Research & Documentation

Apart from the core work of land based nature conservation, we have been looking for various research opportunities that will strengthen larger vision of our work. Such documentation will help researchers as well as common people understand various aspects of conservation. We were fortunate to work on a variety of subjects

Oikos Volunteer Program
If you wish to contribute your skills, time, efforts to support positive conservation actions,be a part of our 'OIKOS volunteer program'. Do fill registration form to enrol.
Mammal Movement Mapping project by OIKOS & Adhiwas : Here is an opportunity to volunteer in biodiversity documentation in Sahyadri, the Western Ghats. Volunteer for a weekend with us!
Tasks includes survey, taking notes, understanding tracks and signs, setting camera traps, photo documentation, interaction with villagers. Just be prepared for long treks in the rugged topography.
Sahyadri is a biodiversity hotspot, with a fragile ecosystem and forests with special biodiversity. Its high time we need to do conservation and restoration of these natural habitats. Oikos team have been working in these areas since 2002 and wish to continue the work at landscape level.
Fill up the registration form and we will get back to you. In case of any query please contact the program coordinator Isha on 9176632813
*Lodging & boarding will be organized by Oikos. Travel by yourself. A team member of Oikos will be there throughout.

Plant propagation details for Nurseries
Promoting & propagating native plants have always been on the forefront at oikos. With an experience of propagating natives at our nursery since 2004, we got this opportunity to help Forest Department of Maharashtra, RET wing to prepare a data base of propagation techniques & details of 149 natives. It was published in the year 2016 and aimed at reaching all Forest nurseries to promote more n more natives for forest conservation. This will be useful for enthusiasts & nursery owners to propagate more n more natives ! We will keep strengthening this work.
Watch this space for new updates !!
Plant Propagation Data for FD
Propagation techniques of Native plants - SET 1

Sahyadri : The Northen Western Ghat 
The northern western ghats have always been traversed widely for our various projects. It’s biodiversity, fragility, landscapes are special. Conservation must be the priority here than promoting any kind of development. Our team have been traveling extensively in Sahyadri since 2001 & have developed thorough understanding of the ownership dynamics & current developmental trends. With this understanding, we have been writing & compiling about various aspects of Sahyadri.

An Overview Of Private Ownership, Commercial Development and it's impact on Ecosystem: A guideline was prepared for the WGEEP (Western Ghat Ecology Expert Panel) assessment work in 2011. It will help planners, policy makers to define land uses of large scaled projects.

Planning and Managing Hill Stations in the Northern Western Ghats: This article uses case studies of two such hill stations, which are also notified ESZ (Ecologically Sensitive Zone) in Maharashtra to evolve a ‘Planning and Management Strategy’ that could be useful as foundation for upcoming destinations to integrate the ecological perspective in the process of planning and development. The article was published in the Journal of Ecological Society, 2013-14, Volume 26, 27.

Management of Forests in the Northern Western Ghats: The article suggests landscape-based management strategies for conservation in the Northern Western Ghats, based on ecological role and potential of each land class. This can be achieved through various restoration techniques like soil water conservation, plantation, habitat development etc. The article was published in the Journal of Ecological Society, 2013-14, Volume 26, 27.

Changes in Ecological Landscape Pattern and Land Use from 1985 to 2014 in the Panshet Dam Catchment: A ground survey was conducted by Ecological Society, Pune in 1985 as well as in 2014 to assess current land use and status of biodiversity in the Panshet dam catchment situated in Sahyadri. This study probes to understand factors responsible for decline of biodiversity and changed land use. We highlight the extent and causes for change in land use. The article was published in the Journal of Ecological Society, 2015, Volume 28.

Restoration Templates for Sahyadri (Northern Western Ghats): Funded by a grant from Global Forest Watch, Ecological Society conducted an assessment of changes in land use and status of biodiversity in Panshet, in 2014-15. The Panshet dam catchment forms a part of Sahyadri and similar conditions are encountered elsewhere in the region. This study made an assessment of the potential for restoration in the catchment area. Based on this study and earlier studies by oikos for ecological services, we created templates which are intended to guide restoration process of degraded lands in Sahyadri. The templates are backed by the experience of actual implementation of restoration techniques on various land patches within Sahyadri during the last 30 years. Three templates are presented to guide the complete process of restoration. The article was published in the Journal of Ecological Society, 2016, Volume 29.

Impacts of Windfarm Development Activities on Rocky Plateaus, Chalkewadi-Patan plateaus
Our team has been observing this plateau complex since 2005 each month. An analysis of our observations & further work using google images resulted in a detailed account of current status and recommendations for conservation. Concluding result was a brief report & an article in Journal of Ecological Society.
Research Article : Impacts of Wind Farm Development Activities on Rocky Plateaus
Brief report : Impacts of Wind Farm Development Activities on Rocky Plateaus

Traditional wisdom
As a part of our project of ‘Documentation of Traditional Environmental Wisdom’ during 2015-16, we tried to cover entire Maharashtra, right from Kokan to Vidarbha. This included various landscapes including Sahyadri, plains of Central Maharshtra, Forests of Vidarbha and Coasts along Kokan. It was very really insightful to witness how people live their day to day life by using various elements from nature and landscape, without much dependancy on market. We have documented these practcies under various heads like Forest food, Agriculture, Storage, Hunting, House construction etc. in Marathi book 'Varasa' and a short film by the same name.
VARASA film
VARASA book

Note : For better experience, please read the book in full screen mode.

We look forward to feedback, inputs & observations that will keep enriching the knowledge.