Overview

Thanks to a generous donation from Mr. Uday Kotak and the whole hearted support from the Governing Board the Mahindra UWC of India launched its Biodiversity Project in June 2006. The primary aim of the project is to enhance the already existing species of flora and fauna in this part of the Western Ghats which environmentalists world-wide call a Biodiversity Hotspot. This project will make possible a serious environmental and educational study, aiming to safeguard our planet and prevent humankind from destroying the benefits provided by nature, by showcasing the interdependence of all life.

The dream is to restore the much degraded land by dividing the reserve into two zones; the first will be a Biodiversity Park and the second will be a Conservation Reserve. The Bio-diversity Park, consisting of about 75 acres, will include the built up area of the college and will include diverse flora and walking trails with informative signage for the benefit of students, visitors, researchers, etc. The Conservation Park, consisting of about 95 acres, will be kept purposefully away from human activities. This continuous piece of land will provide the large corridors and private areas that higher fauna need. Eco-restorative measures will be undertaken to enhance the potential of this land which will provide a refuge to local and visiting wildlife. We are certain that this park which includes a well developed Medicinal Garden, a Butterfly Garden, an "Art Garden" and a Sacred Grove would challenge our young students to take up research projects related to ethno-medicine, alternate energy sources, eco-conservation, and gene-pool restoration.

This year the project focused on water harvesting and stream restoration, pathways and trails, and cataloguing of birds, moths, butterflies, shrubs, climbers, and trees on campus. In the next ten years the college will be totally dependent on renewable energy sources that will be generated on campus. A special "thank you" to the first year and second year EPA students, faculty, administrators, maintenance and garden staff, and the ever dependable Kishan Paswan for all the hard work and excitement that was displayed this year.

(Hector Andrade)

Fauna