Threat to Herpetofaunal diversity if Mahdei is diverted.

Herpetologist Nirmal Kulkarni has expressed concern and hopes that the Goa Government will seek for an EIA (environment impact assessment) on the forests of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary after its waters are diverted by Karnataka state to the Mahdei Water Tribunal as soon as it is appointed.
The area of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary that would be irrevocably affected would include the forests surrounding the village of Surla in Sattari taluka and the border forests of Chorla Ghats. These forests, according to Nirmal Kulkarni, are home to several endangered species of Herpetofauna that are data deficient and threatened due to habitat fragmentation and alteration.
Some of these lesser-known endemic species of snakes documented in the region till date include the Malabar Pit Viper (Trimeresurus malabaricus), Pied Belly Shieldtail snake( Melanophidium punctatum), Olive Forest Snake (Rhabdops olivaceus), Striped Coral Snake (Calliophis melanrus nigrescens) Beddome’s keelback (Amphiesma beddomei) and Montane Trinket snake amongst others.
Amongst lizards, the Draco of Flying Lizard (Draco dussumieri), goan day Gecko (Cnemaspis goaensis), Prashad’s Gecko ( Hemidactylus prashadi) and Banded Ground gecko ( Hemidactylus albofasciatus), all endemic and uncommon species are found in the area.
With regards to amphibians, the Beddome’s Indian frog (Indirana beddomei), Maharashtra Bush frog (Philautus bombayensis), Marbled Ramanella (Ramanella moromorata), Malabar Gliding frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) are some of the endemic species documented from the area
Some species like the Mahdei caecilian, described from this region are highly endemic and found only in this region till date. It is a species of legless amphibian of which very little is known of and needs special conservation measures. Besides which the Goan caecilian, another rare and recently described species has been reported in the forests that are part of this region.
It is an urgent need to assess the impacts of diversion of water to these forests of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary and its surrounding forests as these waters nurture and sustain this region of high endemism and create niche specialized habitats that are essential for the survival of these species of Herpetofauna.
A demand for an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) to study and gauge the impacts on wildlife of the sanctuary should be urgently placed as soon as the Mahdei Tribunal is formally announced with its committee of members.
Any form of alteration to the habitats, including loss of ground water and drying of streams and riverine vegetation due to change in course of water or restricted flow could spell disaster to the biodiversity of this region especially with regards to reptiles and amphibians as their life cycle and breeding biology depends on the rivulets and streams of the Mahdei river.
I appeal to the Goa Government to ensure that the course of the Mhadei rive that supports and sustains the forests of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary be protected and not allowed to be diverted under any circumstance as this will cause irreversible long term damage to the delicate ecology of the region.
A strong case to this case has to be made to the Mhadei Tribunal underlining the need for conservation of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary and its ensuring its water security as this is also directly related to the water security of the people of Sattari and Bicholim talukas of Goa state besides the forests of the Mahdei Wildlife sanctuary.

ECHO AWARDS PRESENTED TO GOAN NATURALISTS BY MIKE PANDEY

World-renowned Indian Wildlife Film maker Mr. Mike Pandey at a function in the city presented the 1st Echo Awards 09, instituted by ECHO-Environment Culture and Heritage Organization recently.
The awards have been constituted to boost the morale of Goans silently working in the field of wildlife and nature conservation and to recognize the contribution made by various individuals in this field. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gurudas Kamat, Convener of ECHO, emphasized the need of field conservation and introduced the awardees as well as the dignitaries present on the occasion including Mr. Mike Pandey and Mr. Rajendra Kerkar.
In his speech, Mr. Mike Pandey highlighted the need for the youth of our country to unite and address conservation related issues that concern us in our daily lives. He pointed out to various facts in nature that are integral to human survival and sustenance and lamented the manner in which we as a race were plundering natural resources without thinking of the future. By giving various examples including human elephant conflicts, climate change and flooding and the extinction of species, Mr. Mike Pandey pointed out the need to conserve our rivers and their ecosystems, particularly in the Western Ghats of India. He categorically pointed out that the rise in sea level would surely affect coastal states like Goa in India in the near future
Mr Rajendra Kerkar in his speech thanked Mr. Mike Pandey for making the time and effort to be present at the function despite a tight schedule and enlightened the gathering about the relationships between ‘Jal, Jungle and Jameen’. He stressed on the need for young Goans across the state to join hands to conserve the Mhadei River and its forests for the future generations of our state.
The awardees included Nirmal Kulkarni for the Best naturalist award for his work in wildlife research and conservation, Parag Rangnekar as Best Green Author for his book on ‘Butterflies of Goa’, Arnold Noronha for Best Upcoming Wildlife Photographer and Sadguru Patil for Best Wildlife reporter.
All awardees as well as those present got an opportunity to interact and converse with Mike Pandey on this occasion and this led to a series of discussion on issues that concern our state and its diversity.
The award ceremony was well attended by nature lovers and conservationists, media persons and members of ECHO Goa.World-renowned Indian Wildlife Film maker Mr. Mike Pandey at a function in the city presented the 1st Echo Awards 09, instituted by ECHO-Environment Culture and Heritage Organization recently.
The awards have been constituted to boost the morale of Goans silently working in the field of wildlife and nature conservation and to recognize the contribution made by various individuals in this field. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gurudas Kamat, Convener of ECHO, emphasized the need of field conservation and introduced the awardees as well as the dignitaries present on the occasion including Mr. Mike Pandey and Mr. Rajendra Kerkar.
In his speech, Mr. Mike Pandey highlighted the need for the youth of our country to unite and address conservation related issues that concern us in our daily lives. He pointed out to various facts in nature that are integral to human survival and sustenance and lamented the manner in which we as a race were plundering natural resources without thinking of the future. By giving various examples including human elephant conflicts, climate change and flooding and the extinction of species, Mr. Mike Pandey pointed out the need to conserve our rivers and their ecosystems, particularly in the Western Ghats of India. He categorically pointed out that the rise in sea level would surely affect coastal states like Goa in India in the near future
Mr Rajendra Kerkar in his speech thanked Mr. Mike Pandey for making the time and effort to be present at the function despite a tight schedule and enlightened the gathering about the relationships between ‘Jal, Jungle and Jameen’. He stressed on the need for young Goans across the state to join hands to conserve the Mhadei River and its forests for the future generations of our state.
The awardees included Nirmal Kulkarni for the Best naturalist award for his work in wildlife research and conservation, Parag Rangnekar as Best Green Author for his book on ‘Butterflies of Goa’, Arnold Noronha for Best Upcoming Wildlife Photographer and Sadguru Patil for Best Wildlife reporter.
All awardees as well as those present got an opportunity to interact and converse with Mike Pandey on this occasion and this led to a series of discussion on issues that concern our state and its diversity.
The award ceremony was well attended by nature lovers and conservationists, media persons and members of ECHO Goa.

Mission Green’s tips for a green Christmas:

Decorate a tree in your garden instead of an artificial one or a tree cutting placed indoors. Go
traditional. You can keep using garden trees for years.
If you haven’t bought one, invest in a potted one. Don’t buy a plastic tree, get a natural one instead that
you can keep indoors and reuse for a few years and then can be planted in a garden. If you do not have
space, you can gift it to someone who has a green space.
If you have an artificial one, use it and reuse every year. Please don’t throw it away, it’ll only add to the
pile in landfills.
Buy eco products, local crafts, books, saplings, abandoned kittens or puppies to gift your loved ones. Buy
gifts only if necessary, for example kids matter the most, older relatives and friends understand that
Christmas is not just about receiving gifts! Present gifts that are non material, like a trip to a wildlife
Sanctuary, membership to a local library, etc.
Wrap your gifts in cloth or old present papers or even news paper
How about solar powered Christmas string lights?
Avoid plastic, thermacol decorations as these are non biodegradable. Use eco friendly decorations made
from paper, bamboo and cloth.
Send e-cards and save paper. If you need to use cards, source those made by NGO’s, self help groups,
etc. Make your own cards too like a collage from old photos, news papers, recycled material, etc
Beeswax candles are so natural, use if required. Use instead of artificial lights.
Celebrate this Christmas in as ethical and non material way as possible. Family, friends and the
environment are more important. Enjoy in a way that benefits our world.
Get Christmas sweets made locally. Plan in advance so that your requirement is taken care of.
Please reduce on the use of fireworks this Christmas. Go for smoke less and less noisy ones. Encourage
your ward or housing colony to buy fireworks rather than each family buying in bulk. It also promotes
the idea of sharing and communal harmony.
Make cribs out of natural material like mud and grow grass naturally. Also use terracotta statues instead
of plastic ones. Even for professional cribs or competitions follow this practice. Avoid the use of nonbiodegradable
items. Support local crafts and potters.
Make sure that you or others in your area do not place any wild animals like pythons or civets in the
cribs to attract the attention of the crowd. If you come across this practice please contact us
immediately.
HAVE A MERRY GREEN CHRISTMAS!

Green Xmas

Jingle bells jingle bells
Jingle all the way,
Oh what fun it is to
Rejoice this Xmas in
A Green and natural way!
Earthworm Ecostore believes in celebrating festivals for the planet and its people…
We strive to bring to you products that are not only towards the sensitive to the environment but also support families that have little adding the value of your spirit of giving.
This year, adorn your breathing Christmas tree with beautifully created crochet decorations made by Earthworm in collaboration with Lacy Webs – a collective of under privileged women from Vasco. These delicate decorations are not designed to dumped after use and pay the women in the spirit of fair trade. We also have with us natural Beeswax Candles to light up your alter and your festivities!
Gifting exotic handmade and community supporting gifts is also an option you can explore at Earthworm which brings you products from across our country be it carved out pumpkin lamps, to our elephant dung stationary, to our earthen jewelry to sheep wool bags, to organic cotton tees. to palm crafted toys …to just name a few. You could even treat your Christmas tree with some vermin-compost available with us…
….With Earthworm, find new ways of giving!

Have a joyous Christmas and please! do reduce the packaging of your gifts.