Plant Propagation Details for Nurseries - Pranjal Nursery
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.
Plant Propagation Data for Forest Department
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.
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.
Sahyadri : Inputs given for WGEEP Sahyadri
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 scale 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.
Research Article : Planning and Managing Hill Stations in the Northern Western Ghats
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.
Research Article : Management of Forests in the Northern Western Ghats
Changes in Ecological Landscape Pattern and Land Use in 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.
Research Article : Restoration Templates for Sahyadri (Northern Western Ghats)
Impacts of Windfarm Development Activities on Rocky 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
Sahyadri : The Northern Western Ghat
The northern western ghats have always been traversed widely for our various projects. It’s biodiversity, fragility, and landscapes are special. Conservation must be the priority here rather than promoting any kind of development. Our team have been traveling extensively in Sahyadri since 2001 & have developed a thorough understanding of the ownership dynamics & current developmental trends. With this understanding, we have been writing & compiling about various aspects of Sahyadri.
Projects > Research & Development
We have always recognized the importance of conducting research, gathering available data, and applying it when developing conservation strategies. Often, this support is extended to other organizations or government departments, or it is carried out as a research project by our in-house team.
Here are some initiatives that our team undertook simultaneously, either as contributions to science or to gain a deeper understanding for some of our own projects.