Human Effects On Environment
Hypothesis :->
IIIT Madras is a residential institute that occupies
a 2.5 km² campus that was formerly part of the adjoining Guindy
National Park. The institute has nearly 550 faculty, 8,000 students and 1,250
administrative and supporting staff. Growing ever since it obtained
its charter from the Indian Parliament in 1961, much of the campus is
a protected forest, carved out of the Guindy National Park, home to large
numbers of chital (spotted deer), black buck, monkeys, and
other rare wildlife. A natural lake, deepened in 1988 and 2003, drains most of
its rainwater.
Vegetation in iit madras :->
vIt
is apparent that the original vegetation of the campus was of the southern
thorn forest type. This forest type is dominated by the thorn and cactus like
plants that produced milky latex.
vStructurally
these forests were patchy with grasses and herbs dominating the land that was
adorned with widely spaced thickets. The predominance of ficus trees indicates
that campus had a long history of human impact. This forest type is dominated
by the thorn and cactus like plants that produced milky latex.
vThe
size of other common trees suggests that the transformation from the original
to the present vegetation type has taken place in the last 50 and 100 years.
Wildlife in iit madras :->
- vFifty species within a small area as IIT-M is comparatively much higher than the 64 species known in the entire British Isles ! A number of species of plants that occur on the Campus (including the garden plants) are food plants for the larvae of butterflies.
- vMany like Pavetta indica attract adult butterflies. Notable butterfly species of the campus include the spectacular Common Banded Peacock, Great Orange Tip, Common Jay, Common Bluebottle, Crimson Rose, etc. Frogs, toads, lizards, snakes and tortoises /turtles are also diverse.
- vThere are a number of pools where the frogs are breeding (a very healthy sign indeed). That the Fan-throated Lizard (see photo) continues to survive on the Campus is also remarkable.
- vFifty-one species of birds on the Campus suggests that the habitats are not quite suitable for the feathered animals. Even if the migratory and stray visitors are included, the list is not likely to go beyond 80 species. Many species of birds like the Redvented Bulbul, Black Drongo, Common Iora, etc., are in alarmingly low numbers.
- vThere are between 130 and 150 Macaques at present that move around the human dominated zones of the Campus in troupes of 10-15 animals. Their ability to adapt to (and exploit) the available habitat and carelessly disposed food will further increase their numbers leading to serious conflicts with people and other species of animals on the Campus.
- Unlike the Macaque, the Chital spends more time within the Wilderness Zone. The critically endangered Blackbuck has a population size of 12 (4 males and 8 females). The biggest hindrance to its continued survival is the rapid loss of habitat - open scrub and grasslands.
Prakriti (wildlife
club) :->
Prakriti, the Wildlife Club of IIT Madras, Was founded in April 2002 by
a group of wildlife enthusiasts comprising of students, faculty, staff,
residents and alumni of IIT Madras. The formation of the club was spurred by a
growing recognition of the need to protect the unique biodiversity of the IIT
Madras campus. The IIT Madras Campus was carved out of a natural forest that
formed part of the Guindy National Park. The Guindy National Park and IIT
Campus come under Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest type - the least common
vegetation type seen in India. The campus can be considered as an ideal example
for the co-existence various types of mini-ecosystems. The main inhabitants of
these ecosystems are the blackbuck, spotted deer, jackals, mongooses, monkeys,
squirrels, toddy cats, wild cats, various types of reptiles, a plethora of
insects including about 40 different species of butterflies and about 100
species of birds. IITM campus also hosts large groups of migratory birds and
butterflies every year. People can approach the club members for any
emergencies or issues related to the wild life of the campus.
Wild life help-lines
:->
1.
When
hit by a
vehicle :
Do not go near and make the animal
panic unless you know some first aid. Call the Veterinary Doctor (Dr.
Kribakaran is a vet who comes on the spot and examines/treats the animal. He is
also an expert on treatment of wild animals). Please do not try to transport
the animal unless the doctor says so. Most of the wild animals like deer and
black buck can die due to shock while transporting as well as mishandling of
the injured animal. If the doctor is not available, call the Blue Cross Try to
discourage formation of crowd around the affected animal Injure deer should not
be kept on cement/smooth floor since they can break their legs while trying to
get up and slipping (It is difficult for animals with hooves to balance on
smooth surfaces).
Emergency numbers :
Dr. Kribakaran : 24471743 (you will also have to pay the doctor's bill or call
one of the following IIT numbers and inform and has to be around when the
doctor arrives to guide him to the injured animal)
Blue Cross Ambulance : 22354959
Prakriti members: 4172 or 6172 or 6419 or 4169 or 6169 or mobile: 9884278466
2.
Animal death :
Inform the Wildlife Department. Inform
the Security Office, IITM.
Emergency numbers
:
22301328 (Range Officer, Guindy National Park)
24321471 (Wildlife Warden)
8280 (Security Duty Officer)
3.
Prevention
of cruelty towards
animals :
Please do not interfere if you notice two
animals (of the same species, like two male deer or two male blackbuck or two
male monkeys, snakes etc.) fighting. It is natural. They are trying to
establish territory by doing this. Similarly, the male Spotted deer sheds its
antlers (these are not horns) every year. Do not panic when you see the exposed
skin and little bleeding, after the antlers fall off. This will look as if
someone has cut it. In comparison with deer, the male blackbuck has permanant
horns. They will not fall off. If you see anyone throwing stones or using
catapults at animals/birds, or trying to catch them or putting traps/snares
etc. in the campus or ill-treating animals, inform the Security office or the
wildlife officers. You may also contact Prakriti volunteers if you need help.
Emergency numbers
:
8280 (Duty room), CSO (8262 or 9262) or Prakriti members (4172/6172, 6419,
4169/6169).
Work-plan and
methodology :->
Our plan was to collect as many photos
as possible, conduct surveys in the campus, observe the natural beauty inside
the campus, conduct an investigation in the heritage centre, enquire about
garbage disposal and other queries in the owzone garbage duct. Fortunately, we
managed to complete the whole plan. On the first two days we went to the
residential zone to conduct surveys. Then we went for a nature walk and
collected many pictures. Then we went to the heritage centre and observed the
nature through photographs and posters. Atlas we went to the owzone garbage
duct and had a conversation among the staffs and also got to know about the
garbage disposal and its machinery.
How can
we protect species
in our campus
` •Maintain their habitat area
as open grasslands and avoid planting more trees in this area. Trees will not
allow grass and herbs to grow, on which the blackbuck survive. Details of the
blackbuck habitat area are shown on the campus map.
•
Avoid construction and
concreting, especially in the blackbuck habitat area. This is increasingly
reducing the food availability of these animals. This area is heavily built up
(about 25% including concreted and paved surfaces) and fragmented due to
buildings coming up in key habitat zones dividing them and making them not
accessible to animals.
•
Protecting trees alone will not help humans as
well as other animals who feed on the ground. A habitat is healthy due to
various species that exist there in harmony. Protect bio-diversity by
protecting the native wild plants and trees
•
Refrain from creating
fences on campus. Take pro-active steps to remove fences around your buildings.
This will increase the habitat area for animals
•
Drive carefully and slowly
in the campus. There have been many cases where Blackbuck and Spotted deer were
killed by vehicles. Instruct drivers if you are using taxi/auto etc.
•
Do not throw cooked food remains in open bins
as this encourages stray dogs.
•
Avoid creating lawns and
return the existing lawns back to nature to recover native species.
In order
to improve the quality
of habitats (with the Blackbuck in view
as the Flagship)
and restore at least some
areas into the original vegetation type, the
following steps have to be adopted :
• Systematically weed the open spaces in the
Campus of invasive plants such as Prosopis juliflora (saplings), Cassia
siamea (saplings), Cassia javanica (saplings), Cereus peruvianus,
Antigonon leptopus and Croton bonplandianus.
• Remove all Prosopis juliflora trees and
the cactus (Cereus peruvianus) from grids A16-G16, H17, K12 and K13 and
restore the habitat using native grasses, bamboo and shrubs.
• Protect the Lake and swamps by planting bamboo
along the periphery.
This
will particularly help in minimizing the pressure on the Lake from
people
living in areas adjoining the Campus.
•
The
space between the newly constructed Boy's Hostel and the Student's Activity
Centre (Hostel Zone; grid no L15-M15) that has been cleared and reclaimed
should not be planted with trees or lawn grass. Instead the empty space should
be restored using a combination of native grasses and bamboo.
•
Over-shading by excessive tree growth has been
the bane of IIT-M. Curtail the planting of trees on the Campus. Native grasses
should be allowed to take-over all open spaces. There are at least 29 species
of native grasses on the Campus that can be used for the purpose.
Waste
disposal (ozwone grean plant):->
COLLECTION
OF GARBAGE FROM THIS SOURCE ITS DISPOSAL METHOD :
1. Two
plastic buckets were given to each flats. One green bucket used for
bio-degradable waste. The segregation of the garbage starts from the individual
house.
2.
Garbages were collected in two separate big plastic dust bin used for
bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste by the zero waste zone workers (on
contract basis) daily in the morning from the residences using tricycle.
3. The
collected garbages are taken to the segregation yard.
SEGREGATION
OF COLLECTED GARBAGES :
1. The
IIT Madras campus has been divided into three zones named residential zone,
academic zone and Hostel Zone.
2. The
solid waste management deals with the efficient disposal of sewage, drainage
water and the garbages.
3. The
collected garbages from all the zones were taken to the segregation yard for
further segregation.
4. The
garbages were segregated a usable and non-usable item
5. The
usable items like glass bottles, papers, bags, card board, plastic bottles,
polythene covers, pet bottles etc. were separated and given for resale.
Observation :->
1.
By
visiting the heritage centre we observed many species of plants, birds,
animals, butterflies, toads etc. we could also observe the natural beauty of
the campus and its ecology.
2.
By taking surveys, we got to know the opinions
of the residents of iit campus and their disposal methods.
3.
By
visiting the ozwone garbage duct, we learnt about garage disposal, recycling
and other queries. We could also obtain that the food remains of the campus is
converted into organic manure.
4.
The
residents segregate their household garbage into 3 bins – recyclable, non-
recyclable and other materials like sanitary napkins.
5.
A wild life
organization called prakriti is incharge of the wildlife and its security. It’s
also an adjoining part of guindy national park.
Conclusion :->
We
successfully, completed our investigatory on time with our satisfaction. We
learnt and discovered new things. We also understood that we should always know
about our environment, its components and its conservation. So we salute the
people who care for our environment and take its responsibility.
Acknowledgement :->
We
sincerely thank our science teacher, Mrs. Nandhini mam, for giving us the
opportunity to carry out the study, observation and learning of new knowledge
inside the campus and for the overall encouragement. We also wish to place on
record our appreciation of the cooperation and services extended by the owzone
staff members, heritage centre staffs and the residents who have helped us a
lot. Our sincere thanks are indeed due to the principal and baghyalakshmi mam,
who helped us to visit the heritage centre. We also wish to thank our parents, for
cooperating and letting us do the project even during holidays.
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