Visit To GEER Foundation

With the structure of content more or less decided, my guide, Chakradhar advised me to further clarify on my objective. The project wouldn’t give me much scope to work further in terms of social and welfare aspects.I decided to keep a target group defined by youth (age group 16-30), photographers, bird watchers, ornithologists, environmentalists, travel enthusiasts. Accordingly the content had to be prepared.The problem had been identified and researched. However some qualitative and quantitative information was needed. I decided to approach the GEER Foundation and collect all possible information available in context and understand the scenario further.

GEER (Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation) is situated in Gandhinagar. Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation was formed by the Forests & Environment Department of Government of Gujarat to undertake activities like ecological education, ecological research, natural history interpretation, management of sanctuaries and national parks, and establishment of protected areas. The institution is committed towards research and betterment of the flora and fauna in the country.

I met Mr. Bharat Bhai Pathak, the director of GEER, and explained him the project. His primary concern was regarding the project’s purpose as he feared it to be like another Disaster Tourism or Slum Tourism. However I warded off his fears as I explained him the scale at which promotion of Little Rann is needed.

How many are actually aware that it is a scarce patch of land for a fraction of the year and wetland for another. How many know that 60% of the salt produced in India is an outcome of the hard labour put in by the salt pan workers here. The Little Rann has a strategic location being on the bird migration route with a paradise of birds that visit every year.

Bharat Bhai assigned Mr. Mehul who would look after all the information, photographs and the maps I needed for that place. I was also allowed access to their library where I found ample information.  I also spoke to a senior scientist Mr. Ketan Tatu with whom I had a brief discussion on the ecosystem of LRK.

Questions poised were:

What is the reason behind increase in the number of wild asses?

Forest Department has been playing a very important role in protecting the species. They do regular surveys and checks. The strict vigilance on their well being has lead to their increased population. Moreover the growth of prosopis adds to the source of food for the asses. The pods of this desert shrub is eaten by them. It also acts like a cover for the animals to rest and hide.

What is the scope of LRK in terms of ornithology, photography and bird watching?

There is definitely a very wide scope. The wild ass sanctuary and the Kutch desert together form a pool of biodiversity which attracts both resident and migratory birds.

How is the climate impacting its ecology?

Any climate study takes a long period of study and data and collection. Since India does not have enough long term data, the study is a challenge. The scenario in India is related with the scenario outside and then conclusions are inferred. However with Global Warming, the sea level will rise. This poses a great threat to LRK as it is at the sea level. A wetland is an area which remains partly covered in water and partly exposed for different time periods respectively. However with increase in sea level the water body could rise and convert the wetland into a water body. Salinity of the soil would increase and the terrestrial ecosystem could vanish altogether.

Do the forest officers ensure safety of the animals within the sanctuary?

 Yes they have been keeping a strict vigilance on the movement of the animals.

All these gave me valuable insights that could reflect in my final end product.