were trained in various aspects of
Wildlife Management. Field tours were conducted to different protected areas of country as a
part of the training programme.
- A three days workshop on Wildlife Tourism Management in India was organized at
Dehra Dun from 24th-27th December, 1997. The workshop was attended byfour participants
from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- On the request of Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, WII organized a 1-week Guide
Training Workshop at Mohali Naoradehi Wildlife Sanctuary from 26th January to 1st
February, 1998. In all 23 persons participated in the workshop including 16 villagers and 7
sanctuaries staff. The workshop was aimed at imparting training to people living in and
around protected areas for enabling them to act as wildlife tour guides.
- A week long course for development of curricula for the front line staff of Madhya
Pradesh Forest Department working in protected areas was conducted at WII, Dehradun from
1st-7th September, 1997 under the Madhya Pradesh Forestry Project.
- A 10 days training programme in microplanning for a spearhead team from three
protected areas was organized in Rishikesh under the Uttar Pradesh Forestry Project. This
programme was attended by 18 participants who were trained in preparing village level
microplans for various protected areas.
- A workshop on application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Natural Resource
Management was organized at WII from 5th-14th August, 1997, which was attended by five
officers of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
- A one week regional training course on Critical Wetland Habitat Management was
conducted by WII in collaboration with UNESCO at the Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
Bharatpur. The course was attended by 22 Wetland Protected Area Managers from six
countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and India.
- Sponsored by the Central Zoo Authority the WII conducted a two week training
course for middle level zoo managers at the Kanpur Zoological park, which was attended 17
participants from 11 States.
- A special course on Wildlife Protection, Law and Forensic Science was conducted
during 13th-24th October, 1997 by the Institute for the first time at the behest of National
Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics (NACEN), Faridabad. 21 probationers of I.C. &
C.E.S. (Gr. A) participated in the training programme, which included field visits to the
Rajaji and Dudhwa National Parks.
Index
Other activities
- As a part of the Wildlife Week Celebration, the WII conducted a quiz competition for
the children of three Kendriya Vidyalayas in Dehra Dun during 1st-3rd October, 1997.
- On the eve of World Environment Day on 5th June, 1997 a bird watching activity was
organized within the Institute s campus for the children of WII faculty and staff. Altogether
51 children participated in the activity.
Index
Library and Documentation Centre
During the year, 1315 books, 750 reprints and 100 newspaper clippings were added to
Institutes library stock of about 20,000 books/ monographs, about 7500 reprints and 5000
news paper clippings. About 350 national and international journals and periodicals are
received regularly at WII. A separate children s section consisting of about 300 books has
been established for creating nature awareness among children. Apart from the lending and
reference service, the library and documentation centre also provides referral service, current
content service, bibliographical service, retrospective searching, press clipping services,
indexing and abstracting service, document delivery and CD-ROM searching.
Index
Environment Education, Awareness and Training
Formal Environmental Education
The Ministry of Environment and Forests interacts actively with the University Grants
Commission (UGC), National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT) and the
Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) for introducing and expanding
environmental concepts, themes, issues, etc. in the curricula of schools and colleges. The two
Centres of Excellence on Environmental Education of the Ministry are also fully involved in
the activities of the UGC, MHRD & NCERT related to formal environmental education.
Index
Non-formal Environmental Education and Awareness
Environmental Education, Awareness and Training plays a significant role in encouraging
and enhancing people s participation in activities aimed at conservation, protection and
management of the environment, essential for achieving sustainable development. The
Ministry, therefore, accords priority for the promotion of non-formal environment education
and creation of awareness among all sections of the society through diverse activities using
traditional and modern media of communication.
Index
National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC) 1997-98
The National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC), started in 1986 for creating
environmental awareness at all levels of the society, was continued during the year. The
themes for NEAC this year were: 1. Pollution Prevention and Control 2. Conservation and
Plantation of Trees for Environmental Protection . Twenty eight organisations located in
different parts of the country have been designated as Regional Resource Agencies (RRAs)
for assisting the Ministry in conducting this campaign. Besides helping the Ministry in
selecting participating organisations, these RRAs are also responsible for physically
monitoring and evaluating the activities conducted by various organisations under NEAC in
their areas of jurisdiction.
A large number of NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research institutions, women and
youth organisations, army units, State Government Departments etc., from all over the
country were provided financial assistance for organising awareness creating activities such
as padayatras, rallies, public meetings, exhibitions, folk dances, street theatres, essay/debate,
painting/poster competitions for school children, seminars,workshops, training courses etc.
and for preparation and distribution of environmental education resource materials. Diverse
target groups ranging from students/youth/teachers to tribals, rural population, professionals,
etc., were covered under the campaign.
Index
Eco-Clubs
To impart environmental education and to encourage and mobilise participation of school
children in various environmental conservation activities in their localities, the Ministry
provides financial assistance for setting up of Eco-clubs in schools. These clubs are
established in Govt. recognised schools and each club has 20-50 members taken from among
the students of Class VI to X. A group of 20-50 Eco-clubs in one or more geographically
contiguous districts are serviced by a coordinating agency which may be an educational
institution, a NGO or a professional body. More than 4700 clubs have been funded so far.
Index
Paryavaran Vahinis
The Paryavaran Vahini scheme was launched by the Ministry during 1992-93 to create
environmental awareness and to encourage involvement of people through active
participation as well as to report illegal acts pertaining to forests, wildlife, pollution and
environmental degradation. One Paryavaran Vahini is constituted for each district especially
identified for this purpose. The selection of the districts is made on the basis of high
incidence of pollution, density of tribal population and forest cover. Till now, 194 districts
have been selected for this purpose and so far, Vahinis have been constituted in 144 districts.
Each Paryavaran Vahini has about 20 members which can go up to 100. The membership is
restricted in the initial stages and may be increased upto 100 with the progress of the scheme.
A token grant of Rs. 200/- p.m. is given to the members of the Vahini to partially reimburse
expenditure incurred by him/her for attending monthly meetings and other tasks of the
Vahini. The funds for distribution of grants to members of Paryavaran Vahinis are provided
by the Ministry periodically to the District Collectors.
Index
Seminars/Symposia/Workshops/Conferences
The objective of this scheme is to provide a common forum to professionals for sharing upto
date knowledge on various technical issues related to environment and to create
environmental awareness about specific issues. Under this scheme, financial assistance is
provided to Universities/Academic Institutions/Non Governmental Organisations for
organising seminars/symposia/conferences/workshops on environment related issues. During
the year 91 proposals were supported for financial assistance.
Index
Films on Environment related areas
Recognising the role of electronic media in spreading the message of environmental
conservation and creation of environmental awareness, the Ministry of Environment and
Forests has been extending financial assistance to film producers for production of films on
various aspects of environment, forests and wildlife. Some of these films are telecast by
Doordarshan through National Network as well as through Regional Kendras from time to
time. Other TV Networks are also being encouraged to telecast thefilms supported by the
Ministry. A total of 84 films have been produced so far, out of which, 53 have been
forwarded to TV Networks for telecast purpose. The list of films produced during the year are
given in Table - 18.
Table - 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S.No. Title Format & duration Language Subject area
of the Film
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Badlaav Betacam Hindi Industrial water pollution and role of
25 mts. community in its management.
2. Ek nadi ki kahani Betacam Hindi Indian rivers and their problems and
25 mts. solutions.
3. Ganga mool main Betacam Hindi Water pollution in river Ganga.
pradushan 26 mts. 21 sec.
4. The greening of U-matic high band English Role of the corporate world
management 27 mts. 51 sec. in abatement of Industrial pollution.
5. Aam Mahua ki U-matic high band Hindi Importance of plants and the need to
Shadi 25 mts. protect them.
6. Abhiyan U-matic high band Hindi Creation of awareness among the masses
21 mts. about environment friendly product.
7. Lethal impact Betacam Hindi Air, water and noise pollution and their
23 mts. impact on health of human beings.
8. Bio-degradable Betacam English Bio-degradable objects.
objects 4 mts.
9. Golden garbage Betacam English Solid waste management in the city of
of Calcutta 25 minutes Calcutta
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Index
Communication and Awareness Programmes of NAEB
New technologies and methodologies of participatory management, eco-development and
regeneration of degraded forests are being progressively developed. In order to share such
experiences and technologies widely, NAEB documents these developments and information
in the form of publications, films and audio-visuals and shares these with State Governments,
NGOs and all concerned. The Board has commissioned/produced 13 films so far and has
brought out a number of publications for the purpose of dissemination.
Index
Centres of Excellence
The following five Centres of Excellence have been set up so far by the Ministry with a view
to strengthening awareness, research and training in priority areas of Environmental Science
and Management.
- Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad (linked with Nehru Foundation for
Development, Ahmedabad).
- CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras (linked with Sir C.P. Ramaswamy
Aiyar Foundation, Madras).
- Centre for Ecological Science (linked with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore).
- Centre for Mining Environment, Dhanbad (linked with the Indian School of Mines,
Dhandbad).
- Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore (linked with the
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai).
During the year the following Centres have also been supported under this scheme:
- Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Delhi (linked with
the Department of Environmental Biology, Delhi University, South Delhi Campus).
- The Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram (linked
with the State Govt. of Kerala).
Index
Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad
The CEE Ahmedabad was set up in 1984 to develop programmes and materials to promote
environment education and awareness through out the country. Besides the main Centre at
Ahmedabad, regional offices of the CEE are functioning at Lucknow, Bangalore, Guwahati
and Pune. A Delhi Desk of CEE has also started functioning from January 1997. Highlights
of the activities conducted by CEE and its regional offices during the year 1997-98 are as
follows:-
- Under the NEEPs (National Environmental Education Programme in School), all the
regular meetings between CEE, its regional desks, cluster NGOs etc., were held and 10 new
Environmental Education Resource Centres have been set up.
- Several workshops were conducted under the EE Bank Project at Ahmedabad, Pune,
Bangalore and Guwahati, to help educators develop locale-specific EE programmes and
materials.
- Eighteen eco-clubs were set up in fifteen schools of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and
Anand as a result of three teachers workshops organised during the period. The major focus
of the eco-clubs for this year is energy conservation.
- Under the ROCHAK project supported by ETC-India, New Delhi, 15 colleges of
Ahmedabad were approached through exhibition and slide show. 112 students from seven
colleges are involved in this programme. Two colleges are involved in composting.
- A month long Clean Green Project focussing on Garbage Management was organised
for a group of interested young people during the summer vacation in May 97. A two week
long Clean Green Project focusing on electricity conservation was organised during
November 97.
- The Club of Youth Working for Environment (CYWEN), supported by CEE,
organised exhibitions at more than 50 institutions and residential complexes.
- The Hingolgadh Eco-Development Programme (HEDP) expanded its activities to
fifteen villages in Jasdan taluka of Rajkot district of Gujarat. Village level groups for
environmental action have been formed in 12 villages. Regular meetings and training and
exposure camps were conducted for their members. A Newsletter called Vavad is being
published in Gujarati to network between these groups. World Environment Day was
celebrated in a big way in which 1000 children from 14 villages participated. Promotion of
improved animal husbandry, agricultural practices, horticulture and agroforestry continued.
Ranthambore Ecodevelopment Programme (REDPro) is expanding EE activities to the entire
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR). Three EE workshops were conducted for the
communities of RTR, in Sawai Madhopur, Kailadevi and Khandor. The quarterly Hindi
newsletter Ecosamachar for NGOs and government officials, and Fulwari for children
continued to be published.
- Under the aegis of an UNDP-FAO Project with WII, a consultancy on Development
of Conservation Education Strategy for Rajaji Natioal Park and Kanha Tiger Reserves was
carried out. A three day training of trainers was also conducted in Rajaji National Park as part
of the consultancy.
- Forty one fluorosis endemic and water -scarce villages of the Lathi and Liliya talukas
of Gujarat are being supplied safe drinking water through the Lathi-Liliya Regional Water
Supply Scheme. The scheme is being implemented by the Gujarat Water and Sewerage Board
(GWSSB) with support of the Dutch Government. CEE is developing educational and
training programmes to create awareness among the beneficiaries of this scheme.
- Two projects on the development of an Alternative Model are going on at Coorg,
Karnataka and Tirupur, Tamil Nadu. Field offices of CEE have been set up at both the places
and different awareness-generating activities are being carried out at both the places to
encourage the participation of local citizens, students and teachers.
- The eighth Training in Environment Education (TEE), ended in July, 1997, and TEE-
98 began on December 1st 98 with 13 participants including two from Lesotho and Malaysia
and is in progress. This 8-month long certificate course aims at creating a cadre of
environmental professionals. Modules on the various aspects of the environment-
development interface and communication techniques were conducted.
- Under the Teach-And-Learn Environmental Education Modules (TALEEM), several
modules were organized on specific issues of concern to those involved in environment and
EE.
- A 15 day training programme on Reaching out to Communities was conducted for a
batch of Forest Department and NGO officials from Nepal. A month long training
programme in EE for a group of 12 teacher educators from Maldives, was conducted during
Feb-1998 on request from the Institute of Teacher Education, Maldives. A two week training
programme for Environmental Educators from Ethiopia was organised in December-January,
1998.
- Interpretive programmes both at natural and cultural heritage sites are being
undertaken by CEE and such programmes are in operation at Coorg, Keoladeo Gana National
Park, Bharatpur, Nalsarovar sanctuary, Gujarat, archaeological sites of Gujarat, Leh, Ladakh
and at Nawegaon, Pench and Nagzira National Parks, Maharashtra.
- CEE - News and Feature Service (CEE-NFs), both exclusive and non-exclusive,
continued to provide articles on various aspects of Environment to Newspapers and
magazines.
- Sampark, the Hindi edition of the quarterly UNESCO/UNEP newsletter Connect
and News EE, the ENVIS Newsletter continued to be published.
- The sixth book under the Environment and Development Book Series titled Minding
our marine wealth : An appraisal of Gujarat s coastal resources authored by Shri N.D.
Chhaya, was published during the year.
- As part of the Information Capacity Building initiatives, a series of programmes on
environmental impact and risk assessment for medium to large scale projects have been
structured in collaboration with the Industrial Extension Bureau. Replication of waste
minimization strategies for micro enterprises in the printing & dyeing sectors is being
attempted.
- Work on the development of an information pack on ozone layer protection is in
progress.
- In collaboration with the Ahmedabad Citizen's Trust and supported by
USAID/RHUDO, New Delhi, CEE has undertaken a Research Vouchers programme which
seeks to build bridges between community groups and research organisations to enable the
former to purchase professional services from the latter to support community based
programmes in Ahmedabad. In the course of the pilot phase of the programme, nine vouchers
committing support of the order of Rs. 9 lakhs have been awarded to six Community Based
Organisations (CBOs), enabling them to commission research projects addressing a wide
range of issues including occupational and environmental health of workers in sewers,
environmental impact of chemical industrial pollution on a periurban village, etc.
- Under the Ahmedabad Green Partnership Programme (AGP), CEE has completed the
plantation of 350 saplings of 35 species at Manekbaug plot with the involvement of youth and
local residents.
- As part of the activities of the South and Southeast Asia Network for Environment
Education (SASEANEE), initiated by CEE with IUCN-Commission on Education and
Communication in 1993, two issues of the SASEANEE Circular were published. A
Certificate Course in EE has been initiated during 1997 in collaboration with WWF-
International. Two courses have been conducted so far and a total of 22 participants from
different countries of the South-East Asian region participated in these.
- More than 500 students and others interested in understanding the culture and heritage
of Ahmedabad participated in the cultural trails organised by CEE.
- Sundervan Nature Education Centre s activities were continued and regular snake
shows, film shows, talks etc., were held. Marine camps were held at Beyt Dwarka and Bakore
for youth and adults.
- The library of CEE has been computerised with the help of CDS/ISIS and around
10,000 records have been created in the database for books and bound periodicals. The seven-
month long Training in Librarianship and Documentation (TLD) 1997-98, has commenced
in the month of October, 1997.
- CEE - North organised a series of Paryavaran Panchayats in association with WWF-
India in U.P. Meets on River Action Plans in U.P. and Fifty years of Nature Conservation
Movement in India were also organised.
- CEE - South continued with its projects on Solid Waste Management, Hospital waste
management, Satya Nagar - comprehensive Urban Development, Monitoring of
environmental quality involving Colleges, Sustainable Bio-diversity Conservation in
Indigenous Systems etc. A Database of environmental education initiatives taken by about
160 NGOs of the Southern States of the Country has been developed. An English - Kannada
directory of environmental words containing 5000 words has been prepared.
- CEE North-East organised a workshop on Economic and Ecological Development
for Women in collaboration with Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council and
Jalkhana Yuvak Sangh, and conducted Nature Orientation Camps for youth and others. The
second edition of the Directory of NGOs in Environmental Education in the North-East has
been brought out. A project supported by Darwin Initiative (USA) in collaboration with Field
Studies Council (UK) titled Conserving Biodiversity through NGO Training and Projects
with Local Communities has also been taken up.
- The Regional Cell for Central India has taken up a project with WWF-India, Pune
Division, under which Joy of Learning was adapted and was brought out in Marathi and
teachers from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal schools were trained. CEE Central has also
initiated contact with NGOs, academic institutions and government agencies in the three
states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa.
- The CEE - Delhi Desk has initiated programmes on various environmental issues in
two colleges of Delhi. A training programme for hospitals and nursing homes on
management of hospital wastes through methods other than incinerators is being taken up.
Educational materials, films, training etc, are being given to citizen s welfare associations on
Delhi for garbage management.
Index
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre, Chennai
The C.P.R.Environmental Education Centre was established in 1989 to increase
consciousness and knowledge about the environment and the major environmental problems
facing India today.
The Centre conducts a variety of programmes to spread awareness and interest among all
sections of the public, by organising training programmes, workshops, courses, surveys,
exhibitions, and by raising awareness through action. Since inception, the Centre has been
working in the rural and tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karanataka, Kerala and
Orissa. Special emphasis has been laid on the fragile ecologies of the Andamans and the
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The important activities carried out by the Centre during the year are as follows:
- Training programmes were conducted for school and college teachers and students,
NGOs, farmers and women, government officials and industrial managers in the states of
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu and the Andman and Nicobar Islands to raise
awareness on a variety of topics dealing with environmental protection, legislation and
regeneration.
- "Earth Day" (April 22, 1997), was observed by organising an Exhibition on
Sustainable Chennai and Painting and Oratorical competitions for students.
- World Environment Day (June 5, 1997) was celebrated with an evening of folk music,
dance and drama performances by children on environmental themes.
- The Centre s video van travelled around villages and schools of Andhra Pradesh,
Karantaka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and on the coastline of Andhra Pradesh to create
environmental awareness among the general public and the school students.
- To increase literacy about the provisions of various environmental policies and
legislations, the following programmes were organised:
- A Seminar on Environmental Laws - their Application and Violation in the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve at Udhagamandalam (Ooty).
- A symposium on Conservation of Man-made Heritage in Chennai - The
Environment Angle on April 23, 1997.
- A Symposium on CRZ Amendments and their Implications in Chennai.
- A Seminar on Environmental Pollution and legal Provisions for its Control at
Hyderabad.
- A Workshop on Using Courts and Tribunals for Enforcing Rights to Wholesome
Environment at Trivandrum.
- A seminar on Industry, Environment and Law at Visakhapatnam.
- Several Training programmes were conducted for teachers and students, to train them
in the methodology of incorporating environmental issues into their regular school
curriculum. These programmes included workshops on The Role of Zoos in Conservation
Education conducted at Chennai.
- Conservation of the ecologically fragile biosphere reserves of the Nilgiris and the
Andamans was the topic of the training programmes for NGOs,teachers, Mahila Mandals,
villagers and students in these areas, to enable them to take up ecorestoration programmes.
An exhibition on Medicinal Plants was organised during the Flower Show and Fruit Show
at Udhagamandalam and Conoor respectively, in May 1997. An exhibition on Life under
Water was organised at Port Blair during the Island Tourism Festival in December 1997 -
January 1998.
- The Centre has taken up 15 sites - one in Andhra Pradesh and 14 in Tamilnadu,
including one in the Nilgiris - for the restoration of sacred groves, as a part of the ecological
heritage of India. As a part of this project, several teachers training programmes were
organised in and around the project sites. A book on The Ecological Traditions of
Tamilnadu was released in October, 1997.
- At the tribal villages of Bokkapuram in the Nilgiris, the Centre has helped the tribals
to from a society to take up eco-development activities such as the establishment of kitchen
gardens, planting of fruit sapling and other tree species and soil and water conservation
programmes. Smokeless chulhas were also distributed to the tribals.
- A gene pool of medicinal plants which was set up earlier by the Centre, in
collaboration with the Hill Areas Development Project (HADP) and local villagers at
Thambatty in the Nilgiris, is being maintained. Other NGOs, schools and colleges are also
being helped to set up similar herbal gardens.
- To celebrate 50 years of India s Independence, a major exhibition on 50 years later -
Images Old and New was organised in August 1997 at Chennai. A special lecture on
Mahatma Gandhi - the Man and His Mission was organised on January 30, 1998 to mark
the fiftieth anniversary of the Mahatma s martyrdom.
- Three Major exhibitions - Biodiversity , Medicinal Plants and Pollution and
Health - were organised by the Centre at Chennai and in the Nilgiris to raise awareness
among the general public. To coincide with the exhibitions, a series of training programmes
for school teachers and competitions for school students were conducted. As a follow-up to
the Medicinal Plants exhibition a seminar on Cultivation and Extraction of Medicinal
Plants was also organised at Chennai.
- During the year several pamphlets, books and training kits on various aspects of
environment were produced by the centre in English, Tamil and Telugu. Four issues of the
Centre s quarterly newsletter Econews were also published.
- Several water and soil testing kits developed by the Centre were distributed to NGOs
and schools. Water Testing Kits were prepared and distributed for the Ministry of Human
Resources Development s project of Environmental Orientation to School Education.
- Several research projects and surveys were conducted by the centre in response to
local environmental problems and needs in the states of A.P. and Tamil Nadu. Several air,
water and soil sample analysis were also carried out. About 324 sacred groves of Tamil Nadu
were documented during the year.
- The following projects were undertaken for the Regional Centre of the National
Afforestation and Eco Development Board (RC-NAEB), Bangalore:
- Survey of Sacred Groves in Tamil Nadu
- Natural Resource Accounting (Study of the non-marketed value of forest produce)
- Preparation of a Status Report on Control of Pollution in Industries of Tamil Nadu
through Afforestation
- Supply and Demand of Fuel Wood in Tamil Nadu
- The centre carried out a project on Awareness of Air, Noise and Dust Pollution and
their Control through plants 1997-98 for the National Environmental Awareness Campaign
(NEAC). The main aim of the project was to create awareness about the deteriorating air
quality and its impact on health.
- Two courses were organised by the Centre on Environmental Education for S.V.
Mahila University, Tirupati, and for NGOs of Nilgiris.
- A three-day conference on Conservation of Sacred Groves was held at Chennai.
- The Centre has been functioning as the nodal agency for the scheme of
Environmental Orientation to School Education of the Ministry of Human Resources
Development, Government of India. As a part of this scheme, a two-year project on Eco-
restoration of Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh , was carried out by the
centre.
Index
Centre for Ecolocial Sciences (CES), Bangalore
Established at the Indian Institute of Science during the year 1983, this Centre conducts
research in front line areas of basic and applied ecology and participates in ecology related
extension programmes of the Western Ghats. During the year the Centre worked on 19
research projects, pertaining to the following seven broad themes.
- Biodiversity of India
- Ecology and Conservation Biology
- Animal Behaviour
- Mathematical Ecology and Evolution
- Conservation Genetics and Molecular Ecology
- Climate variability, change and Environment
- Human Ecology, Ecodevelopment, Energy and Environment.
Development of a computer simulation model to estimate the quantities of ivory harvested
from killed elephants, development of methodologies for use of satellite imagery to assess
vegetation diversity, assessment of technologies and policies for mitigation of climate change
in the forestry sector, exploring the link between climate variability and agricultural
productivity in the case of rainfed groundnut crop and exploration of the mechanism of
division of labour in an insect society, are some of the major highlights of the work of the
centre during the current year.
Index
Centre of Mining Environment (CME), Dhanbad
The CME was established by the Ministry in 1987 at the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.
Since 1994, the expenditure of the Centre relating to salary etc., of the faculty and staff is
being met by the UGC, while the expenditure on Research and Development activities of the
Centre is being met by the Ministry. A Monitoring Committee functioning under the
chairmanship of Secretary (E&F) oversees and guides the research work of the Centre.
The Centre's R & D activities during the year, focussed on the following areas.
- Preparation of training modules and training of environmental personnel for the
World Bank assisted Coal India project.
- Land subsidence due to fluid and gas withdrawal.
- Noise attenuation and dust arresting through green belt.
- Quality-of-life-in coal mining complexes.
- Impacts of mining on forest and agricultural land.
- Utilisation of fly-ash.
- Radon emission in coal mining areas.
Index
Other activities of CME
- The Centre continued to offer the regular 3-Semester M.Tech programme for
engineering graduates.
- A UGC team visited the Centre for considering the beginning of a B.Tech
(Environmental Engineering) Programme.
- A 13-week Extensive Development Programme (EDP) on "Environmental
Management in Mining Areas" was organised during July-September, 1997 for the executives
of Coal India Ltd. This EDP has been recognised as a minimum requirement for entry into the
Environmental Cadre of Coal India Ltd.
- A one week training programme on "Landuse Planning and Management" was
organised in December 1997 for the officers of the Indian Forest Services.
- The 7th National Symposium on "Environment" sponsored by the Department of
Atomic Energy, was organised during 5th-7th February, 1998.
Index
Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore
This Centre, linked to the Bombay Natural History Society was established in 1990 with the
major objectives of conducting research and extension activities relating to various aspects of
ornithology and natural history. A permananet building for the Centre is under construction
and other infrastructural facilities are also expected to be in place shortly. During the year,
SACON completed a number of ongoing research projects and has also initiated several new
projects.
Index
Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), Delhi
The Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems functioning at the
Department of Environmental Biology, Delhi University, has been supported through a one-
time grant to pursue research on the ecological rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. The
Centre will focus on developing low input, cost effective restoration technologies which not
only require no after care, but also generate employment among the rural poor, especially
women. The mined areas of Mussoorie Hills have been ecologically rehabilitated successfully
using this technology which uses native grasses, legumes and other local species together
with their rhizospheric and rhizoplane microbial communities as the biological inputs.
Index
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram
The TBGRI has been designated as a Centre of Excellence for conservation and sustainable
utilisation of tropical plant diversity. The thrust areas on which the centre will focus upon are:-
- Tropical Plant Biodiversity
- Tropical Medicinal Plant Biodiversity and Ethno Botany
- R&D in medicinal and herbal formulations and preparations
- Agro-technology for rehabilitation/popularisation of traditionally locally used fruits
and plants.
During the year the Centre has undertaken the following activities :
- upgradation of the botanic garden
- conservation and reintroduction of certain rare and endangered species;
- initiation of work on economic evaluation of biodiversity;
- agrotechnology, production, development, training and extension activities with
regard to medicinal plants, and development of irrigation facility for conservation plots.
Index
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi
The National Museum of Natural History is a subordinate office of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests. Its basic function is to promote non-formal environmental
education and create environmental/conservation awareness among the people through
various in-house and out-reach activities. It has various exhibit galleries, a Bio-Science
Computer Room, an Activity Room and a Mobile Museum which are used for promoting
environmental awareness among different target groups.
Index
Exhibit Galleries
The NMNH has four major galleries namely - Introduction to Natural History, Introduction to
Ecology - Nature s Network, Conservation and Cell - the basic Unit of Life . A computer
based interactive multi-media exhibit also forms part of the gallery on Cell .
Index
Temporary Exhibitions
The Museum coordinated and participated in the following temporary exhibitions:
- "Environment and Development - the Indian Scenario" organised by NMNH on
behalf of the Ministry at the Indian Trade Fair, Kathmandu, Nepal. The Indian Trade Fair was
organised by the ITPO.
- "Environment and Development" was organised during the Social Development Fair
coordinated by the ITPO at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
- A Nature s Trail was created as a part of the exposition held on the occasion of
Teacher s Day at Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial and Museum, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi.
- An exhibition on Biodiversity of North-East India was organised at the Sukhanta
Academy in Agarthala on the request of the Government of Tripura.
- An Exhibition on Rails organised by the Union Ministry of Railways to
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of India s Independence.
Index
Educational Activities
During the year several special inhouse and outreach activity oriented programmes were
organised and conducted by the NMNH for the benefit of school children, college students,
teachers and general public. Major ones are :-
- An Essay Writing Competition in Braille for the Visually Handicapped to
commemorate the Louis Braille Day.
- A bird watching programme in wetlands around Delhi on the World Wetlands Day -
2nd February.
- Annual week-long programmes for the handicapped children.
- A debate competition for students of Government and Public Schools on Earth Day
1997 on the topic Is the Earth in Danger? .
- A month-long Summer Programme for teenagers to acquaint them with environmental
issues.
- Nature Painting and Animal/Plant Modelling Sessions for young children.
- A special programme on 5th June to commemorate the Foundation Day of the
Museum and the World Environment Day.
- Teacher s Orientation Workshops for Primary, Secondary and Senior Secondary
teachers of Government and Public Schools.
- An Essay Competition on International Ozone Day on the topic How Far are Third
World Nations Responsible for Ozone Layer Depletion? .
- A Painting Competition for children of different age groups during the Wildlife Week.
- Programmes to inculcate Environmental Awareness through a variety of activities for
different target groups including teachers, under the National Environment Awareness
Campaign.
- An Essay Competition for teenagers on the World Conservation Day.
- Organisation of audio-visual extension programmes and film shows in schools,
colleges, and resettlement colonies in Delhi and surrounding rural areas from time to time.
- School Loan Service - Teaching Aids provided on loan to schools to supplement
Class-Room teachings.
- LEARN (Lesson on Environmental Awareness and Resources at NMNH) -
Educational programme for school children from Classes VI to XII.
- Publication of popular science literature on Environment.
- Publication of a special document of selected poems in Hindi from the Care for the
Environment Contest to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of India s Independence.
Index
Collaboration with Universities
The NMNH continued its academic collaboration with the Delhi University and assisted the
Department of Environmental Biology, Delhi University (South Campus) by conducting
lectures and practical classes on Systematics and Evolutionary Biology and by organising
slide presentations, film shows, field study visits and guidance in project work for the
students of M.Sc. (Environmental Biology).
The NMNH also extended its cooperation to the National Institute of History of Art,
Conservation and Museology (a deemed University), New Delhi in the teaching of
Museology and orienting its students on various aspects of Museology.
Index
Professional Enrichment, Participation in Seminars/Workshops etc.
- The NMNH, New Delhi collaborated with and participated in the Annual General
Conference of the Indian National Committee of International Council of Museums (INC-
ICOM) in May, 1997 at Calcutta. Director, NMNH has been elected as Honorary Secretary of
the INC-ICOM for a term of two years.
- The Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore played host to the Annual
Conference of the Museums Association of India in October 97 on the theme Museum
Marketing . During the conference, Director, NMNH was elected as the Secretary, Museums
Association of India for the next term of two years.
- The NMNH and the Regional Museums participated in the Annual General
conference of the INC-ICOM held at the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai in February 98 on
the theme Multimedia and Museum Marketing .
Index
Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore
Besides the regular in-house educational activities connected with its permanent galleries, the
RMNH, Mysore conducted the following programmes also during the year:-
- A Natural study programme (Prakruti 97) in May 1997 for a period of ten days in
which 13 schools participated.
- As a part of the Foundation Day Lecture, a temporary exhibition Mango Festival
was organised.
- Organisation of various symposiums and competitions during the World Environment
Day.
- Teacher Orientation Workshops.
- Organisation of tree plantations, painting competition and Bird Watching Programmes
during the Wildlife Week.
- Special activities such as sky-watch nature study programme etc. were organised
during November-December as a part of the National Environmental Awareness Campaign.
Index
Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal
The Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhopal was inaugurated by the Union Minister for
Environment and Forests on 29th September, 1997. The main objective of this museum is
propagation of environmental and conservation education and creation of awareness among
masses through its exhibits and education and extension activities in the Central Indian region
of the country. The main attraction of the museum is a life-size model of a dinosaur,
Triceratops, in the central courtyard of the building, shown along with the fossil excavation
site.
A Discovery Centre with hands-on materials and participatory exhibits on nature along with a
multimedia computer facility provides an opportunity for young minds to learn about Nature
and Environment. Facilities for organising temporary exhibitions and regular films shows are
available within the building of the museum.
Index
Regional Museum of Natural History, Bhubaneshwar
Construction of the first phase of the building of the RMNH at Bhubaneshwar is nearing
completion. A site office has been established there. Networking with other institutions
engaged in formal as well as non-formal environmental education has already been initiated.
This Museum will portray the natural wealth of the Eastern region of the country and will
promote non-formal environmental education and awareness among masses of this region.
Index
Fellowship and Awards
Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (IGPP)
The IGPP was instituted in 1987 by the Ministry and is now awarded to an individual and to
an organisation every year for significant contributions in the field of environment. The
Puraskar consists of a cash component of Rs. 1.00 lakh in cash, a silver trophy, a scroll and a
citation. The award has been presented till 1993, and awards for 94, 95 and 96 are being
finalised. Nominations for the award for 1997 have been received.
Index
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards (IPVM)
The annual Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra awards (IPVM) were instituted in 1986 to
recognise pioneering and exceptional contributions of individuals/organisations in the field of
afforestation and wastelands development. Since 1993, twelve awards are given under six
categories, viz, (a) individuals, (b) Panchayat/Gram Sabha/Village Level Institutions, (c)
Educational Institutions, (d) Voluntary agencies including Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals
etc., (e) Government Agencies (district level and below), and (f) Corporates Sector. Each
award carries a cash component of Rs. 50,000/- a medallion, a scroll, and a citation. Awards
upto 1993 have already been presented. The Awards for 1994 and 1995 have been
announced. Selection of awardees for 1996 is in process.
Index
Mahavriksha Puraskar
The Mahavriksha Puraskar was instituted in 1993-94 to give recognition to
individuals/organisations for preserving and protecting trees of the notified species. Aroster
of notified trees species, valid for five years, has been prepared. Each award consists of a cash
prize of Rs. 25,000/-, a plaque and a citation. Awards for 1994 and 1995 have been finalised
and announced. Selection for 1996 awards is in process.
Index
Zile ki Sabse Hari Panchyat
With a view to motivate the Gram Panchayts to undertake afforestation activities from the
funds available under the Rural Employment Generation Schemes, an Award has been
instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Under this programme, the
afforestation efforts of the Gram Panchyats will be evaluated after 4 years in every district,
and the best performing Gram Panchyat will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh for being
the "Zile Ki Sabse Hari Panchyat".
Index
Pitambar Pant National Environment Fellowship Award
The objective of this award is to encourage research and recognise excellence in the field of
environmental science. The fellowship is awarded annually, and the Award for the year 1997
has been awarded to Dr. (Mrs.) Archana Sharma, Department of Botany, University of
Calcutta, Calcutta. Dr. (Mrs.) Sharma will work on the project A comprehensive treatise on
the protective action of specific edible plant parts as compared with their principal
components against metal genotoxicants present in the environment including complex
workplace mixtures .
This award carries a monthly fellowship of Rs. 4,000/- for two years, a contingent grant of
Rs. 18,000/- per year and other facilities.
Index
B.P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award for Bio-diversity
Recognising the importance of developing and strengthening the available expertise in the
subject of Biodiversity, the Government of India had instituted a National Fellowship in 1995
in the area of Biodiversity named after the eminent Scientist late Dr. B.P. Pal.
The fellowship is in recognition of significantly important research and development
contributions and is also intended to encourage talented individuals to devote themselves
whole time to R&D pursuits in the field of Biodiversity for the duration of the fellowship.
The fellowship is awarded annually and for a period of two years.
The award for the year 1997 has been conferred on Shri S.John Joseph, M.S. Swaminathan
Research Foundation, Madras. Shri Joseph will work on Socio-Economic Problems of
villages depending on the Bio-mass resources of Sirumalai Hill Forest resulting in
degradation .
Index
Paryavaran Aur Van Mantralaya Vishisht Vaigyanik Puraskar
This award was instituted in 1991-92, as an incentive to Group A Scientists of the Ministry
including its Associated formations, and is awarded annually to two scientists who have made
outstanding contributions to the objectives of the Ministry. Each award carries a cash
component of Rs 20,000/-. Selection of awardees for 1997 have been made.
Index
Environmental Information
Index
Environmental Information System (ENVIS)
The ENVIS network with its 24 nodes continued its activities in information collection,
collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to its users during the year. The ENVIS nodes,
known as ENVIS centres in 24 subject specific areas and the Focal Point in the Ministry
constitute the ENVIS network. A list of such ENVIS centres along with their subject areas is
given in Annexure-II. The Focal Point of ENVIS and its network partners laid emphasis on
the development of its information-base by creating comprehensive data-bases and
strengthening information resource repository in theconcerned subject area. Major activities
of the ENVIS Focal Point and its various centres during the year are as follows:
Index
Focal Point
- The ENVIS Focal Point continued to publish the quarterly journal namely
Paryavaran Abstracts reporting information on environmental research in Indian context.
More than 600 national and international environment related journals are referred to for
compilation of relevant abstracts for inclusion in this publication. The abstracts are arranged
under major categories like air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, environmental
management, ecology, health and toxicology, energy, forestry, wildlife etc. For precise
retrieval of information, subject key words index is also given at the end of each issue. This
journal has a circulation of about 3000. The relevant database of Paryavaran Abstract has
been developed using CDS/ISIS software package for easy and quick retrieval and
dissemination of relevent information.
- The ENVIS network, during the year, responded to a total number of 10302 queries of
which 9497 were national and 805 were international. Out of these total queries, ENVIS
Focal Point alone responded about 590 queries. The detailed break up of the number of
queries processed by the ENVIS network during the last five year is given in Figure - 89.
Efforts were also made by the network to provide substantive information as far as possible to
all the queries mentioned above and in some cases where it was not readily available, referral
services were provided to the users. The major subject areas on which the queries were
responded pertain to :-
---------------------------------------------------------
Atmosphere 160
Lithosphere 52
Terrestrial 191
Fresh water 333
Ocean and coastal areas 131
Environmental development 2175
Human settlements 1223
Agriculture 261
Industry 767
Transportation 99
Energy 338
Chemical and biochemical process 245
Pollution and wastes 1101
Human health 177
Disaster 23
Monitoring and environmental data 291
Environmental law and institutions 208
Environmental awareness 2452
Others 75
---------------------------------------------------------
Total 10302
---------------------------------------------------------
- The Focal Point also continued its efforts for networking all the ENVIS centres
through ERNET programme of the Department of Electronics. Out of these 24 centres, 12
centres have been provided with modem and other software supportto install email facilities
in their respective centres. Necessary steps have also been taken to provide these facilities to
the remaining Centres for easy and quick dissemination of information as well as for on-line
communication to the various centres and to the Focal Point and vice-versa.
- During the year, two new centres in the fields of Wildlife and Panchati Raj &
Environment have been set up at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and the Indian
Environmental Society, Delhi respectively as recommended by the Scientific Advisory
Committee of ENVIS.
- The Library in the Ministry is an integral component of ENVIS and acts as a
document repository for dissemination of information in the field of environment and its
associated areas. During the year, the Library enriched its documentary-base by procuring an
additional number of more than 400 books, documents, journals, state of art report etc. so that
it could provide the back-up support to ENVIS in disseminating substantive information to its
users.
- During the year, more than 300 national and international scientific journals were
received in the Library and various other subject related documents have been identified for
procurement. Automation of the Library has been made by using suitable software package
to expedite the retrieval of the documents provided by the Library. Scholars from various
institutions in Delhi made use of the Library in the Ministry during the year. The Library is
also equipped to provide reprographic services not only to ENVIS users but also to other
Divisions of the Ministry. Apart from the technical books, journals, proceedings etc. Library
also procured a wide range of general books, magazines, notable literatures during the year
both in Hindi and English for the use of the officials of the Ministry and its associated offices.
- ENVIS also continued to function as a National Focal Point (NFP) and a Regional
Service Centre (RSC) for the South Asian Sub Region countries for INFOTERRA network, a
global information network of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). As a
RSC of INFOTERRA the ENVIS network provided information to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Pakistan and Bhutan in response to the queries received from them.
- During the year, ENVIS has started publishing a quarterly newsletter viz. ENVIRO
NEWS in association with the ENVIS Centre at Development Alternatives, New Delhi with
the main objective of disseminating information about the various important policies,
enactment of new legislations/rules, amendment of existing laws and rules, other important
notifications, initiation of new schemes/programmes, newly sanctioned projects and other
important decisions taken by the Ministry from time to time to a wide cross-section of the
Civil Society including administrators, planners, scientists, students, NGOs and the general
public. This newsletter is now available on the Internet and can be browsed at the Ministry s
home page.
- Information about the Ministry of Environment and Forests is now available on the
Internet. The Ministry s home page contains at present basic details about the organisational
structure of the Ministry, including the names, responsibilities and functions of the various
divisions, auxiliary bodies, associated offices and autonomous agencies of the Ministry. It
also contains the complete addresses, telephone and telefax numbers etc. of the associated and
autonomous bodies of the Ministry located in different parts of the country to enable the user
to access a particular organisation of the Ministry directly. Detailed information about the
Environmental Information Systems (ENVIS) of the Ministry including the list of ENVIS
Centres, with their areas of specialisation and complete addresses is also provided. The
Ministry s home page can be browsed at the URL : http://www.nic.in/envfor and the
information on ENVIS can be browsed at this address : http://www.nic.in/envfor/envis
- ENVIS also continued its close liaison with various other national information
systems in the country for exchange of environmental information and to avoid duplication of
efforts in the fields of environment and its associated areas.
- During the year, the ENVIS Focal Point coordinated the publication of the Annual
Report (1996-97) of the Ministry.
- Based on the performance of the ENVIS and its network partners, it has been
designated as the National Focal Point of the Sustainable Development Networking
Programme (SDNP) of UNDP. The SDNP is a three year programme and is funded jointly
by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Development
Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. The SDNP secretariat has started functioning in the
Ministry during the year. It intends to establish a distributed clearinghouse of information on
Sustainable Development and an association of information users, carriers and providers by
involving government, academia, business and NGOs. It also aims to strengthen selected
existing ENVIS Centres and to identify new nodes for disseminating information on
Sustainable Development.
Index
Activities of the ENVIS Centres
- All the ENVIS Centres continued their activities related to collection, storage, retrieval and
dissemination of information on the subject areas allotted to them. Besides strengthening the
data bases and responding to various national and international queries, all the ENVIS
Centres carried out a variety of activities aimed at disseminating information to a wide range
of users. Highlights of some of the activities of the ENVIS Centres are given below:
- The ENVIS Centre on Control of Pollution at the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB) continued to publish thematic issues of the Newsletter Parivesh on themes such as
pollution and its control, ground water quality, coastal pollution, bio-monitoring etc. The
Centre also provides daily in-house Paper Clippings service. A total of 113 queries on
various aspects of pollution were answered by this Centre.
- The ENVIS Centre on Toxic Chemicals functioning at the ITRC, Lucknow
continued to concentrate on the development of a database on toxic chemicals. During the
year, besides updating the existing data, information on 20 chemicals has also been compiled
and stored. Abstracts of current literature in Toxicology and ENVIS Newsletter continued to
be published and the Centre processed 55 queries during the year. A multi-coloured poster on
Chemical Hazards waspublished and distributed widely and on World Environment Day -
1997, an essay competition was organised for local school children.
- The ENVIS Centre at the Society for Development Alternatives (SDA), New Delhi
continued to collect, store and disseminate information related to environmentally sound
appropriate technology and environmental management. The Centre is updating the database
regularly using Micro CDS/ISIS software package for interactive information processing, and
has achieved porting of existing databases on to a RDBMS platform. A NGO directory has
been designed and developed using this platform. During the year, this Centre has been
entrusted with the responsibility of preparing and publishing the Newsletter
ENVIRONEWS on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. About 2317 queries
were received and processed by the Centre during the year.
- Computerisation of the database is being continued at the ENVIS Centre on
Biodegradation of wastes and Environmental Impact Assessment functioning at the Centre
for Environmental Studies, Anna University, Chennai. The database includes a listing of over
6000 papers on the two subjects allocated to the Centre, and the ENVIS Library has over
1400 books/reports/monographs on the subjects. The ENVIS Newsletter continued to be
published. About 329 queries were received and processed by this Centre.
- The ENVIS Centre on Energy and Environment functioning at the Tata Energy
Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi, continued to publish TERI Information Monitor on
Environmental Science (TIMES) twice a year, which carry surveys of current literature and
disseminate information in the form of abstracts, book reviews, review articles,
bibliographies, etc., on themes related to energy production, conversion, transportation,
consumption, waste disposal, and other related areas. A short monograph titled Open
burning of urban municipal solid waste : State level analysis was published by the Centre to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of India s Independence. The Centre responded to a total
of 342 queries during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Western Ghats and Biological Diversity functioning at the
Centre of Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore continued to expand
and automate the database on the subject area alloted to it. The database developed by the
ENVIS Centre is also included in the Website of the Indian Institute of Sience and therefore
available to the Internet browser. During the year the Centre responded to 366 queries.
- The ENVIS Centre at World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF), New Delhi has initiated
to develop the database on the various NGOs working in the field of environment and its
associated areas throughout the country based on the directory published by the Centre. A
database on questions and answeres on environment provided in both the Houses of the
Parliament is also being developed by the Centre.
- The ENVIS Centre at EPCO, which focuses on Environmental Management related to the
State of M.P., continued with its regular activities relating to database development, press-
clipping service, creation of environmental awareness and preparation and distribution of
publications. The NGOs directoryof M.P. is being revised. The Centre continued to publish
EPCO News and also responded to both verbal and written queries.
- The ENVIS Centre at the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad
continued to publish its quarterly publication namely Environmental Information to
disseminate the latest information on various aspects of occupational health. The Centre also
continued to provide material for inclusion in the Paryavaran Abstracts on environmental
pollution and occupational health. A total of 85 queries were received and provided with
substantive information. A monograph on Occupational health hazards and prevention was
prepared by the Centre to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India s Independence.
- The ENVIS Centre on Desertification functioning at the Central Arid Zone Research
Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur has created a database on Desertification and Soil Sciences
using CDS/ISIS software package, which is being updated regularly. To commemorate fifty
years of Independence a special monograph on Thar Desert : An overview has been brought
out, besides the quarterly publication DEN NEWS . On the occasion of World
Environment Day i.e. on 5th June, 1997 two guest lectures were organised and efforts are
being made to publish these lectures in the forthcoming Newsletter. The Centre continued to
provide material for inclusion in the Paryavaran Abstracts being brought out by the Focal
Point at the Ministry. A total of 347 queries were answered by this Centre during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on mangrove, coral reefs, estuaries and lagoons at Annamalai
University, continued to publish the ENVIS Newsletter (Seshaiyana). The Centre responded
to 425 queries and procured about 70,000 textual records to provide substantive information
to these queries. The Centre has published a State-of-the art report on Indian mangroves and
similar reports for estuaries, coral reefs and lagoons are in press. To commemorate the
Golden Jubilee of India s Independence, the Centre has published a special issue titled An
Anthology of Indian Mangroves . Efforts to strengthen its database were continued by
procuring the latest ASFA (Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts) diskettes and other
abstracts of literature in the specified subject areas.
- The ENVIS Centre on Environment Education located at the Centre for Environment
Education, Ahmedabad continued to conduct workshops to help educators develop locale-
specific EE programmes and materials based on the data available in the EE bank. Six issues
of News EE, the ENVIS Newsletter, were brought out duting the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Faunal Biodiversity located at the Zoological Survey of India
(ZSI), has been engaged in collecting data on the subject from protozoa to mammalia. The
data available in ZSI in the Specimen Registers, Species Index Cards and printed documents
on fauna, taxa-wise, state-wise and ecosystem-wise are being computerised regularly for
speedy dissemination. A document on Faunal Diversity of India : State of Art has been
completed during the year, covering both vertebrates and invertebrate species of the country.
A total of 50 queries were processed by this Centre during the year.
- The database of the ENVIS Centre on Mining at the Centre of Mining Environment,
Dhanbad was expanded by adding about 1500 references on the subject during the year. The
Centre compiled the important papers written, published and presented by the faculty of the
Centre of Mining Environment. Two special monographs on Land Subsidence and Land
Reclamation have also been prepared. The quarterly Newsletter MINENVIS was
published regularly and a total of 117 queries were received and answered by this Centre
during the year.
- The bibliographic database developed by the ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology at the
G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development has more than 600 abstracts,
research papers and technical reports on the subject, collected from the
universities/institutions/research stations located in the 12 Himalayan States of the Country.
Records of more than 250 scientific and technical personnel working on various aspects of
the Himalaya have also been collected. Socio-economic data of the region is being collected
from the Information Centres of the District Statistical offices of 77 districts spread over 12
States. Besides publishing the ENVIS Bulletin a monograph on Natural Resource
Management and Development in Himalaya was also published by the Centre on the eve of
50th anniversary of India s Independence.
- The ENVIS Centre on Human Settlements functioning at the Centre for Environmental
Studies, School of Planning and Architecture(SPA) has collected data spanning four decades
pertaining to eight mega cities of the country with a view to studying the trends of
development in these cities. During the year the centre has brought out the inaugural issue of
the ENVIS Journal and continued to publish the ENVIS Newsletter.
- The ENVIS Centre on Biogeochemistry and Environmental Law located in the School of
Environmental Sciences, JNU, New Delhi has so far loaded about 10,000 references on
Biogeochemistry and Environmental law in the computer. The Centre has prepared the first
issue of a Newsletter titled Environmental Policy and Law on the request of the Policy and
Law Division of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. A special monograph on
Biogeochemistry and Environmental Law was also prepared to commemorate 50 years of
India s Independence. The ENVIS Centre continued to receive visitors as well as queries by
post, email etc. from SAARC Countries as well as from other countries of the world. ENVIS
Newsletter continued to be published. A total of 237 queries were received and answered by
this Centre during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Floral Biodiversity (previously plant ecology) located at the
Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Calcutta is engaged in collecting data on plant diversity,
plant ecology and on plants of coastal and marine ecosystems. An application software -
COBOMAN for database of rare and threatened plants in India with maps and diagrams has
been developed and a database on Indian coastal plants, mangroves, some wetlands, floristic
diversity of North-Eastern region, Godavari and Krishna Delta and Flora of Tiger Reserves of
India is under preparation. The ENVIS Newsletter continued to be published and a total of 55
queries were answered during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Eastern Ghats located at the EPTRI, Hyderabad is engaged in
creation of bibliographic database, using CDS/ISIS and it consists ofrecords and references
including individual papers in a collection or chapters of a book pertaining to Eastern Ghats.
The Centre continued to publish the ENVIS Newsletter which includes Ecological Studies of
the Eastern Ghats. A National Level Seminar on Conservation of the Eastern Ghats was
organised by the Centre in collaboration with the District Administration and Andhra Pradesh
University, Visakhapatnam during March 24-26, 1998. The Centre has answered a total of 38
queries during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in the subject area of
Avian Ecology and Inland Wetlands continued to publish the Newsletter Buceros in the
subject area. The December issue dedicated to 50 years of India s Independence, dealt with
topic of bird name changes in the Indian subcontinent. The database on Avian Ecology
consists of about 10,000 records, and is to be brought out as a CD for distribution/sale to
organisations and ornithologists. The database of Inland Wetlands consists of about 5,000
records. About 105 queries were received and answered by the Centre during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Forestry has started functioning during the year. The main
objective of this Centre is to disseminate authentic and current information on various aspects
of the subject allotted to it.
- The ENVIS Centre on Panchayati Raj and Environment has been set up in October, 1997
at the Indian Environmental Society, Delhi. The first issue of the ENVIS Newsletter was
published both in Hindi and English. The Centre has initiated the creation of a database on
the subject allotted to it, and responded to a number of queries on Panchayati Raj and
Environmental issues.
- The ENVIS Centre at Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun set up in September
1997 deals with general issues concerning Wildlife and specifically those related to
Protected Areas . The Centre has initiated the development of a Home Page of the WII-
ENVIS Centre. The Centre has prepared the first issue of the ENVIS bulletin on
Conservation status of elephants in India .
Index