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 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:-
- The council is actively engaged in running doctoral and post doctoral research programmes in
various disciplines of forestry at different institutes under ICFRE. The council is funding
these programmes by providing Research Fellowships to the incumbents. During the year,
twenty-eight candidates were awarded doctorate degree. The number of Senior Research
Fellow (SRF), Junior Research Fellow (JRF), Research Assistant (RA) is 14, 125 and 27
respectively.
- The Council is running a two years Post- Graduate (PG) course in (i) Forestry (Economics
and Management) (ii) Wood Science and Technology. Two Post -Graduate diploma courses
of one year duration in Plantation Technology and Pulp and Paper Technology are also
available. The number of students who passed out during the year in P. G. diploma is sixteen
in each course.
- Arrangements were made for visits abroad for short term as well as long term training
courses, meetings/ symposia and workshops for foresters and scientists of the council.
- Study tours were undertaken in a number of countries to get acquainted with latest
developments and research and educational strategies. Financial assistance was provided by
World Bank, UNDP, British Council, IDRC, FAO, INBAR, USDA under various forestry
research and educational support programmes.
- A National level training in Human Resources Development (HRD) was organised for
Foresters/Scientists of ICFRE and a total number of 281 persons from various Institute of
ICFRE were trained in computers.
- Technical and financial assistance to the tune of 110 lakhs has been extended to various
universities to strengthen education in forestry discipline.
- Reports of the consultants engaged for carrying out the study relating to the current status of
the syllabi of the three selected universities, viz., Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Y.S.
Parmar University of Horticulture and forestry, and Birsa Agricultural University were
received and synthesized.
- ICFRE has identified 33 tested technologies out of which 17 tested technologies have been
prioritised on the basis of clients demands for extension.
- During the year proposals under Extension Support Fund (ESF) were invited for the tested
technologies developed by the state Forest Department (SFD) universities and other
departments on continuous basis as per World Bank Mission agreement. More than 60
proposals were received during the year, one of which 12 proposal were found suitable for
funding by the Extension Grant Committee, which met twice in the year. These proposals
worth Rs. 11.00 million were approved and are under funding process. Regular monitoring of
all the ongoing projects was also done.
- To apprise the clients of the tested technologies developed by ICFRE, regular demonstration
workshops are held using industrial technical demonstration fund. In 1997-98 domonstration
workshops were held for the tested technologies on Catamaran building developed by IWST,
Bangalore and shown to fishermen of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Clonal propagation,
bamboo propagation and other technologies of Tropical Forest Research Institute (TFRI)
were demonstrated to many users at different fora including Kisan melas. Various
technologies of Forest Research Institute (FRI) like conversion of Eucalyptus, sawing and
seasoning of Eucalyptus, bending of wood, pencil making preservative treatment of
Eucalyptus, reusable packing cases, colouring of wood dyes from forest waste and agarbatti
substitute etc. are regularly demonstrated to various old and new entrepreneurs, extension
agencies and NGOs. Further, FRI s paper and pulp technology was demonstrated to
representative from nine paper mills, and plywood technologies were demonstrated to
plywood manufactures from Gurgaon, Sonepat, Hapur, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar,
Kanpur, Yamuna Nagar, Parwanoo, Ram Nagar, New Delhi, Jammu, Haridwar and Dehra Dun.
- ICFRE has produced one film during the year namely Neem: The Green Gold .
- The activities at National Forest Library and Information Centre (NFLIC) are directed to
transform the existing store house of information to dynamic information centre and to
provide customerized information to the users. The NFLIC has metamorphosed into a
vibrant, professionally managed library and information centre . It has introduced modern
methods/practices of processing documents and offering informaiton services to it s clientele.
Professional activities such as effective collection building, creation of machine readable
catalogue to offer Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), bar-coding of documents,
improving retrospective search service sharing with ICFRE institutes, improving
communication facilities, providing internet access, human resource development, etc, are
playing vital role in promotion of the user oriented facilities in NFLIC.
- The Documentation Section is working on a project on grey literature search in India under
the aegis of the World Bank. In this project, grey literature consultants in all the states of the
Indian Union shall be collecting non conventional literature on forestry related topics from
forest departments, universities, NGO s, district committees and other places and sending
them to NFLIC, for technical processing. More than 500 documents have been received in
this section under the category of Grey Literature. They have been classified, abstracted,
indexed and fed into the computer for instant use of forestry professionals. Work by the state
consultants is in progress.
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 IGNFA has trained 1793 IFS Probationers
and 231 Foreign Trainees from neighbouring countries so far.
Currently 39, 55 and 33 IFS Probationers are undergoing training in the Academy belonging
to 1996, 1997 and 1998 courses, respectively. There are two Foreign Trainees from Bhutan in
the 1998 course. The number of woman officers is 4, 6 and 5 in the three courses
respectively. The 1996 course IFS Probationers have come back for Advance Phase from OJT
in their States and 1997 and 1998 Courses are undergoing Professional Training.
The Academy commemorated India s 50th year of independence by organising a two-day
workshop on 25th and 26th May, 1998 in which senior forest officers up to the 1970 batch
participated. The workshop was attended by 41 participants from 16 states. Many technical
issues including new initiatives in the training of foresters were deliberated upon and the
proceedings of the workshop was printed and circulated widely.
The diploma of Associate of IGNFA (AIGNFA) as per Government order no F. No. 3-35/86-
RT dated 21.01.1998 of MOEF was revived to be given to all IFS officers and Foreign
Trainees who have successfully completed the Professional training in IGNFA, since the
Academy came into being. Accordingly 746 diploma have been sent to the officers who have
successfully completed their training.
The convocation after a lapse of 11 years was held for 1995 course on 30.05.1998. The
diploma and awards were given to 39 IFS Probationers including 6 women officers and three
Foreign Trainees from Bhutan. Late Shri D. H. Kulkarni memorial gold medal for the best
performance in Working Plan Exercise was instituted from this year and was awarded to Shri
Yashvir Singh of Maharashtra cadre.
The following Compulsory Training Courses for in service IFS officers, sponsored by the
Ministry were held in the Academy.
- Institutionalisation of Participatory Forest Management (one week).
- Policy and Legal Issues in Forestry (one week).
- Project formulation and evaluation for external assistance (one week).
- International conventions in forestry and India s role and concern (one week).
- Computer applications in forestry (two weeks).
The Academy conducted 5 Skill Upgradation Courses and 127 officers promoted from State
Forest Service (SFS) of different State cadres were trained under this programme, thus
updating the backlog in the cadre.
A national level expert consultation on Wood Energy in Curricula of Forestry Training and
Education in India was organised in collaboration with Regional Wood Energy Development
Programme of FAO/ RAP and Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, in the
Academy from 15.12.1998 to 18.12.1998. The syllabi for all the levels of forestry training
institutions and academic institutions conducting B.Sc. or M.Sc. Forestry course were
deliberated on the issue of incorporating wood energy.
Index
Directorate of Forest Education (DFE), Dehradun
The DFE was part of the FRI Colleges, Dehradun and remained responsible for professional
and technical level training/education in the country. After the reorganisation of FRI &
Colleges and creation of an autonomous (ICFRE, this Directorate was de-linked in 1991 and
functions directly under the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
The Directorate is responsible for controlling, coordinating and managing all the regular
training course of S. F. S and Forest Range Officers in the country. This Directorate also
organises short term special refresher/ Computer Application in Forestry Courses and Bio-
diversity Conservation , Sustainable Rural Development and Participatory Forestry
Management Courses for in service officers.
The following colleges are under the administrative control of this Directorate
SFS College, Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh).
SFS College, Comibatore (Tamilnadu).
SFS College, Burnihat (Assam).
Eastern Forest Rangers College, Kurseong, (West Bengal).
In addition, the five State run Forest Rangers Colleges i.e. (1) Forestry Training Institute,
Haldwani (U.P) (2) Forest Ranger College, Balaghat (M.P) , (3) Forest Rangers College,
Angul (Orissa), (4) Gujrat Forest Rangers College, Rajpipla (Gujarat) and (5) North Eastern
Forest Rangers College, Jalukbari (Assam) are also technically (admission, curriculum and
examinations)controlled by this Directorate.
In two years Diploma Course, 20 Officers passed out from S.F.S College
Dehradun/Coimbatore and 21 under training. 63 Range Officers have completed the two
years Certificate Course and passed out from the various Forest Rangers Colleges and 227 are
undergoing training.
The three SFS Colleges had conducted seven in-service Refresher Course each of two weeks
duration. The average number of participants in each course ranged between 13 to 15. One
course each on Sustainable Rural Development, Bio-diversity Conservation and Participatory
Forestry Management of two week duration was also organised at S. F. S College, Dehradun
and 9 to 11 officers participated in these courses.
Computer Laboratories have been established at SFS College Dehradun and Coimbatore.
Eight course on Computer Application in Forestry each of three-week duration, were
organised in these two colleges for in-service SFS officers. Till date 29 officers have been
trained in three courses.
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 in 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 has well stocked library, which
provides referral services to industry and scientific community apart from the Institute s staff
and students.
The following are the activities related to education and training carried out by the Institute
during the year.
- 10 candidates from various States successfully completed one year Post-Graduate Diploma
Course in Mechanical Wood Industries Technology during September, 1998. 23 candidate
have been admitted to the X Batch training course started during November 1998. All the
candidates passed out during 1997 secured employment.
- 14 candidates were trained in various short-term courses.
- Scientists of the Institute visited various plywood units to study their problems and to carry
out demonstration in their units.
- The institute received a number of technical enquiries and provided information to
Researchers, Technologists, Consultants, Industrialist, 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 IFS. 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 follow :
- The two year Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM) was started in July,
1988. So far 9 batches consisting of 215 students have passed out and the 10th batch (1997-99)
consisting of 31 students will be passing out in March, 1999.
- An one year M.Phil level Course in Resource Management was launched in 1994 for developing
professional skills of resource managers, practising professionals and others involved for efficient
and effective resource management. So far 4 batches consisting of 36 participants have undergone
this course. 5th batch (1998-99) of participants will be completing the course in May, 99.
- The Management Development Programme(MDP) of IIFM continued to impart training to serving
forestry personnel from various SFD as well as officials from NGO s and other department . A total
of 1879 officers have been trained in MDP s, 434 delegates in Seminars and 871 delegates in
Workshpos (as on 31.12.1998).
- Four new research projects sponsored by the IIFM were sanctioned during the year and the time
periods for another 6 ongoing research projects were extended. 5 case study projects sanctioned in
1997-98 are likely to be completed by March, 1999.
- During the year 1998-99 four consultancy assignments were undertaken. In addition to the above,
three consultancy assignments are in progress.
Index
Other Activities
In order to support the above activities the IIFM has the following facilities :
Computer Centre :- IIFM is one of the few institutions in India to be equipped with a full fledged and
state of the art Geographical Information System (GIS). The centre has HP 9000/735 workstations,
Pentium PC s, AO sized Digitizer, AO Sized Drum Plotter, ARC/INFO, ERDAS IMAGINE and
RDBMS software. A Local Area Network Connects computers around the campus providing 24
hours computing support. Rich software resources are available to students which amongst other
things, include statistical software, OR software, project management and compilers. Unrestricted
Internet Browsing and email facilities are also available to all students through the IIFM VSAT.
Library : The library has a collection of 22958 books and subscribes to 215 journals and magazines.
Hostel and Mess : Functional and convenient accommodation to post graduate students, MRM
participants and MDP participants is provided within the campus. The campus hostel can
accommodate 80 persons at a time. A spacious dinning hall attached with modern kitchen
equipemnts provides boarding facilities to the students.
Construction of guest faculty suites with 12 double bedded rooms is in progress and is likely to be
ready by March 1999.
Index
Wildlife Education and Training
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), was established in 1982 under the Ministry of Agriculture and
Cooperation and subsequently brought to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The
main mandate of this Institute is to impart training to government and non- government personel, to
carry out research and training activities and advise on matters of conservation and management of
wildlife resources. In April 1986, the WII became an autonomous Institute of the Ministry, with a 35
member WII Society headed by the Union Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of
India, as its apex body.
(Details of WII s research activities are given in Chapter 7)
During the year the following regular long term and short term training courses, workshops, seminars
and courses were organised by the WII :
- The XIX Diploma Course concluded on 31st May, 1998 which was attended by 23 trainee officers
from various States/UTs including foreign trainees from Srilanka (5), Vietnam (2), Myanmar (1) and
Nepal (1).
- The XX Diploma course commenced on 1st Sept. 1998 in which 20 Officers from various
States/UTs, including 6 from Sri Lanka and one from Nepal are participating.
- The XIV Certificate Course began on Ist May, 1998 and concluded on 31st July, 1998. In all 17
participants, including 2 from Nepal, attended the course.
- The VI two year M.Sc. (Wildlife Science) Course which commenced in July 1997 with nine student,
is currently on and will be concluded in June 99.
- An Interpretation and Conservation Education Course was organised from 22.06.1998 to 01.07.1998 .
The course was designed to meet the needs of staff from national parks, sanctuaries, zoos,
environment and development projects, defence services, wildlife tourism agencies and NGOs
requiring assistance in the development of education awareness raising programmes. The objective of
the course was to orient the participants to appreciate the need for environment awareness and
educaiton; to understand the value of using basic interpretive principles in disseminating
conservation awareness; to use interpretation as a management tool; to expose them to a range of
communicaion techniques; to enhance awareness and understanding of environmental issues; and to
provide them minimal ability to pass on acquired skills and knowledge to other. A total of 11
participants from national parks, sanctuaries, zoos, NGOs, travel agencies and other nature lover
organisations participated in the course.
- The one week capsule course in "Wildlife Management" was organised from 21 25 September,
1998. The Ministry under its compulsory training programme sponsored the course. The course was
meant to give an orientation towards wildlife and related issues of conservation to the forest officers
who had not undergone any formal training in wildlife management. The main objective of the
course was to make the participants understand the basics of wildlife science, critical management
issues, interface conflicts between Protected Areas (PA) and surroundings, and biodiversity
conservation outside PAs, so that they could contribute effectively towards conservation of wildlife
resources. A total of 18 officers from Seven states participated in the course.
- On the request of Uttar Pradesh Forest Department, WII organised a collaborative 1- week guide-
training course at its campus in Dehra Dun from 30.11.1998 to 04.12.1998. In all 11 persons
participated in the course from UP Forest Department at the level of Dy. Ranger, forester and forest
Guard. The course was basically aimed at imparting necessary skills and techniques of conservation
education and interpretation to the trainers of the tour guides. During the course topics like wildlife
interpretation, wildlife law, species identification, importance of wildlife and protected areas and
qualities of a wildlife guide were covered. The participants rated the course as very useful.
- A training workshop on the "Application of Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing in
Wildlife Conservation" was organised from 1-10th May, 1998. There were five participants from the
Maharashtra Forest Department and two graduate students from Turkey The participants were
provided hands on training in visual interpretation and digitization. They were also exposed to Desk
Top GIS, habitat characterisation using remote sensing and GIS, HTML procedures and were
provided an introduction to the internet.
- Shri Yogesh Dubey, SRF, received an award for his co- authored paper with Dr. V. B. Mathur titled
"Fire Hazard Mapping in Spatial Domains in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve "during 3rd
ESRI/ERDAS User s conference organised by ESRI-India, NIIT GIS Ltd at New Delhi from 17-18
November, 1998.
- A Special course on Wildlife Protection Law and Forensic Science for probationers of Indian
Customs and Central Excise Service Group - A 50th Batch was organised at the Institute from 21 30
October 1998.
- The IX Endangered Species and Zoo Management Course was conducted in the series of courses
conducted by WII as part of its efforts to train zoo professionals in modern techniques and concepts
pertaining to ex- situ management of animals especially endangered species. The course was
inaugurated on 1st September, 1998 at Arignar Anna Zoological Park and was attended by 19
trainees from 11 State Forest Departments, 2 Private Zoos and one from Nepal . In all 10 institutions
were represented.
- WII conducted two short orientation courses (two weeks each) in Wildlife Tourism and Conservation
in Almora and Uttarkashi during October- November. Each course was attended by 10-12 selected
unemployed graduates from all the hill districts. The participants were given orientation in the
identification of common flora and fauna of the region, importance of protected areas, basics of field
craft and nature conservation.
- A national workshop on Ecodocumentation was organised during November 1998. The main
objective of the workshop was to look at the countrywide field experiences (through representative
sites) and capture the same in terms of lessons learnt till date in ecodevelopment programme. The
other objective was to pick up on contemporary debate and concerns around ecodevelopment and put
them in the light of the ground realities. In this workshop 80 persons representing field managers,
scientists, NGOs, researchers etc. participated. Follow- up actions on various recommendations of the
workshop is going in the institute
- To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of India s independence, a National Seminar on
Wildlife Conservation, Research and Management was organised in August 1998 to provide a forum
for exchange of information and ideas, and also to enable networking between wildlife researchers,
wildlife managers and conservationists from all over the country. 40 research papers were accepted
for presentation after a review of the abstracts. Two panel discussions on Endangered species and
Wildlife Research : Science and Conservaiton, were also held. More than 250 delegates from all over
the country attended the Seminar.
Index
Other Activities
- As part of the World Environment Day celebration on 5th June, 1998 an extempore debate
competition on Environmental Problems of Doon Valley, environmental quiz competition and a
drawing competition was organised for the school children. Sixty three children between age group
7- 14 participated in this activity. Winners were suitably awarded and were shown films on
conservation issues.
- The Wildlife Week was celebrated by organising a number of activities. A nature excursion was
conducted for the children of Chandrabani village in which 52 children participated. Villagers,
including Mahila Mandal and Youth Club of the Chandrabani village participated in the
environmental awareness campaign in their area. Wildlife films were also shown to them.
Index
Library and Documentation Centre
During the year, 965 books including reports, thesis/ dissertation, monograph etc. 225 reprints, 500
newspaper clippings from national newspapers and magazines, 15 periodicals were added to the
library collection which already has 17,000 books including reports, thesis dissertation, monograph
etc. about 7630 reprints, 6000 newspapers clippings 314 periodicals.
Index
Computer and GIS Facility
During 1998- 99 the computer facility of the Institute was further strengthened by the procurement of
new hardware/ software from WII Grants- in aid and ENVIS projects. The computer centre
conducted training courses on the use of computers and various software packages for officer trainees
of Wildlife Management Courses, faculty, researchers and staff of the institute.
Index
Internet Connectivity at WII
The institute established a leased line Internet connectivity with VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd)
through microwave link at 64 Kbps bandwidth. A CISCO 2514 router was procured and installed to
provide Internet services to all nodes (100 plus) on LAN. The institute has installed its own Pentium
based web server and mail server operating under Windows NT. Internet software packages Netscape
Suitespot for servers and Netscape Communicator for nodes is being used. All faculty and technical
staff have been allotted with individual email account. The URL of WII website is
http://www.wii.gov.in . Information of the activities of the institute is regularly updated on the web
server. The institute s newsletter and ENVIS bulletin are also available on the Internet.
Index
National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi
The National Museum of Natural History is a subordinate office of the Ministry and its basic function
is to promote non-formal environmental educaion 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
Participants drawing posters in Nature Painting Competetion organised on the occasion of "EARTH DAY"
Temporary Exhibitions
The Museum organised, co-ordinated and participated in the following temporary exhibitions during
the year :
- "An exhibition entitled NMNH" 20 years in the service of Environmental Education was organised
from 5th June 1998 to July 1998.
- Achievements and Vision for future of Indian Environment was organised at India Gate lawns from
4.8.98 to 16.8.98 and was awarded the best pavillion.
- An exhibition Children s expressions on ozone layer and ozone friendly products was organised in
September 1998. One of the paintings was adjudged as the best entry, internationally.
- An exhibition Swadeshi Mela related to Nature and Wildlife was organised in Pragati Maidan,
New Delhi from 25th to 30th January, 1999.
- A Tableau on the theme of Save the Environment was prepared for participation in the Republic
Day celebrations of 1999 on behalf of the Ministry
Index
Maharshi Bhupendra Jesalpura, winner of 'Merit Award' in the International Painting Competetion on "Protecting the Ozone Layer"
Educational Activities
Special inhouse and outreach activities oriented programmes were organised and conducted by the
NMNH for the benefit of school children, college students, teachers and general public. The
following are some of them organised during the year :
- An Essay writing Competition in Braille for the Visually Handicapped to commemorate the Louis
Braille Day.
- World Wetlands Day 2nd February and Science Day 28 th February were organised.
- Annual week- long programmes for the handicapped children.
- Nature Painting and Essay competition were organised on Earth Day - 22nd April.
- A month- long Summer Programme for teenagers to acquaint them with environmental issues.
- Nature Painting and Animal/Plant Modelling sessions for young children.
- Special programme on 5th June to commemorate the Foundation Day of the Museum and World
Environment Day.
- Teachers Orientation workshops for PRTs, TGTS and PGTs of Government and Public Schools.
- Declamation contest and painting competition organised on Ozone Day.
- 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 the teachers under the National Environment Awareness Campaign.
- Two Rolling Trophies for the winning schools in Essay Writing Competition on Nature
Conservation under NEAC were introduced.
- Essay Competition for Teenagers on the World Conservation Day.
- Audio- Visual extension programmes and film show organised in schools, colleges, 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.
- Wildlife Week Commercial art students of Art colleges/institutes were invited to recreate the
museum exhibits on paper.
- Publication of popular Science literature on Environment.
- Special publication on selected poems in Hindi from the Care for the Environment contest in the
Golden Jubilee year of India s Independence.
- Posters were published on Environmental Conservation them and distributed among school, Army
Units, Central Govt, organisation, NGOs etc.
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 co-operation 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 and its Regional Museum of Natural History Mysore participated in the 6th World
Wilderness Congress from 24th to 29th October, 1998, at Bangalore.
- Director, NMNH participated in the Triennial of the International Council of Museum at Melbourne,
Australia from 10 16 October, 1998 and was also elected as the Vice President of the International
Committee of Natural History Museums for the next three year term.
- The NMNH and its RMNH, Bhopal participated in the 2nd World Science Centre Congress at the
Science City, Calcutta from 11-16 January, 1999
Index
Participants of Quick Quiz a programme for family groups organised at the Regional Museum of Natural History, Mysore
Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH), Mysore
During the year RMNH, Mysore touched the record number of collaborative programmes with other
State Government Organisations and NGOs. This year the museum witnessed the highest number of
visitors i.e., one lakh eighty thousand.RMNH, Mysore also conducted the following programme
during the year.
- Celebrating the 50th year of Independence, the museum arranged three temporary exhibitions
namely Nature Photography , Ecology of Mango and Man & Mosquito and conducted three
one day workshops in collaboration with CPR Foundation, Chennai, Grahakara Parishat, Mysore,
Photographers Association, Mysore Mysore Amateur Naturalists and World Wide Fund for Nature to
create environmental awareness.
- Members of staff were deputed to attend and conduct programmes like the state level puppetry
training workshops for rural teachers, young environmentalist National Conference arranged by
Balbhavan, Teacher training programme arranged by Bharat Boys and Scouts, Forest Guards
programme arranged by FRLHT, Silver Jubilee programme of the Project Tiger organised by
Karnataka Forest Department and Friends of Zoo programme by Mysore Zoo.
- Teacher Orientation programme on school loan kits, summer camp for children, were also arranged.
Index
Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH), Bhopal
During the year the RMNH Bhopal conducted the following programmes :
- The museum organised a month- long programme of nature activities called Prakruti 98 which
included inhouse activities like gallery visits, working with the biocomputer, dining with dinosaurs
and library works. The outdoor activities included visits to various natural history institutiions in
Bhopal, bird and animal watching in the Vanvihar Zoo, testing with kits for air, water and soil
pollution, discussion with experts on occupational hazards, firsthand experience of water and sewage
treatement plants, and visit to the nearby industrial area.
- Many competitions, such as painting, poster and oral quiz were conducted for school children during
September 1998.
- A seminar on museum accessibility was organised on the 18th December in which representatives
from museums, zoos, schools, NGOs disabled groups and the neighbourhood slums participated.
- The project (Disability) was launched with the specific purpose of increasing the accesibility to the
disabled community of Bhopal.
- During the year the Museum organised various programmes in collaboration with Govt. institutions
and non-governmental organisations such as Eklavya and Gwalior Science Centre. A network of
NGOs is also being developed to help the Museum in conducting its educational activities .
- A collection of paintings by children from all over India who participated in the international
painting competition organised by the NMNH and the Ozone Cell of the Ministry was exhibited for a
month during the NEAC period.
- The museum organised a lecture on People s Biodiversity Register by the eminent
environmentalist Professor M. K. Prasad from Kerala at a time when the State Govt. of Madhya
Pradesh is planning to constitute a State Biodiversity Board.
Index
Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH), Bhubaneshwar
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 is being established.
The RMNH will portray the natural wealth of the eastern region of the country and will promote non-
formal environmental education and awareness among the 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, a silver trophy, a scroll and a citation. The award has
been presented till 1993, and awards for 94-97 being finalised.
Index
Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards (IPVM)
The Annual Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Awards (IPVM) were instituted in 1986 to give
recognition to the pioneering and exceptional contributions of individuals/ organisations in the
field of afforestation and wastelands development. Since 1993, twelve awards are given under eight
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) Corporate Sector, (g) Government Servants
(individuals) and (h) Municipalities/Municipal Corporations/Cantonment Boards. Each award carries
a cash component of Rs. 50, 000/-, a medallion, a scroll, and a citation. The awards for 1994 and
1995 have been announced and selection of awardees for the year 1996 and 1997 awards has been
completed.
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. A roster 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 the year 1994, 1995 and 1996 have been finalised and announced. Selection for
1997 awards has been finalised.
Index
Zile ki Sabse Hari Panchyat
With a view to motivate the Gram Pachayts to undertake afforestation activities from the funds
available under the Rural Employment Generation Schemes, an Award has been instituted by the
Ministry. 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 awareded a cash prize
of Rs. 1 lakh for being the Zile Ki Sabse Hari Panchyat
Index
Pitambar Pant National Environment Fellowship Award
In honour of the late Shri Pitambar pant, a former member of the Planning Commission and chairman
of the National Committee on Environmental Planning and Co-ordination, Government of India
instituted the Pitambar Pant National Environment FellowshipAward in the year 1978.
The Pitambar Pant Award for the year 1998 has been given to Dr. U. C. Mishra, Director, health,
Safety and Environment Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. His scientific
contributions are in the field of environmental sciences, radiation protection and nuclear safety.
During the tenure of the fellowship, Dr. Mishra will prepare a book on Environmental Impact
Assessment Methodologies for Developing Countries
Index
B.P. Pal National Environmental Fellowship Award for Bio diversity
In honour of late Prof. B. P. Pal FRS, former Director- General of the Indian Council of Agriculture
Research and Chairman of National Committee on Environmental Planning and Co-ordination,
Department of Science, & Technology; the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India Instituted the B.P Pal National Environment fellowship Award for Biodiversity in the year
1995.
Dr. Shashi Kant, Deptt. of Biosciences, University of Jammu has been conferred the Award for the
year 1998. Dr. Shashi Kant s scientific contributions are mainly in the area of Plant Biodiversity of
north West Himalayas. As a B.P. Pal Fellow, Dr. Kant will pursue a study on Biodiversity and
ecoconservation of Ladakh (J&K).
Index
Environment Education, Awareness and Training
Formal Environment Education
The Ministry of Environment & 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 Environment
Education of the Ministry are also fully involved in the activities of the UGC, MHRD and NCERT
related to formal environment education.
A major initiative has been taken by the Ministry to review and expand the existing components of
environment education at all levels of formal education i.e. secondary, senior secondary and tertiary
levels. In this connection, a meeting was held on 3rd July 1998 under the Chairmanship of Minister
(E&F) which was attended by Secretary, Department of Education, MHRD; Chairperson, UGC;
Director, NCERT; Vice-chancellor, Delhi University (DU) and other eminent educationists and
environmentalists. Based on the discussions of this meeting and subsequent interaction with the
MHRD, the NCERT and the UGC, a discussion paper on strengthening of environment education
was prepared. This was presented by the Minister for Environment & Forests at the State Education
Ministers Conference convened by the MHRD during 22nd 24th October 1998. This paper which
also includes introduction of environment education as a separate and compulsory subject in the
educational curricula, was adopted by the conference. Subsequent to this, Minister (E&F) has written
to all the Chief Ministers urging them to introduce environment education as a compulsory subject in
the school curriculum from the next academic session. Copies of this Paper have also been forwarded
to all the vice-chancellors, prominent NGOs working in the field of environment and eminent
educationists of the country.
Index
Non-formal Environment Education and Awareness
Environment Education, Awareness and Training play 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
Organisations of Seminar by BSIEA during NEAC 1998
National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC), 1998-99
The National Environment Awareness Campaign (NEAC), started in 1986 for creating environment
awareness at all levels of the society, was continued during the year. The theme for NEAC this year
was : Keep our water resources clean . Twenty seven organizations 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 organizations,
these RRAs are also responsible for physically monitoring and evaluating the activities conducted by
various organizations under NEAC in their areas of jurisdiction.
Nearly 8,800 proposals were received from NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research
institutions, women and youth organizations, army units, State Government Departments, etc., from
all over the country. Out of this 3974 organizations were provided financial assistance for organizing
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 environment education resource
materials. Diverse target groups ranging from students/youth/ teachers to tribal, rural population,
professionals, etc., were covered under the campaign.
Index
Eco-Clubs
To impart environment 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. During 1998-99,
1600 eco clubs have been set up in different parts of the country.
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.
Index
White Paper on National Environment Policy on Education
An action plan on environment education consisting of a mix of activities and approaches, incentives
and compulsory measures covering diverse target groups was prepared during the year for inclusion
in the draft white paper on National Environment Policy being prepared by the Ministry.
Index
Seminars/Symposia/Workshops/Conferences
The objective of this scheme is to provide a common forum to professionals for sharing up-to-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 Organizations for organizing
seminars/symposia/conferences/workshops on environment related issues. During the year 58
proposals were supported for financial assistance under this scheme.
Index
Library
Set up in 1982, the Library of the Ministry acts as a document repository for dissemination of
information in the field of environment and its associated areas. It has a collection of over 21,000
books including conference/seminar/workshop proceedings etc., covering different areas of
environment and sustainable development. Besides this, it also has over 3000 scientific and technical
reports. The Library receives more than 100 national/international journals covering diverse areas of
environment. Scholars from various institutions in Delhi made use of the Library during this year.
Automation of the Library is being done by using UNESCO s CDS/ISIS package to expedite the
retrieval of information. Apart form the technical books, journals, proceedings, etc., the Library also
procured a wide range of general books and magazines during the year both in Hindi and English for
the use of the officials of the Ministry and its associated offices. The Library continued to provide
reference/referral services to scientists, technocrats, policy planners, decision makers, scholars,
students, NGOs, academicians, Research and Development institutions, universities, public sector
undertakings and other users both national and international.
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, film and audio-visuals and shares these with State Governments, egos 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 seven centres of Excellence have been set up so far by the Ministry with a view to
strengthening awareness, research and training in priority area of environmental Science and
Management.
- Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Ahmedabad (linked with Nehru Foundation for
Development, Ahmedabad).
- CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), Chennai (Linked with Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar
Foundation, Chennai).
- Centre for Ecological Science (CES) (linked with the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore).
- Centre for Mining Environment (CME) Dhanbad (Linked with the Indian School of Mines,
Dhandhad).
- Salim Ali Centre for Omithology and Natural History, Coimbatore (SACON) (linked with the
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai).
- Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), Delhi (linked with the
Department of Environmental Biology, Delhi University, South Delhi Campus).
- The Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram (TBGRI) (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 are as follows :
- Several publications to support the Environment Education (EE) efforts of teachers and educators
were brought out. These include :-
- Ozone school package : This package was developed through support from the Ozone Cell of the
Ministry. It contains :-
- Ozone Eleven : This is a booklet of information and teaching ideas for teachers on ozone depletion,
- Ozone-its time to act: This is a class room display chart on ozone;
- Ozone: This is an interesting informative publication under the Naturefile series.
- Grasses : an informative account of Grasses brought out under the NatureFile series.
- Green Action Guide : This is a manual for planning and managing environmental improvement
projects. This publication is part of the Green School series and has been developed with support
from the Ministry of Human Resources Development.
- Green Games : a kit containing a manual of EE games, a set of game cards and two board games,
developed in English and Marathi through the EE Bank project with support from IDRC, Canada.
- Eleyarige Parisara : 15 episodes for a radio serial were developed in Kannada based on this book
produced by CEE and published by DSCERT. The programmes were aired beginning 15, August,
1998.
- Under the National Environmental Education Programmes in Schools (NEEPS), the planning and
coordination meeting was held at which all the Regional Desks of CEE reported on the previous
years activities. The Regional Desks held the Review Planning and Orientation meetings for their
respective regions. They reviewed the previous years activities of the clusters, planned the current
years activities including teacher training and school activities. Teacher training workshops have
been completed in all the clusters.
- Under the Environmental Orientation for School Education (EOSE) scheme of the MHRD, CEE as a
nodal agency has received funds sanctioned for developing locale specific EE programmes and
material by fourteen institutions in different parts of the country. The EOSE scheme now covers 15
States in the country.
- 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. The major
themes taken up this year included:
- Enriching the curriculum with subject specific EE package
- Teaching Energy concepts with an Environmental Perspective
- Approaches to EE;
- An environmental perspective to School Curriculum;
- Approaches to EE for conserving our Water Resources
- Developing Audio Scripts & programmes for Environment Education.
- As an ENVIS Centre, CEE s EE Bank responded to questions related to EE through 15 workshops
during the year 1998. Each workshop catered to the requirements of approximately 12 participants.
Through the processes, they were able to acquire necessary information and skills to satisfy their
respective queries.
- The twenty-two eco-clubs that were set up in schools of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Anand
continued to focus on energy conservation. Planning and review workshops and leadership training
workshops were organized for teachers and students associated with the ecoclubs.
- CEE put together a preliminary report in the EE efforts at different levels of formal education. The
report gives a brief overview of the status of EE in formal education and presents a framework for the
future while discussing how the framework can be made operational. An issue paper on EE was also
prepared on request by the Ministry for discussion at the State Education Ministers meeting.
- A college teacher s manual titled Citizen Action has been brought out as part of the EnviroScope
series for college educators. The manual is accompanied by a classroom kit as supporting material to
enable the educator to use the manual effectively. It contains one set of the handout material for
students, a chart titled Path to Collective Action , and information, instructions and character briefs
for a role play. The manual has been published by Oxford & IBH.
- Workshops were held to train 80 teachers in EE for training pre-service teachers at the secondary
school level.
- A facilitation project was taken up to help Maharashtra Council of Agricultur Education revitalize
research in the state agriculture universities in Maharashtra. A two day seminar titled Kshitij was
organized as part of this process.
- Environmental Quality Monitoring project supported by NORAD has been completed in 1998. A
final report and awareness materials were prepared based on the information gathered.
- Under the ROCHAK project supported by ETC-India, New Delhi, a solid waste management project
has been set up in the Nursing College in Ahmedabad. A communication and media training
workshop was organized during the summer vacation for Rochak participants.
- The Club of Youth Working for the Environment (CYWEN) developed a new series of wall news
papers on different environmental themes for college students. The club was also involved in
greening projects in Ahmedabad.
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Training
Training in Environment Education (TEE): TEE is an eight-month international residential certificate
course in EE conducted each year with participants from India and other developing countries of the
commonwealth. The programme seeks to create a cadre, particularly of those associated with NGOs,
who can contribute effectively towards meeting local and regional needs for EE.
- The ninth international Training in Environment Education (TEE-98) started in December 1997 and
ended in July 1998.
- The short duration Teach and Learn Environmental Education Modules (TALEEM) continued to be
offered during the year.
The following programmes were designed and organized :
- Training workshops in EE for in-service Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers.
- Training on Eco-development and conservation Education for Forest Department staff and Eco-
development Committee members of the Gir National Park and Sanctuary.
- A ten day workshop on Developing Self-learning Material on Best Practices in Coastal Conservation
supported by UNESCO.
- CEE-NFS, CEE s news and feature service, which is now brought out in three languages: English,
Hindi and Kannada, continued to provide well-researched and analytical articles on environment and
development issues to medium and small scale newspapers and magazines.
- Three Intership in Environmental Journalism (IES) are presently undergoing on-the-job training in
1998-99. A distance training programme has also been initiated with three reporting from Lucknow,
Chennai and Bangalore respectively, through email.
- The Publication and dissemination of Sampark, Hindi version of the UNESCO/UNEP newsletter
Connect was continued by CEE North.
- The bi-monthly ENVIS networking newsletter continued to be brought out during the year.
- CEE has started work on a collaborative film series with the Educational Media Research Centre
(EMRC) Ahmedabad for UGC s country wide classroom with the objective of popularizing in-situ
conservation and highlighting the threats to existing, PAs.
- CEE participated in Ministry s Pavilion in the exhibition Agrasar organized by the Department of
Science and Technology, Government of India to commemorate 50 years of India s Independence.
The exhibition was held between 3-16 August 1998.
- CEE in collaboration with WWF-India, UP organized a Seminar on Environment and Media in
March 1998 in Lucknow.
- An MOU has been signed with the India Academy of Sciences (IASc), Bangalore under the Project
Life Space. The IASc and CEE have agreed to collaborate on bringing out feature articles and field
guides for undergraduate students and the general public.
- CEE has taken up interpretive programmes both at natural heritage and cultural heritage sites. Some
of these are : the Coorg Interpretation Program at Karnataka, Nalsarobar Interpretation programme
etc.
- Marine camps at Beyt Dwarka and Forest Watch camps at Bakore were organized.
- Sundarvan s public service of rescuing snakes which appear in people s homes is continuing.
Sundarvan also made significant inroads in the direction of release of captive bred snakes into the
wild. A batch of captive bred pythons was released in the forest of Shulpaneshwar Sanctuary
(Rajpipla) on 12 November by Sundarvan.
- A Nature Camping Leadership Training Manual designed to help camp organizers conduct EE is in
the final stages of preparation.
- Hingolgadh Ecodevelopment Programme (HEDPro) expanded its activities to fifteen villages in
Jasdan taluka of Rajkot district. Village level groups for environmental action called Paryavaran
Vikas Mandals (PVM) have been formed in the villages. Regular meetings of PVM members were
conducted and various inputs such as training, exposure visits, etc. are provided for their capacity
building.
- Ranthambhore Ecodeveloment Programme (REDP) continued its activities around Ranthambhore
Tiger Reserve (RTR). In response to the GEF funded Ecodevelopment Programme around RTR,
REDP is in the process of expanding EE activities around the entire RTR. A workshop was organized
for children focussing on development of material for Phulwari .
- The quarterly Hindi newsletter Ecosamachar continued being published.
- A consultancy assignment titled Development of EE and Awareness Strategy and Action Plan for
Gir National Park and Sanctuary is being done for the Gujarat Forest Department.
- A five day workshop for senior forest officials of Himachal Pradesh (HP) was organized. The
purpose of the workshop was to familiarize the HP forest officials with CEE and to orient them to
communications and communication strategy development process.
- Under the Amreli Project, a meeting of members of pani samitis was organized to discuss issues
related to functioning of the Lathi-Liliya Regional Water Supply Scheme and working of the pani
samitis. An exhibition on the Lathi-Liliya Regional Water Supply Scheme has been developed for
use in small group meetings.
- Coorg- An Alternative Model: This project aims to address the children, youth, women and the
general public on various environmental issues of Kodagu through a multi-pronged approach.
- Tirupur An alternative Model: This project aims at creating awareness about environmental issues
in Tirupur and neighboring areas through organizing ecoclubs in schools, networking of about 70
schools in the district, adaptation of educational materials into Tamil, monthly citizens meetings to
discuss about environmental issues, etc.
- CEE is involved in ensuring citizen participation and planning the educational strategy to create
environmental awareness amongst the residents of Malleshwaram, a ward in Bangalore, about waste
management.
- Two of CEE s waste management projects funded by NORAD the Satyanagar project and the
environmentally Sound and Productive use of City Garbage Project have recently been nominated for
the annual Best Practices Award by the Human Settlements Management Institute at New Delhi.
- A public hearing on Environment and development issues of Kanpur was jointly organized by CEE
and the People s commission on Environment and Development at Kanpur on 18 April. The public
hearing focused on the Indo-Dutch Environment Programme which among other things comprises
the Ganga Action Plan Support Project in Kanpur City.
- As part of the Activities of the South and Southeast Asia network for Environmental Education
(SASEANEE), initiated by CEE with IUCN-Commission on Education and Communication in 1993,
the following programmes were organized :
- The third certificate course in Environmental Education was organized between 7 September and 4
December 1998. Six professionals from five countries Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Nepal and
Sri Lanka participated in the programme.
- A workshop on Developing Self learning materials for Coastal Conservation was organized with
support from UNESCO for participants from the Maldives and Sri Lanka in December, 1998.
- The SASEANEE Circular, the biannual newsletter of SASEANEE continued to be brought out.
- A comprehensive report on information needs of decision makers in commercial banks associated
with NABARD was compiled based on a programme organized for NABARD in March 1998. This
interactional programme for senior bankers focussed on environmental issues in rural credit.
Index
CEE-Library and Documentation Centre
- The Library continued to provide the following services : Selection, acquisition, organization,
preservation, retrieval and dissemination of information in the area of Environmental Education;
Reference Service, lending services, bibliographic search services, inter-library loan services;
Current Awareness Services through the publication of monthly bulletin called Current Titles .
- An international training workshop on Management of Environmental Information Resources for
Journalists organized by CEE in collaboration with Asian Media Information and Communication
Centre (AMIC), Singapore in December 1998. It was attended by journalists from the SAARC
countries of Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as well as from India.
Index
Students at the exhibition on "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" organised by C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
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, and to
spread the message of conservation of the environment through education in both the formal and
non-formal sectors.
The Centre has been conducting a variety of programmes to spread awareness and interest among all
sections of the public, by organizing training programmes, workshops, courses, surveys, exhibitions,
and by raising awareness through action. The purpose of these efforts is to create a multiplier effect,
so that the message of conservation can reach a larger audience.
Since its inception, the Centre has been working in the rural and tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh,
Pondicherry, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa. Special emphasis has been laid on the fragile
ecologies of the Andamans and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
During the year, the important activities carried out by centre are as follows :
- The center launched a website on Environmental Education (www.cpreec.org). The website was
inaugurated by Shri. Suresh P. Prabhu, Hon ble Minister for Environment and Forests, Government
of India.
- Trainig programmes were conducted for school and college teachers and students of B.Ed. and M.Ed.
in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Pondilcherry, Tamilnadu Orissa and Andaman &
Nicobar Islands on environmental protection and integrating environmental education in the school
curriculum. In some districts, two blocks of 25 schools each were selected for teachers training,
followed by monitoring of the teachers efforts and evaluation through competitions held for the
students.
- 360 teachers in the districts of Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Nilgiris in Tamilnadu were part of a
special programme to disseminate environment education through folk songs. The teachers were
taught songs and given audio cassettes and a book containing the words of the folk songs to promote
environmental protection. The transfer of this knowledge to the children was evaluated through
competitions.
- The centre conducted a workshop on Strategies for Strengthening Environmental Education in
Andhra Pradesh for the Andhra Pradesh State Council for Education, Research and Training
(APSCERT). The special feature of this workshop was the training in the use of the Internet and
computer for design and presentation of environmental education material.
- The Centre s video van travelled around villages and schools in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and
Tamilnadu, including the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, to create environment awareness among the
general public and the school students.
- Audio-visual programmes on the protection of sacred groves and their role in the conservation of
local Biodiversity were conducted for teachers and school students living around the sacred grove
sites. Seedlings were distributed to schools around the sacred grove sites of the Centre where a series
of Kattaikkoothu folk programmes were conducted.
- Training programmes on biodiversity conservation education at zoos and wildlife sanctuaries in
Kerala, Tamilnadu and Pondicherry were conducted by the Cente.
- Twelve villages for eco development through women were taken up by the Centre. Under this
programme, the women were trained in identifying their local environmental problems and its
possible solutions.
- Conservation of the ecologically fragile biosphere reserves of the Nilgiris and the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands was the topic of the training programmes for NGOs, teachers, mahila mandals,
villagers and students in these areas, to enable them to take up eco-restoration programmes.
- The gene pool of medicinal plants established by the Centre, in collaboration with the Hill area
Development Programme (HADP) and local villagers at thambatti in the Nilgiris, is being maintained
with 136 plant species. The Centre has also helped other NGOs, colleges and schools to set up similar
herbal gardens.
- In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, conducted environment education workshops for teachers and
environmental awareness-raising programme for mahila mandals, villagers and school children.
- Two major exhibitions- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle from October 10th to November 2nd, 1998 and
Colour Environment and Health from January 23rd to February 13th, 1999 were organised at
Chennai. During the exhibition on Reduce, Reuse, Recycle , a unique competition on Wealth from
Waste (craft from waste) was conducted for students.
- As part of the exhibition, Colour Environment and Health , a week-long workshop on the use of
natural colours and a painting competition using natural colours conducted for the students.
- An exhibition on Pollution and Health was organized during the Flower Show and Fruit Show at
Udhagamandalam and Coonoor respectively in May 1998 and at Port Blair during the Island Tourism
Festival in December 1998.
- Participated in the AGRASAR ( Achievement of Science and Technology since Independence and
Vision for the Furture ) organised at New Delhi to commemorate 50 years of the country s
Independence at the India Gate, New Delhi from August 3rd to 16th, 1998.
- Also put up exhibitions on Pollution and Health , Biodiversity and Medicinal Plants at several
places for the benefit of school children and the general public.
- The Centre brought out various publications during the year.
- Air, Water, noise and soil surveys were conducted in Chennai, Udhagamandalam, Hyderabad, and
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary. The Centre analyzed the Waters of the Adyar river for pollution and
the ground water of North and South Chennai for saline intrusion.
- Water and soil testing kits developed by the Centre were distributed to NGOs and schools. A special
programme was organized to distribute 250 water testing kits to Corporation Schools in Chennai city
accompanied by training programmes for the teachers on Water Quality Monitoring. The Centre also
distributed 150 water testing kits and 450 soil testing kits under the scheme of Environmental
Orientation to School Education of the MHRD.
Index
Seminars/Workshop Organised
- "Problems in Enforcement of Environmental laws for enforcement agencies, the judiciary, executive
and citizen s groups in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
- Colour Environment and Health in connection with the exhibition of the same title.
- Women and the Environment at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Soil and Water Conservation at Udhagamandalam, Nilgiris.
- Sacred Tanks of South India at Chennai.
Index
Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Banglore
The CES established as a Centre of Excellence by the Ministry continued its tradition of combining
basic Ecological Research, applied environmental problems and extension program, with particular
reference to the Western Ghats. During the year, CES carried out 21 projects in the broad areas of
biodiversity of India, ecology & conservation biology, animal behaviour, mathematical ecology &
evolution, conservation genetics and molecular ecology, climate variability, change in environment
and human ecology, eco-development, energy & environment.
Major works carried out during the year are as follows :
Index
Measuring Diversity Macrolichens: A Case Study From Garhwal Himalaya
13 families with 15 genera and 85 species belonging to 3211 colonies of macrolichens were recorded
in 12 transects of 50m X 10m sampled from a mosaic of macrohabitats along the altitude gradient of
1300m - 3700m in Chopta-Tunganath (~500 sq. km.) of Garhwal Himalaya. Woody microhabitats
turned out richer than the rock and soil substrates for the species of macrolichens. Amongst the
macrohabitats, middle altitude (2500-2800m) Quercus forest was richest followed with high altitude
(2900-3200m) Rhododendron-Pine forest, higher altitude grasslands (3300-3700m) and then the
lower elevation (1500m) Quercus forest for the species and genera. Species, genus and family level,
alpha and beta diversities were found significantly positively correlated. It is suggest that higher
taxonomic ranks such as genera and families may be used as surrogates for the cost-time effective
long-term periodic monitoring and assessment of species diversity of macrolichens.
Index
Modelling Impact of Monsoon Variability on Rainfeed Groundnut
Variability of climate and particularly rainfall has a large direct impact on the growth, development
and yield of rainfed groundnut. There is also an indirect impact via triggering of pests/diseases which
lead to a decrease in yield. A model which simulates reasonably realistically the total impact of
climate variability is required for tailoring the cropping patterns and management practices to the
climate variability of the region. This is being validated by collection of data from farmers fields on
management practices, soil moisture and plant parameters in the Kharif season of 1998.
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Vegetation Dynamics in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Research in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve continued with monitoring of vegetation change in
permanent plots set up at Mudumalai. For the second consecutive year there was no fire in the 50
hectare plot, with the result that sapling recruitment substantially exceeded overall mortality of the
plants for the first time since the plot was established in 1988. Common species such as
Lagerstroemia microcarpa, Tectona grandis and Cassia fistula recruited strongly, while several of the
rarer species too did well. Woody plant species diversity was broadly correlated positively with
rainfall but interestingly diversity of the low rainfall dry thorn forest was seen to be almost equal to
that of the moist deciduous forest. Dry deciduous forest had the lowest diversity.
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Elephant Population Dynamics
A model of elephant population dynamics was developed to simulate the relative role of natural
mortality and deaths due to ivory poaching in Southern India. The model was applied to the Periyar
elephant population for a 20-year period 1974-94. A collaborative study with Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology on the genetics of elephant populations showed that levels of genetic variation are
higher in the Northeastern Indian population as compared to Southern India.
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Land Availability and Biomass Production Potential in India
The availability of land for biomass, potential productivies and the cost of production of biomass are
critical issues in the assessment of biomass production of energy especially for a developing country
such as India., The population of India is expected to be 1.44 billion by the year 2030. Through
increase in cropping intensity, expanding irrigation areas, improved water management and fertilizer
application and high-yielding varities of crop, productivity can be increased without increase in
cropped area to meet the projected requirement of 267 Mt by 2030.
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Climate Change Mitigation in the Forestry Sectors of Developing Countries
Climate change could be mitigated through energy-efficiency and fossil fuel substitution options in
the energy sector and through management of forests of carbon conservation, expansion and fossil
fuel substitution in the forestry sector. Studies of these options in several developing countries have
estimated a significant potential for reducing future carbon emissions. These studies also show that a
sizable subset of the options identified for each country are cost-effective and produce benefits such
that they merit implementation even without regard for their carbon emissions-reduction benefits. A
review of studies on mitigation potential, cost and barriers are carried out.
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 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 are as follow areas.
- Carried out extensive investigations on the environmental and engineering characterisation of fly-
ash from various thermal power stations including possibilities of the bulk utilisation in reclamation,
etc. It was possible to grow wheat and paddy crops and vegetables like tomato, bryngal, etc. in the
beds having 50-50 soil and flyash.
- The development of paddy plants and their roots in various composition of soil and fly ash was
studied in a specially designed set-up. It was found that even 100% fly-ash supported the plants and
the growth of the parts was almost the same with 30 to 70% fly-ash. At West Bokaro colliery it was
possible to establish greenery over a fly-ash heap to minimise its air pollution potential. Before
planting Sisum and other plants a layer of about 15cm of soil was spread over the dump.
- The investigations on fly-ash of four different ages from FCI, Sindri revealed that pracctically the
age of the fly-ash had no affect on plant support and even the fresh ash had no affect on plant support
and even the fresh fly-ash was supporting the growth of plants in pots.
- For developing of model based on value-functions of the various societal parameters for assessing
the quality of life (QoL) of the mining complexes, house to house socio-economic survey was
conducted. So far a total of over 2,500 households have been surveyed in seven coal mining
complexes. Based on the data a methodology for assessing QoL has been developed by the Centre.
- Developed an EIA methodology for opencast mining projects suitable for Indian geomining
conditions.
- Environmental status in respect of air, water and soil quality and noise of two proposed mining states
namely, Kathara underground and Jhirki, was studied and report was presented to CMPDIL, Ranchi.
- Data base on noise status in coal mining complexes has been developed.
- Completed the investigations on the noise attenuation and dust arresting capacities of green belts in
mining complexes. The investigations revealed the following.
- Noise attenuation studies in various plantation sites of Jharia and Raniganj coalfields during winter,
summer and monsoon seasons were conducted and based on the study results, minimum width of
green belt has been suggested.
Index
Other Activities of CME
The CME continued to offer the regular 3 semester M. Tech programme for engineering graduates.
- Under a World Bank aided project of Coal India Limited (CIL) the Centre Develop training
modules and training material for environmental and non-environmental executives of CIL. In the
seven training programmes conducted more than 120 middle and senior level executives were
conducted more than 120 middle and senior level executives were trained. For the preparation of the
module and the training material detailed studies of the open cast mines were conducted.
- Conducted an environmental awareness of programme on 5th June 1998 in the staff colony of Indian
School of Mine by appraising the inhabitants of the colony about the Dos and DON t for improving
the environmental status of this colony. A pamphlet prepared in Hindi, Bengali and English was
distributed amongst the families living in the colony.
- Prepared the Project Implementation Plan of the Instructional Strengthening and Training
activities of the Mining Sector sub-component of the Environmental Management Capacity Building
Technical Assistance Project Ministry.
- During the year five candidates were awarded Ph.D. degree, two were awarded M. Tech. (by
research), and ten were awarded M. Tech. (Environmental Sciences & Engg.)
Index
Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), New Delhi.
The CEMDE functioning at the University of Delhi, South Campus successfully developed a mosaic
of grass land and Acacia woodland comprising of 50 grass species and 50 Wood species respectively.
A total of 50 microbes belonging to different functional groups have been used to promote eco-
system re-development.
During the year, the Centre has developed a Bio-Pesticides of microbial origin in controlling
Termites, infestation to combat major biotic stress for forest trees and crops particularly in semi-arid
regions. A bio-molecule (chemicles) from the roots of Leguminous plant has also been isolated and
purified. The Centre is in the process of filling a patent for this chemical compound which has also
clinical applications.
The Centre has also developed a simple, cost effective, low-input technology for the prevention of
dust blow as well as for the mobilisation of toxic elements. The technology involves the use of
consortium of microbes and fungi and lignocellulose waste.
Index
Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Thiruvananthapuram
The TBGRI has been designated as a Centre of Excellence by the Ministry for conservation and
sustainable utilisation of tropical plant diversity. During the year, the Centre has undertaken the
following activities :
- Upgradation of the Botanic Garden;
- Conservation and re-introduction of certain rare and endangered species;
- Initiation of work on economic evaluation of bio-diversity; and
- Agro-technology, production, development, training and extension activities with regard to medicinal
plants and development of irrigation facility for conservation plots.
Index
Environmental Information
Environmental Information System (ENVIS)
The ENVIS network at present consists of 25 nodes, known as ENVIS centers located throughout the
country on various subject specific areas and continued its activities in information collection,
collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination to its users during the year. The Focal Point of ENVIS
is located in the Ministry and co-ordinates the various activities of all the ENVIS Centres. A list of
ENVIS Centres along with their subject areas is given in Annexure-II. The Focal Point as well as its
networking partners laid emphasis on the development of its information base by creating
comprehensive databases and strengthening information resource repository in the concerned subject
areas. Major activities of the ENVIS Focal Point and its various centres during the year are as
follows:-
Index
Focal Point
- The focal point continued to publish the Paryavaran Abstracts , a quarterly journal, reporting
information on environmental research in Indian context. About 600 national and international
environment related journals are referred to for compilation of the relevant abstracts for inclusion in
the Paryavaran Abstracts . The abstracts are arranged under major categories like air pollution,
water pollution, noise pollution, environmental management, ecology, health and toxicology,
forestry, wildlife etc. A subject keyword index is given at the end of each issue of the abstract for
retrieval of precise information as and when required. The journal is circulated to about 3000 users.
The relevant database of Paryavaran Abstract has been developed and is being continously updated
for easy and quick retrieval and dissemination of relevant information as and when required.
- The ENVIS network during the year responded to a total number of 12,756 querries, of which 11,660
were national and 1096 were international. The break up of the number of queries processed by the
ENVIS network during the last five year is given in Figure_ . Efforts were 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 to pertain to Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Terrestrial,
Fresh water, Ocean and coastal areas, Environmental development, Human settlements, Agriculture,
Industry, Transportation, Energy, Chemical and biochemical process, Pollution and wastes, Human
health, Disaster, Monitoring and environmental data, Environmental law and institutions,
Environmental awareness and others.
- During the year, one new ENVIS centre in the field of electronic media and communication has
been set up at Centre for Media Studies (CMS), New Delhi as per recommendations of the Scientific
Advisory Committee of ENVIS.
- The Library in the Ministry 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 several books, documents,
journals, state-of-art reports etc. This was in addition to already existing 21000 books and 3000
scientific and technical reports. This library provides the document back up support to ENVIS in
disseminating substantive information for its querry answer service.
- During the year, since October 98, ENVIS has started publishing the Newsletter namely ENVIRO
NEWS on monthly basis in association with the ENVIS centre at Development Alternatives, New
Delhi with the main objective of disseminating information about the various important policies,
enactments of new legislations/rules, amendment of existing laws and rules, other important
notifications, new sanctioned projects and other important decisions taken by Ministry from time to
time to a wide cross section of the society including administrators, planners, scientists, students,
NGO s and the general public. The contents of the Newsletter could also be accessed through
INTERNET at the Ministry s Home Page. To ensure transparency in the happenings at the Ministry,
a Website has since been made operational at : http://www.nic.in/envfor and since Feb. 1999, the
position of all forest and environmental clearances has been put into the Website.
- Ministry s home page also contains at present the basic details about the organisational structure of
the Ministry, including the names, responsibilities, and functions of various divisions associated
offices, autonomous agencies, etc. 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 users to access a particular organisation of the Ministry directly.
- Detailed information about the ENVIS including the list of ENVIS Centres with their areas of
specialisation and complete addresses has also been provided in the Home Page. 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.
- The information on the Home Page of the Ministry is continuously updated by ENVIS focal point so
that up-to-date information regarding the Ministry is available in the Internet.
- During the year, the ENVIS focal point also coordinated the publication of the Annual Report (1997-
98) of the Ministry.
- ENVIS has been designated as the National Centre for the Sustainable Development Networking
Programme (SDNP) of UNDP. The SDNP is a three year programme and is funded jointly by UNDP
and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
- The SDNP Secretariat has started functioning in the Ministry during the year and the personnel
required to man the secretariat for performing the activities of SDNP have been recruited. SDNP
intends to establish a distributed clearing house of information on sustainable development by
involving government, academic, business and NGOs. It also aims to strengthen selected existing
ENVIS Centres and to identify new nodes for disseminating information on sustainable development.
A website for SDNP is being developed for accessing information in this regard by a wide cross-
section of users.
- ENVIS also continued to function as a National Focal Point (NFP) and a Regional Service Centre
(RSC) for South-Asia Sub-region countries for INFOTERRA Network, a global information network
of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
- As RSC of INFOTERRA, the ENVIS Network provided information to about 1096 queries received
from the Sub-region countries, namely, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Pakistan.
- ENVIS also continued its close liaison with various other National Information Systems in the
country like NISSAT, BTIS, etc. for exchange of environmental information and to avoid duplication
of efforts in the field of environment and its associated areas.
- ENVIS also associated itself in publishing various publications such as 125 Days as well as 300 Days
of New Government : New Programmes and Initiatives.
- During the year, ENVIS Focal Point also coordinated the organisation of the SAARC International
Conference on Establishment of a Networking Mechanism for information exchange to assist the
member countries for protection and preservation of the environment in New Delhi during 9-10
March, 1999.
Index
Number of queries responded by ENVIS network
Activities of the ENVIS Centres
During the year all the ENVIS centres continued their activities related to collection, collation,
storage, retrieval and dissemination of information on the subject areas allotted to them. Besides
strengthening the databases and responding to various national and international queries relating to
their subject areas, the ENVIS Centres carried out a variety of activities with the ultimate objective of
disseminating the relevant information to the user groups. Highlights of some of the activities of
these ENVIS Centres are given below :
- The ENVIS Centre in the Central Pollution Control Board continued to publish its quarterly
Newsletter PARIVESH and distributed to Schools, Universities, Educational Institutes, State
Pollution Control Boards etc. A total of 193 queries on various aspects of Pollution were responded
to with substantive information to the users by the Centre.
- The ENVIS Centre on Toxic Chemicals at Industrial Toxicology Research Centre(ITRC),
Lucknow continued to publish abstract of current literature in Toxicology and the ENVIS Newsletter
during the year. The Centre also developed several databases on toxic chemicals in order to provide
comprehensive information package on these chemicals. A total number of 84 queries were
responded to by the Centre during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Environmentally Sound Appropriate Technologies at Development
Alternatives, New Delhi continued its efforts in collection, collation, storage, and dissemmination of
information to its users during the year. The Centre also co-ordinated the publication of the monthly
Newsletter namely ENVIRO NEWS on behalf of the Ministry. A total number of 2716 queries were
responded to by the Centre and substantive information was provided to the users.
- Database development in the specific subject area on Biogradation of Wastes and Environmental
Impact Assesment was continued by the ENVIS Centre functioning at the Centre for Enviromental
Studies, Anna University, Chennai. The Databases include entries of more than 6700 papers on the
two subject areas alloted to the Centre. Apart from publishing the ENVIS Newsletter in the subject
area, the centre also published environmental abstracts, current literature, monographs etc and
responded to a total number of 330 queries during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Energy and Environment functioning at the Tata Energy Research Institute,
New Delhi continued to publish TERI Information Monitor on Environmental Science (TIMES)
reporting survey of current literature review articles, bibliographies etc. as well as research and
development on various environmental areas arising out of energy production, conservation,
transportation and other related areas. The Centre updated its bibliographic database by adding about
2800 references on various subjects related to renewable energy and environment activities. The
ENVIS Centre has been put on the TERI Website and could be accessed directly by the user
concerned. During the year, a total number of 397 queries were responded to by the Centre.
- The ENVIS Centre on Western Ghats and Biological Diversity at the Centre for Ecological
Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore continued to expand and automate the databases on
the subject area alloted to it. The comprehensive database of the Centre has been downloaded in the
Website of the Indian Institute of Science and could be accessed by all users directly for getting
desired information.
- The ENVIS Centre at WWF, India, New Delhi developed a comprehensive database on various
NGOs working in the field of environment in India. The Centre has also published a Directory on
Environment Cases which were taken up in the various courts of law in India during 1997-98. The
Centre has developed a database on Environment in the Indian Parliament and responded to 3352
queries on various environment matters during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre at EPCO which focuses on Environmental Management related to the State of
Madhya Pradesh continued with its regular activities relating to databases development of the State
of Environment document relating to Madhya Pradesh, creation of environmental awareness etc. The
Centre also continued to publish EPCO News and responded to 2751 queries during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre at the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad in the
subject area of Occupational Health continued to publish its quarterly publication namely
Environmental Information to disseminate data and information to various users on several aspects
of Occupational Health. The Centre also continued to provide material for inclusion in the
Paryavaran Abstract on Environmental Pollution and Occupational Health. A total number of 188
queries were responded to by the ENVIS Centre at NIOH during the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Desertification functioning at Central Arid Zone Research Institute
(CAZRI), Jodhpur continued its activities in information collection, storage, retrieval and
dissemination on desertification. A comprehensive database on desertification and soil sciences
designed and developed by the Centre is being updated regularly. The ENVIS Newsletter, namely,
DEN NEWS was continued to be published by the Centre during the year. A total number of 370
queries were responded to by the Centre with substantive information during the year. The Centre
also continued to provide full text of papers of research articles published by the Scientists on
desertification and its control for inclusion in the Paryavaran Abstract, publishes by ENVIS.
- The ENVIS Centre on Mangroves, Coral reefs, Estuaries and Lagoons at Centre of Advanced Studies
in Marine Biology, Annamalai University continued its several activities such as information,
collection and dissemination, publication of Status Reports, development of databases etc., in the
assigned subject area. The Centre has also built up a good information base in the form of
publications, reports, reprints, bibliographies, posters etc in the areas assigned to it. During the year,
the Centre published state of art reports on Estuaries, Mangroves, Coral reefs and Lagoons. Several
databases namely CAS Library database, Meterological Database, Reef database and Fish database
have been developed by the Centre. A total number of 324 queries were responded to by the Centre
during the year out of which 316 were national and 8 international.
- The ENVIS Centre on Environment Education located at the Centre for Environment Education,
Ahmedabad continued its activities to help environmental educators to develop locale specific EE
Programmes and materials based on the data available in the EE Bank. A Computerised database of
environmental concepts, activities and Case studies has been developed by the Centre. The Centre
also continued to publish its ENVIS Newsletter NEWS EE during the year and responded to 238
queries out of which 211 were national and 27 international.
- The ENVIS Centre on Faunal Bio- diversity functioning at the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta
continued to collect, collate and disseminate data on faunal resources of the country. The Centre also
published a special monograph entitled Faunal Diversity in India which provides updated
information on Biological Diversity of almost all animal groups available in the country. In addition,
the Centre also developed a comprehensive database on the status of Kiang (Tibetian Wild Ass) in
Ladakh and animal diversity of the Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve. During the year, the Centre
responded to a total number of 40 queries relating to its subject area.
- The ENVIS Centre on Environmental Problems of Mining at the Centre of Mining Environment,
Dhanbad compiled two monographs on the subjects namely land subsidence due to fluid and gas
withdrawal and impacts of opencast and underground mining on forest land during the year. The
Centre also continued to publish its quarterly news letter MINENVIS during the year. A total
number of 71 national queries were responded to by the Centre during the year on mining and its
allied areas.
- The ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology at G. B. Pant Institute on Himalayan Environment and
development, Almora published selected abstracts containing abstracts/articles/technical reports
collected from the Universities/Research Stations etc covering 12 Himalayan States in India. During
the year, the Centre also developed the district database containing demographic profile of 77
Himalayan districts in India. The Bibliography services to the Scientists working in the Himalaya
were also provided by the Centre during the year. A total number of 166 queries were responded to
by Centre during the 1998-99 out of which 144 were national and 19 international.
- The ENVIS Centre on Human Settlements functioning at the Centre for Environmental Studies,
School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi brought out two ENVIS journals, laying
special emphasis on :
- Jhansi-Study of Urban future and
- Air Pollution System and Modelling for Environmental Planning.
- Besides, the monthly Newsletter providing the updated news flash and seminars, in the concerned
subject area was also published by the Centre during the year. In addition, the databases being
developed by the Centre are :-
- Databases on Metro Cities of India.
- Databases on towns in India since 1957 to 1991 on demographic issue and aerial change.
- National Capital Region- towns, environmental factors, pollution status etc.
- A total number of 205 queries in the concerned subject area was responded to by the Centre during
the year.
- The ENVIS Centre on Biogeochemistry and Environmental Law located in the school of
Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi has so far loaded about 20,000
references in the computer on the allocated subject area. During the year, the Centre organised an
International workshop on Environmental Biogeochemistry and published a pre-workshop of
volume containing 34 technical papers in the related field. The Centre is also in the process of
developing on line database and continued to publish its Newsletter during the year. A total
numbers of 277 queries were responded to by the Centre during 1998-99.
- The ENVIS Centre on Floral Bio-diversity located at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Calcutta
developed databases on Indian Coastal Plant Diversity, Mangroves, Godavari-Krishna Delta, Plant
Diversity of the lake Chilka, Floristic Diversity of NE region and plant diversity of the Tiger
Reserves of India etc. Apart from the ENVIS Newsletter, the Centre also published several technical
papers in its assigned subject area during the year 1998-99. A total number of 202 queries were
responded to by the Centre, out of which 180 were national and 22 were of international nature.
- A National seminar on Conservation of Eastern Ghats was organised by ENVIS Centre on Eastern
Ghats located at Environment Protection Training Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad during
the year. Apart from publishing the ENVIS Newsletter the Centre also responded to a total number
of 126 queries in Eastern Ghats Ecology during the year and provided substantive information to the
users.
- The ENVIS Centre on Avian Ecology and Inland Wetlands located at Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), Mumbai published several publications namely compilation of Vernacular names of
Birds of the Indian sub-continent, selected standardised list of English names of the Birds in the
Indian Sub-continent, Indexing of wetland related major papers in the Journals of BNHS etc. The
Centre also developed database in the field of Avian Ecology and Inland Wetlands from which
information on several key parameters could be retrieved. During the year, the Centre responded to a
total number of 136 queries in its alloted subject area.
- The ENVIS Centre on Forestry located at Forest Research Institure (FRI), Dehradun is in the
process of developing several databases on Forestry and its associated disciplines. During the year,
the Centre responded to several queries and provided substantive information to its users.
- The ENVIS Centre on Panchayati Raj and Environment continued to publish Newsletter viz.,
Panchayat both in English and Hindi during the year. The Centre also published several materials
including posters, leaflets etc., for the Panchayats for wide dissemination of information on
Environment and its related issues to Panchayats. During the year, the Centre also responded to a
number of queries in the subject of Environment and its associated fields to various NGOs and
Panchayati members in the Northern States.
- In order to disseminate focused information on Wildlife and protected areas , the ENVIS Centre at
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun brought out the ENVIS bulletin on Conservation Status
of elephants in India . To commemerate 1998 as the International year of the Tiger, the Centre also
published the second bulletin on Small Cats of India during the year. The Centre s activities are
also available on line at the WII s Website so that the users could access the desired information
directly. During the year, the Centre also responded to a total number of 93 queries in its allotted
subject area.
- An ENVIS Centre on Communication and Electronic Media was set up at the Centre for Media
Studies (CMS), New Delhi. Efforts are being initiated by the Centre to develop various databases on
Electronic Media and to publish Newletter in the allocated subject for wide dissemination of
information to the concerned users.
Index