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Documentation
of Maritime Monuments
Documented 400 maritime sites along the coast of Gujarat with over 1000
photographs. These include forts, lighthouses, jetties, remnants of
some custom houses, and several sacred monuments like temples, mosques,
dargahs, churches, derasars and agiaries; schools and libraries, havelis,
palaces, inscriptions and cemeteries.
In
collaboration with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural
Heritage), documented sites along the coastline of West Bengal, Orissa
and Tamil Nadu.This has been expanded to include Kerala and Karnataka
in 2008.
The Foundation aims to record the entire coast of India classifying
sites by condition and extent of preservation work required. The document
will be most useful for state governments and local agencies.
Conservation
Education Project, Mumbai, 2006-2007
- Assisted an environmental educational organisation, Srushtidnyan,
to initiate and create awareness about conserving the wetlands and
mangroves of Bombay in 30 Marathi speaking schools.
- Project Samudramanthan, Mumbai, 2007-2008 Supported Srushtidnyan,
to develop
a
training manual on conservation issues in the marine and coastal ecosystems
of Mumbai. The manual will be used to train teachers, BMC corporators,
MLA's, MP's, environmental groups and NGO's to spread awareness amongst
different target groups and provide solutions at a state and national
level.
World
Wetlands Day celebration organised by TERI
Supported the World Wetlands Day celebrations on February 2nd, 2008
organised by The Energy And Resource Institute (TERI). The event created
awareness amongst students on the need to preserve the wetlands as they
provide natural buffers against calamities.
The programme included nature walks in Navi Mumbai, followed by a well-researched
presentation. A poster competition titled "Save the Wetlands"
and a quiz competition followed.
Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Orissa and Maharashtra
Rushikulya
Sea Turtle Conservation Project, Orissa
Established "The Vasant J Sheth Interpretation Centre" in
2004 at Rushikulya in Orissa, India's largest Olive Ridley turtle
rookery.
Interactive educational panels and audiovisual material on sea turtles
in English and Hindi provide excellent information on mating, nesting
and hatching behaviour of the turtles. The Interpretation Centre is
popular with many researchers, scientists, students, and tourists.
Maharashtra
Sea Turtle Conservation Project
Supported a second turtle conservation programme on the west coast,
run by Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra (SNM), an NGO based in Chiplun (Maharashtra)
actively involved in protecting the sea turtles and their nests. Through
the involvement of villagers, 36 nests were protected and 1624 hatchlings
released in the year 2005-2006.
Restoration
of the MbPt Storm Signal at Girgaum Chowpatty, Mumbai
As a part of its on-going restoration and beautification drive of the
MbPt Storm Signal at Girgaum, Chowpatty, the area has been beautifully
restored by the Foundation with a panoramic steel plaque illustrating
the city's skyline and history.
Capacity
Building Programme for Indian Coast Guard (BNHS - Gujarat, Andaman Islands
and Lakshdweep Island)
In 2004, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) with support from
the Foundation launched a programme for the Indian Coast Guard to raise
awareness about endangered marine species like dugong, whale shark,
giant clam and coral reefs. Workshops were held at Port Blair (Andaman
Islands), Porbandar (Gujarat) and Kutch (Gujarat) and in Lakshadweep.
One hundred and twenty officers were trained. As part of the project,
a short documentary has been done on the Gulf of Kutch.
Conservation
Education Van (BNHS, Mumbai)
In 2002, donated a custom designed Conservation Education Van to the
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), equipped with educational aids,
posters, projectors and a screen. The van travels extensively to rural
and coastal schools and communities, spreading the message of conservation.
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