National Forum Meeting in Sundarbans, West Bengal

Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) organised a national forum meeting for GNF partners under Global Nature Fund (GNF) – BMZ, Germany project in Sundarbans on 21.06.2022 to 24.06.2022.
List of Participants:

• CReNIEO, Chennai, India
• NEWS, West Bengal, India
• BEDS, Bangladesh
• SACIWATERs, Hyderabad, India.
• Dr. Ralph Drija, SAIME Project, GNF.

Dr. Vincent and Mr. Meerasa and 3 beneficiaries (Mr. Saravanan, Mrs. Mutha and Mrs. Jeyachitra) fromKulathumedu village represented CReNIEO.

Participants visited the pioneer ChaitalIMA farm site with all the representatives and NGOs, farmers and then had a small meeting with farmer groupabout the Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA) activities under the SAIME – GNF project. They reartiger prawns in their own land in an eco-friendly manner, which means all the ponds are connected by natural water bodies. The place is very suitable for agriculture as it is closely connected with the beneficiary’s village.

On the 2nd day, CReNIEO presented its current project activities and other previous project impacts/outcomes during National Forum of BMZ Coastal Project Meeting. Other partners also presented their project activities and prepared a plan for future projects and funding for project sustainability. GNF Project Manager, Dr. Thies Geertzparticipated in the meetingonline.

Aboat visit to Sundarban Tiger Reserve (STR) was scheduled, followed by a visit to the central mangrove nursery in Manmadhannagar. CReNIEO participantshad a fruitful meeting with the women’s group.The women are actively involved in mangrove nursery cultivation and mangrove monitoring, as both the sites are very close to the villages which is another advantage.

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the BMZ coastal project area and interact with the community about their interests in restoring mangroves in the Sundarbans.

Tangal

RESTORATION OF MANGROVES AT TANGAL, IN TAMIL NADU STATE, INDIA

Introduction

Identify the key problems and issues in the casestudy.

• Masonry work interruptions due to climate change
• Frequent closure Pulicat lake bar-mouthl due to low rainfall
• Cattle grazing

Formulate and include athesisstatement,summarizing the outcome of your analysis in one or two sentences.

• Our analysis to sustain the effort we need periodic on-site supervision, to see if there is any siltation in the EMR canals, relocate seedlings if they are growing in places where during summer they will be stranded without water in summer and keep doing small earth works on site, mend fences and have a small nursery. The costs are mainly on deploying dedicated supervisors on the scene, some small measures for fencing and deploying external workers to de-silt the canals.
• The conservation program for existing mangroves in all mangroves sites continues with the support of the local fishing community.
• Rhizophora mucronate saplings flourish with fast growth.
• The target groups were mangrove restoration villages of Thangal, EdaiyanKulam, Kulathumedu, Chenjiamman Nagar, Edamani, Kattur & Sengazhaneermedu was reached and they were involved in the mangrove restoration work and they also benefited through the livelihood programmes of goat rearing, toilet construction, fishing gears, cash crops and horticulture trees. These villages signed an agreement saying that the project is free to use their areas for mangrove restoration

Context

• Provide background information,relevant facts and the most important issues.
• Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this case study

Thangal Mangrove Site is one of our restoration sites in Pulicat. It is an excellent shrimps and crab fishing ground for the local fishing community, especially Nets fishing from traditional fishermen community, hand-picking women from the SC community and the ST community. The mangroves we have planted on this site are growing well. (totally near 15 village people have been benefiting)

• 2013 and 2014 there was a shortfall on rains. The EMR canals have to be frequently monitored at least twice a week as sedimentations could choke the canals and kill the plants. It would take a couple of more years for the canal banks to stabilize and the saplings to develop strong roots. In some places due to erosion saplings roots were exposed and we had to replant them or tie them to support sticks.
• In December 2015 the state of Tamil Nadu experienced massive floods with the most rainfall recorded in 100 years, some of the smaller plants planted remained under water for more than 2 weeks and they could not survive. The taller plats whose leaves where above the water levels survived. Hence in future we should think of rearing the saplings in the nursery for a longer period so that they are at least 2 to 3 feet in height
• One of the major problems of Pulicat Lake is the low performance / failure of the bar-mouth. Following public demand, the state government developed a new proposal for permanent pharmaceutics after scientific studies. They have since submitted their application to the Central Government for approval in 2019.
• Algae problem is very high during the monsoon period due to lack of water exchange. It was destroyed lot of small mangrove plants in all mangrove fields.

Alternatives

• Outline possible alternatives.
• Cotinine onsite supervision and monitoring by project staff up to five years after planting mangroves
• Proper fencing in must new growing mangroves
• Reviving existing mangroves through a network of canals (EMR) should be given priority. This would mean healthy mangroves will produce more speeds triggering natural regeneration of plants which will float through the network of canals and settle in appropriate place.

Explain why alternatives were rejected.

• Funding issues. After 2019 we don’t have fund for mangrove restoration project and monitoring work.
• One of the major problems of Pulicat Lake is the low performance / failure of the bar-mouth. Following public demand, the state government developed a new proposal for permanent pharmaceutics after scientific studies. They have since submitted their application to the Central Government for approval in 2019.

Proposed Solution

Provideone specific andrea listic solution.

• Any type of mangrove restoration project should be continued up to 10 ten years with sufficient fund, staff.
• And creating other alternative income generation programme for the local fisher communities in Pulicat Lake.
• Creating continue awareness to local community, govt staff and policy makers in state and central level.

Explain why this solution was chosen.

• this is common for all mangrove restoration project in over the world. But Pulicat is a different place from other site because of rich biodiversity. many village people have been fishing in this mangrove site at same time. So, we have to coordinating and monitoring all different community’s people.

Support the solution with solid evidence:

• Concepts from class(textreadings, discussions, lectures)
• Outsideresearch
• Pulicat, once a Dutch settlement, is situated in South India. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackishwater lake in India. It is located between 30° 26′ and 13° 43′ N latitude and 80° 03′ and 80° 18′ E longitudes lying almost parallel to the Bay of Bengal.
• Pulicat is a typical wetlandas per WWF and includes coastal brackish and saline lagoons and marshes supporting productivityandbiodiversity of appreciableassemblageofrare andvulnerablesubspeciesof terrestrial plant, animals andavifauna, rich flora and fauna of aquatic species. The water quality of the lake varies widely during summer, pre–monsoon, monsoon and post–monsoon seasons as the depth and width of the lake mouth varies causing a dynamic situation of mixing and circulation of waters leading to extensive  fluctuation  on salinity and dissolved oxygen (DO) at times affects the primary production, plankton, biodiversity and fisheries in this lake. Toxicity levels of heavy metals such as magnesium, lead, zinc, nickel, cadmium, aluminum and copper and chemicals such as ammonia, sulphate and fluoride in the lake are well within permissible limits. Recently, the lagoon experienced up to 40% desalination due to the impact of freshwater floods from the 2015 South India floods.
• Pulicat lake with its estuary is enriched with mangroves which are being restored by CReNIEO in association with Global Nature Fund (GNF). These mangroves serve as breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms including the commercially important fishes including shrimp, crab and molluscs and a varied bio diversity including aquatic and terrestrial fauna and flora influencing the economics of the area. About 1,20,000 people depend upon the lake and the near shore areas for their livelihood.
• In Kattur village which is a big village there is a large mangrove forest, but people were cutting the tree branches mainly for fencing. But the local administration intervened and now they have stopped cutting down the trees and instead use alternative trees.
• The project is of great relevance to the Pulicat region as the mangroves play an important role in breeding of fish, prawn and crabs and also purify the water, maintain salinity levels and also check soil erosion
• The natural ecosystem formed through mangrove plantation and the network of EMR canals linking with old sites serve as breeding ground for a variety of finfishes and shellfishes and also proliferation of planktons. This ecology thus supports sustainability in aquatic flora and fauna in the lake that in turn promote terrestrial biodiversity including avifauna, forest animals.
• The restoration through EMR canals impacted on natural regeneration (Avicenna marina) over all the mangroves sites.  EMR canals found suitable for successful in improving the hydrology in the region. This has helped the already planted mangroves andmangroves regeneration has improved very well an account of the moisture available during summer months. EMR canals serve for increase in fisheries (mud crabs, shrimps)

Recommendations

• Determine and discuss specific strategies for implementing the proposed solution.
• If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues.
• We have good relationship in Pulicat lake communities in last 38 years because of we have been working with these people in different ways. So, the local issues are not problems for us, howeverthere is a requirement for staff to monitor the site and people. Continuedfunding is important for mangrove restoration and protection of Pulicat lake biodiversity.

Senganimedu

RESTORATION OF MANGROVES AT SENGANIMEDU, TAMIL NADU STATE, INDIA

Introduction

Identify the key problems and issues in the casestudy.

• Masonry workinterruptions due to climate change impact
• Frequent closure of the Pulicat lake bar-mouth due to low rainfall
• Cattle grazing
• Pollution
• Human trouble (worms’ collectors from outsiders for commercial purpose)

Formulate and include athesisstatement,summarizing the outcome of your analysis in one or two sentences.

• Our analysis to sustain the effort we need periodic on-site supervision, to see if there is any siltation in the EMR canals, relocate seedlings if they are growing in places where during summer they will be stranded without water in summer and keep doing small earth works on site, mend fences and have a small nursery. The costs are mainly on deploying dedicated supervisors on the scene, some small measures for fencing and deploying external workers to de-silt the canals.

Context

Provide background information,relevant facts and the most important issues.
SENGANIMEDU

• Mangrove Site is one of our large restoration sites in Pulicat under Daimler- Mercedes Benz CSR project from 2014 – 2016 & 2017-2021. It is an excellent shrimps and crab fishing ground for the local fishing community, especially nets fishing from traditional fishermen community, hand-picking women from the SC community and the ST community. The mangroves we have planted on this site are growing well. (Nearly 2000 families from 20 village people have been benefiting)
• mangrove site has given business opportunity to generate seasonal (Oct. to Jan.) income Rs. 2,00,000 for local communities (for time regulated fishing) for encouraging mangrove restoration and protection. This is a traditional method being practiced regulating fisheries by the local community since kick-off the mangroves restoration project.
• The income earned by women by hand-picking of shrimps increased to Rs. 500 to 1000 per day due to the intervention on mangrove restoration.
• Also, income on crab fishing appreciated to Rs. 500 to 1000 per day.
•  The net fishing men earn Rs. 300 to 500 per day.
• The said impacts benefited 2000 families of MBC, SC & ST (Irula tribal) including women fisherfolk in the 5 mangrove sites.
• Fencing enabled to avoid Cattle grazing and flourishing of restores and naturally regenerated mangroves.
• Restored mangroves attracted habitation of more flora and fauna including   migratory birds (Spot –Billed Pelican, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Grey heron, purple heron, Ibis stork) and terrestrial animals like wild boar, foxes, snakes of different species.

Demonstrate that you have researched the problems in this casestudy

• 2013 and 2014 there was a shortfall on rains. The EMR canals have to be frequently monitored at least twice a week as sedimentations could choke the canals and kill the plants. It would take a couple of more years for the canal banks to stabilize and the saplings to develop strong roots. In some places due to erosion saplings roots were exposed and we had to replant them or tie them to support sticks.
• In December 2015 the state of Tamil Nadu experienced massive floods with the most rainfall recorded in 100 years, some of the smaller plants planted remained under water for more than 2 weeks and they could not survive. The taller plats whose leaves where above the water levels survived. Hence in future we should think of rearing the saplings in the nursery for a longer period so that they are at least 2 to 3 feet in height
• One of the major problems of Pulicat Lake is the low performance / failure of the bar-mouth. Following public demand, the state government developed a new proposal for permanent pharmaceutics after scientific studies. They have since submitted their application to the Central Government for approval in 2019.
• Algae problem is very high during the monsoon period due to lack of water exchange. It was destroyed lot of small mangrove plants in all mangrove fields.

Alternatives

Outline possible alternatives.

• Cotinine onsite supervision and monitoring by project staff up to five years after planting mangroves
• Proper fencing is must for new growing mangroves
• Reviving existing mangroves through a network of canals (EMR) should be given priority. This would mean healthy mangroves will produce more speeds triggering natural regeneration of plants which will float through the network of canals and settle in appropriate place.

Explain why alternatives were rejected.

• Funding issues. After 2021 we dint have funds for mangrove restoration project and monitoring work.
• One of the major problems of Pulicat Lake is the low performance / failure of the bar-mouth. Following public demand, the state government developed a new proposal for permanent pharmaceutics after scientific studies. They have since submitted their application to the Central Government for approval in 2019.

Proposed Solution

Provide one specific and realistic solution.

• Any type of mangrove restoration project should be continued up to 10 ten years with sufficient funding and staff.
• And creating other alternative income generation programme for the local fisher communities in Pulicat Lake.
• Continued awareness to local community, govt staff and policy makers in state and central level.

Explain why this solution was chosen.

• This is common for all mangrove restoration project across the world. But Pulicat is a different place from other site because of rich biodiversity. Many village people have been fishing in this mangrove site at same time. So, we have to co-ordinate and monitor people from different communities.

Support the solution with solid evidence:

• Conceptsfromclass(textreadings, discussions, lectures)
• Outsideresearch
• Pulicat, once a Dutch settlement, is situated in South India. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackishwater lake in India. It is located between 30° 26′ and 13° 43′ N latitude and 80° 03′ and 80° 18′ E longitudes lying almost parallel to the Bay of Bengal.
• Pulicat is a typical wetland as per WWF and includes coastal brackish and saline lagoons and marshes supporting productivity and biodiversity of appreciable assemblage of rare and vulnerable subspecies of terrestrial plant, animals and avifauna, rich flora and fauna of aquatic species. The water quality of the lake varies widely during summer, pre–monsoon, monsoon and post–monsoon seasons as the depth and width of the lake mouth varies causing a dynamic situation of mixing and circulation of waters leading to extensive  fluctuation  on salinity and dissolved oxygen (DO) at times affects the primary production, plankton, biodiversity and fisheries in this lake. Toxicity levels of heavy metals such as magnesium, lead, zinc, nickel, cadmium, aluminum and copper and chemicals such as ammonia, sulphate and fluoride in the lake are well within permissible limits. Recently, the lagoon likely experienced up to 40% desalination due to the impact of freshwater floods from the 2015 South India floods.
• Pulicat lake with its estuary is enriched with mangroves which are being restored by CReNIEO in association with Global Nature Fund (GNF). These mangroves serve as breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms including the commercially important fishes including shrimp, crab and molluscs and a varied bio diversity including aquatic and terrestrial fauna and flora influencing the economics of the area. About 1,20,000 people depend upon the lake and the near shore areas for their livelihood.
• The project is of great relevance to the Pulicat region as the mangroves play an important role in breeding of fish, prawn and crabs and also purify the water, maintain salinity levels and also check soil erosion
• The natural ecosystem formed through mangrove plantation and the network of EMR canals linking with old sites serve as breeding ground for a variety of finfishes and shellfishes and also proliferation of planktons. This ecology thus supports sustainability in aquatic flora and fauna in the lake that in turn promote terrestrial biodiversity including avifauna, forest animals.
• The restoration through EMR canals impacted on natural regeneration (Avicenna marina) over all the mangroves sites.  EMR canals found suitable for successful in improving the hydrology in the region. This has helped the already planted mangroves andmangroves regeneration has improved very well an account of the moisture available during summer months. EMR canals serve for increase in fisheries (mud crabs, shrimps)

Recommendations

• Determine and discuss specific strategies for implementing the proposed solution.
• If applicable, recommend further action to resolve some of the issues.

Development Projects:

Global Nature Fund – Mangrove Restoration Project – Pulicat GNF – Mangrove Restoration Project – 2017-2019 and  Diamler – Mercedes Benz a co-partner of GNF support CReNIEO as CSR in Pulicat (April 2017 to March 2020).  To protect the mangrove saplings from grazing by cattle, barbied wire fencing supported by concrete pillars is fixed at Thangal village.  20 toilets were constructed for the Irula Tribals in Chenjaimman Nagar and Kulathumedu Villages.

The importance of preserving, conserving and protecting the mangroves is emphazised in the Villages surrounding Pulicat Lake. Drawing competitions were conducted in schools and awareness meetings were held in the villages.  To enhance their livelihood, vegetable seeds were distributed to the villagers in Thangal and Edaiyankulam.  Canals were dug to increase the hydrology, the in and out flow of water at Sengazhaneermedu mangrove site.  Tailoring training was given to women – 40 women in two batches – in Kattur village enabling them to get employed or be self-employed.  Fishing nets were distributed to 25 poor fishermen at Sengazhaneermedu.

A review meeting was held in Sri Lanka Ms. Rao, Dr. Jayaraj and Mr. Meersa attended the programme held in March 2018.

Global Nature Fund – Hand-in-Hand and Sika – Yercaud The project titled “Enabling traditional tribal farmers in India to establish and cultivate organic horticulture in Yercaud” is supported by Global Nature Fund, Germany-  Hand-in-Hand and Sika. 12 small farmers were selected in  reviving the traditional crops, the minor millets using the traditional methods of cultivation.  Agriculture tools were distributed to these 12 selected farmers. 12 vermi–compost pits were also constructed.

Development Projects

Revival of organic millet farming and propagation of Horticulture–Yercaud

• A pilot phase for 15 tribal farmers having lands between 05. to 1 acres was concluded in November 2017 and a final  assessment is being made.
• A new project for which a proposal was submitted to GNF & SIKA has been approved for 25 tribal small farmers for a period starting from 1^st November 2017 to 30^th September 2018. The project involves training farmers in producing organic pesticides and fertilizers from local materials, land reclamations, water management, inter cropping and assisting the farmers with agricultural tools.

Revival of Mangroves , education on environment and income generation support for local communities The three year Global Nature Fund project in end of December 2017. The works involve making inter tidal flow canals in chosen mangrove sites using local labour. Promoting of homestead gardens and horticulture, monitoring the growth of mangroves, setting up a small central nursery, planting of multipurpose indigenous trees, environment education for adults and children, promoting common interest clubs, toilets form houses and animal husbandry for  marginal fishing community, linkages with village administration and local government , publications and international experience sharing. Some of the targets, balance of canals, especially, toilets, and animal husbandry  slated to complete for 2017 will be met in the first quarter of 2018.

Poverty alleviation and restoration of Mangroves- Mercedes Benz India This three year CSR project will be for three years and run concurrently along with Global Nature fund project over a three year period.

Visit of 20 students and staff of  Srishti University Mysuru From 30^th November to 3^rd December there was an intense exposure for these twenty students at Pulicat. They also conducted an exercise Learning Assessment Test for the lower classes in our school. They also made an easy to make graphic presentation on the growth patterns of mangroves and other trees.

Development Projects:

Global Nature Fund Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat: The mangrove restoration project of Global Nature Fund ended in December 2015. There were some setbacks to mangrove restoration areas especially new saplings planted due to the unprecedented floods in December 2015. All the proposed activities were however completed.

Daimler (Mercedes Benz) is currently going on with a Mangrove restoration programme in Sengalneermedu area in which 140 meters of water canals have been dug during the year, Kitchen garden seeds have been distributed to 163 families, 55 horticulture saplings have been distributed and tailoring courses has been started for 16 girls from the villages. 15,000 new mangrove saplings have to be planted by December 2016.

A review meeting was held in Thailand at Trang, and Kabri Ms. Rao and Mr. Meersa attended the programme held during November  2^nd to 8th 2015.

Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) Renewal CReNIEO had submitted the renewal application to the Ministry of Home affairs and was subsequently granted the Renewal. The FCRA FC-3 was filed in December 2015.

Development Projects:

Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat The mangrove restoration project is going on and we have successfully planted around 15,000 mangrove saplings. 200 species of crabs shrimps and fishes have been identified and 36 local plant species. This current phase will be over in December 2015. A new programme under Daimler (Mercedes Benz) has been launched in Sengalneermedu area.

Scientist from Central Institute for Fisheries Technology, (CIFT) Cochin Dr. Remsen, Principal Scientist, Fishing Technology Division of CIFT, Government of India, visited Pulicat Lake with plans to implement some of the schemes of the Central government Under Tribal –sub plan like boats, fishing nets for tribal fisherfolk. He visited Kulathumedu village and other places in Pulicat.

Interactive, Structured, Multi-Model Clinical Guidelines to Improve Quality of care by Rural Health Care Providers in India From Advocacy to Action: A Project on Informal Health Care Providers – Symposium at Cape Town: The Third Global Symposium on Health Research Systems was convened in Cape Town South Africa. The symposium was held by collaborating with Private Sector Working group health systems, the Centre for health market Innovations (CHMI) and CReNIEO a debate was held to discuss the benefit and harm of informal health providers. Dr. Meenakshi Gautham was one of the panelists.

CReNIEO has registered Pulicat National Matriculation School staff under the State government’s Public provident Fund.

Development Projects:

Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat Two scientists from the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) visited  CReNIEO Centre at Pulicat on 5^th February. for holding consultative meetings with Kalathumedu Village self Help group women to establish organic crab fattening aquaculture in the village.

Michael Bradley a marine biologist from James Cook University Australia spent from January 8^th to February 5^th at Pulicat studying the efforts made by CReNIEO at Pulicat to revive the mangrove forests in the wet lands.

On 4^th February 2014 on World Wetland Day the children visited the mangrove nursery at our Campus.

From Research to Advocacy and Action: A project on informal providers An international consultation on informal healthcare providers was held at the Muttukadu Centre on 21^st and 22^nd March 2014.  Informal health providers are practitioners of medicine without a formal qualification medicine but provide quality of care. This consultation was with stake holders on their experience in dealing with this situation. Participants included government and NGO representatives from India, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda

From Research to Advocacy and Action This is a 12 month project started from June 2013 and is funded by Center for Health Market Innovations. The goal of the project is to create advocacy and action on informal healthcare providers at the regional and global levels through evidence diffusion and coalition formation. The activities included are E –group moderation, stake holder’s consultation, documentation, publication and conferences. CReNIEO team has taken the google group moderation of an existing online discussion forum initiated by CHMI. This has been integrated with a website, the IPG, with added features to have membership directory, blogs, and videos and moderated email discussion.

Project Review Meeting, Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka, The third global Nature Fund project review meeting was held during 24th to 26th, November 2014 which was hosted by Nagenahiru Foundation, a Network partner of CReNIEO in the biodiversity restoration programme. Ms. Premanjali Rao and Mr. Meerasa made the presentations. GNF has also requested that a suitable auditor be appointed for the BMZ funds who is registered with the Chamber of Commerce. We had recommended Mr. J.K. Reddy and Co.

 Millets – Yercaud staff and farmers Interaction with the principal, professors and students of the WCC Chennai. On 12 th September 2014 CReNIEO staff, Yercaud staff and two Yercaud millet famers had an interactive meeting with the Principal of Women’s Christian College, Dr. Ridling Waller and with Vice Principal , Dr.Janet Jeyasingh, Dr. Annette along with professors of the Home Science Department and plant Biology. Samples of the millets grown in Yercaud were displayed. Jayaprakash, Project coordinator of Yercaud made a presentation on the traditional cultivation of millets. The WCC professors explained on the innovative recipes they have made out of millets, for breakfast, health drinks, and confectioneries.

Mangroves-Internal Project Review Meeting On 30th and 31st of May 2014, internationally acclaimed Mangrove expert Dr. Kathiresan Head of the Department of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University along with marine scientist Dr. Nammalwar of Anna University and Dr. Jayabalan of Tamil University Thanjavur visited our mangrove resonation programme and reviewed the progress and appreciated our efforts with the Global Nature Fund (GNF) restoration Programme and gave some valuable suggestion for up scaling the efforts.

Others

Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and others There are stringent provisions introduced in the Act from 2010 and all organizations have to renew their FCRA registration once in 5 years. CReNIEO has to submit the renewal application by end of 2014.

Projects submitted

CReNIEO Executive Body The CReNIEO Executive Body meetings were held on 13^th February 2014, 27^th March 2014. The minutes have been circulated to the members.

Development Projects:

Pulicat:

Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, The project on Mangrove restoration in Pulicat is going on and we have made the campus at Pulicat a demo centre where school children and people can visit. More than 1200 feet of canals have been dug in Thangal Village areas and we experience a marked improvement in the biodiversity with better growth of mangroves and visiting migratory birds. A review meeting was held in the first week of December 2012 with the GNF partners and other project holders for Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia. A professional photographer from Sweden and a board member from GNF visited Pulicat in January 2013. The photo story will appear in a German Magazine sometime this year.

SHGs programme in Pulicat, There are 363 women Self Help Groups have been promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region covering 22 panchayats  with 71 villages comprises of 5187  women.  CReNIEO continues the programme under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women.

The Informal Providers Project-CReNIEO/CHMI, CReNIEO has been involved substantial research, advocacy, and development of innovative programmes around informal front line healthcare providers in India for the past six years. This initiative has been done in partnership with a small group
of well-established organizations and like-minded health professionals. During the last years, the core team has been working to create acceptance for non-physician clinical providers (or mid-level practitioners) like the present RHPs in India, and to develop a systematic process for building such cadres to meet the shortage of health human resources at the primary level in India.

In 2010-11, the Garhwal Community Development & Welfare Society(GCDWS) and CReNIEO jointly did a field study of the mobile phone  applications called “Guidevue”, the interactive, structured multi modal clinical guidelines to improve quality of care by Rural Health Care Providers in India in the two districts in Tamil Nadu funded by ISIF- Asia. In 2011-12, CReNIEO jointly with GCDWS conducted a study to inform integration of Informal Health Care Providers in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, North India and Guntur, AP, in Southern India with the support of the Research for Development Institute, Washington DC. A follow up study was done to appraise/gather detailed information about the development of RMP associations, roles and responsibilities of the local branches and their principal activities as well as the aspirations for the future. This was jointly conducted by Institute of Development Studies Sussex, UK and CReNIEO.

From Research to Advocacy and Action: A Project on Informal Providers 2013-2014 This is a 12 month project started from June 2013 and is funded by Center for Health Market Innovations. The goal of the project is to create advocacy and action on informal healthcare providers at the regional and global levels through evidence diffusion and
coalition formation. The activities included are E –group moderation, stake holder’s consultation, documentation, publication and conferences.

CReNIEO team has taken the google group moderation of an existing online discussion forum initiated by CHMI. This has been integrated with a website, the IPG, with added features to have membership directory, blogs, and videos and moderated email discussion. We plan to utilize the e-forum as the main medium of communication and selection for the stakeholders’ consultation and selection of case studies for our documentation activity. Through this platform, we aim to create a lively and vibrant e-discussion group for exchange of information and ideas;

A Regional Stakeholders’ consultation is planned with a strong group of multi country stakeholders informing and enhancing the informal health sector globally and regionally in December. This consultation aims to learn from one another using the evidence about what can be done, how we can move forward, and how to make present interventions work even better.  We aim to bring together researchers, practitioners, and few policymakers in this consultation to debate and engage with ideas, identify areas of collective action, and determine strategies for implementing some of these ideas.

Documentation of relevant experiences and themes are planned. This will be done with field travel and compilation of reports in forms of stories, blogs etc. This project also consists of publications of scholarly articles based on the IP study in journals.

We are currently putting together a panel for the Conference for Asian Health Systems Conference in Singapore (Dec 13-16, 2013) and also to attend the HRH Forum Brazil (Nov 2013)(in collaboration with CHMI). We’re delighted to announce that our proposal for a side event on informal providers has been accepted by the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which will be held in Recife, Brazil from Nov 9-13, 2013. The session will be organized by CReNIEO and R4D and will be styled as an open debate. The title of the session is “Unpleasant Reality or Pillars of Universal Health Coverage: An open debate about informal healthcare providers in Asia and Africa”.

Dr. Meenakshi Gautham will represent CReNIEO in Brazil.

IV. Others:

Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) and others, There are stringent provisions introduced in the Act from 2010 and all organizations have to renew their FCRA registration once in 5 years. CReNIEO has to submit the renewal application by 2014.

Development Projects:

Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project, Pulicat: A new project (proposal submitted in October 2011) commenced in February 2012 entitled ”  Mangrove reforestation in South-East Asia – local action and cross-border transfer of knowledge for the conservation of climate, forests and biodiversity”. There are total four partners, one in Cambodia, one in Thailand and two organizations in Sri Lanka.. The total project period is from 1.01.2012 to 31.12.2015 and the total budget is Euro 131750. The Global Nature Fund is the main partner and project holder and the co-funding is from BMZ – The Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development in Germany and the Ursala Merz Foundation. The project work has commenced with land development, nursery development and environment education. The project coordinator of Pulicat attended a kick off workshop in Kabri Thailand.

SHGs programme in Pulicat. There are 364 women Self Help groups have been promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region covering 22 panchayats  with 71 villages comprises of 5196  women.  CReNIEO continues the programme under the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women.

Project Name: It is proposed to hence forth all development projects of CReNIEO at Pulicat be called as CReNIEO Research, Education and Development projects, Pulicat. SCINDeA had been using the old project name Integrated Fisherfolk Development Project (IFDP) in its project applications and all reports under this could be misleading as CReNIEO is the legal entity and not IFDP.

Yercaud.

Project Name in Yercaud. It is proposed to henceforth call all development projects of CReNIEO at Yercaud as CReNIEO Research, Education and Development projects, Yercaud. SCINDeA had been using the old project name Servarayan Hills Tribal Community Development project (SHTCDP) its project applications and all reports under this could be misleading as CReNIEO is the legal entity and not SHTCDP.

Orissa Development Action Forum- ODAF CReNIEO Continues to be the project holder for the ODAF – Nayagarh Project. The project helps in promoting school education by running bridge courses among the Tribals and assists the people to access government schemes such as, land under forest dwellers rights and promotes  sustainable farming through SRI methods.

CReNIEO Continues to be the project holder for the ODAF – Nayagarh Project. The project is run autonomously with Mr. Sukant Kumar Mohanty as the project coordinator. The funds are being transferred from Chennai to CRENIEO account in Bhubaneswar. A thorough pre audit check is conducted by the ODAF finance desk and the finance and programmes are monitored by the ODAF programme and monitoring and evaluation staff. The accounts are audited by Ms. Gopal & Associates and they have issued a management letter and the recommendations are adopted.

The new Standard Operating Practices (SoP) requires a change in signatories in the ING Vysya CRENIEO account in Bhubaneswar. The SoP says it is better if the signatories are from the project area otherwise signed blank cheques will have to be sent.

It is proposed to  have Mr. Sukant Kumar Mohanty the Project Coordinator as a signatory along with .Mr. Manas Ranjan Mohanty  Accountant.

A study to inform integration of Rural Health Care Providers into the formal Health system in India. This study was started in 2011 in rural and tribal districts Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh, The study aims to guide strategy formulation for upgrading, certifying and legitimizing Rural Health Care Providers (RHPs). The study was completed and report presented at the Review Meeting held at Dhaka, Bangladesh during 20-23 March 2012. As an extension of this study, Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK (IDS) and CReNIEO jointly will explore further with a more in-depth joint analysis and critical appraisal of existing data, supplemented with some fresh research.

Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd.: An IFAD project for developing study materials for classes 6^th to 12 std school children of financial literacy was developed and submitted. The final approval is awaited.

Others: CReNIEO Infrastructure Utilisation: Some maintenance work was done at CReNIEO Yercaud centre. Contributions are expected
which will enable CReNIEO to meet the maintenance costs.

Development Projects:

April 2011. ” Mangroves and Pulicat Lagoon – Experts consultation on CReNIEO performance Dr. Kathiresan, Professor, Mangrove expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Dr.T. Ramanathan, Mangrove expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, Dr.S. Palraj, Conservator of Forest [Retd], Forestry expert, Dr. M.C. Sathyanarayana, Associate Professor [Rtd], Wildlife/Biodiversity expert and Dr. Nammalwar, Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and Principal Investigator, Centre for Ocean management, Anna University, Chennai have been invited as expert consultants.

Academic Consultations and seminars: On April 19^th an expert consultation  was held on CReNIEO performance in ” Mangroves and Pulicat Lagoon” Dr. Kathiresan, Professor, Mangrove  expert, Centre for Advanced studies in Marine Biology, Parangipettai, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu reviewed the project.,

A consultation on Research methodologies was held on 17^th September.  Eminent professors from the University of Madras and former VC of Bharathidasan University participated.

Rural Development Projects:

The other projects of IFDP are,

Global Nature Fund Pulicat Mangrove Restoration Project :22,600 saplings of Avicenna marina were collected and saplings are being grown in Pulicat. 5800 saplings have been planted in suitable sites at Thangal village. Channels have been dredged for 300 meters for inflow and outflow of water. New sites have been identified in Nellore area for planting of mangroves. A GPS unit to identify and mark the sites has been purchased.

Women and school children are being oriented about mangroves and a long term plan is being drawn up to replicate the efforts in new areas. Dr. Udo of GNF Mr. Jim Enbright of MAP visited the project. The restoration programme is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety. The project is through Global Nature Fund.

Global Nature Fund Education on Climate issues for children and Community:Under this programme children of various schools are taught about their local environment and about global warming, climate change, carbon emissions, carbon trading etc. Competitions are held regularly in the schools. A school environment day was celebrated.

Ms. Premanjali Rao visited Mexico and presented the progress of the projects. The Global Nature Fund, Germany has granted full membership to CReNIEO from this year onwards.

Lake women’s Advancement Project – SHGsThere are 261 women Self Help Groups promoted by CRENIEO in Pulicat Region comprising of 3864 women. There are 24 boys groups with 352 members.

DST-Floriculture Project -Yercaud  The project trained tribal farmers to raise floriculture crops for additional income. The flowers are Rose and Chrysanthemum 10 farmers with 2 to 3 cents of land each have set up a method demonstration plot. The simple green house was set up as a demo unit.

Workshops and Training Programmes:

1. Importance of Minor millets for nutrition in Yercaud February. 2010.
2. Environment Education for school teachers July 2009.

Proposals Submitted

1. A comparative Study of Facilitating Factors and Barriers to Achievement of MDGs 4, 5 and 6 in Districts with High, Medium and Low Health Indices in Tamil Nadu, India. (LoI)
2. Imparting Training to Community based organizations like SHgs, PLFs – (TNVRC- TNCDW) EOI.
3. Skills development through accredited courses of the TNOU at Pulicat – to CLWR.
4. Food security for coastal regions proposal to European Union (EU) through Global Nature Fund.
5. Environment Education for women and children of Hill regions of Yercaud – CLWR.
6. Enabling Future Generations in Pulicat Lake to Understand and Act on Environmental Issues and Climate Change

Proposal In the Making:

1. Reviving Minor Millets in traditional tribal farms of Yercaud.
2. Mangroves revival project and mangroves mapping.
3. Comprehensive Health project in Yercaud.
4. Orissa Development Action Forum – Proposal for 2011 March to 2014.