|
|
|
Kalpavriksh
|
Environmental Action Group
Beginnings
Kalpavriksh is a non-governmental organisation working on environment
education, research, campaigns, and direct action. It began in 1979, with a
campaign led by students to save Delhi?s ridge forest from encroachments and
destruction. Starting with these roots in local action, Kalpavriksh has, over the past
three decades, worked on a number of local, national and global issues.
Kalpavriksh is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1980 (No. S-17439)
and has offices in Delhi and Pune.
Philosophy
Kalpavriksh believes that a country can develop meaningfully only when
ecological sustainability and social equity are guaranteed, and a sense of respect
for, and oneness with, nature and fellow humans is achieved.
Funding
Regular expenditure is met from grants for specific projects and donations.
Focus Areas
Kalpavriksh works on the following broad themes: Conservation & Livelihoods,
Environment & Development, Environment Education & Urban Environment.
Some of the specific work undertaken (in the past or onoing) under these themes is described below.
Environment Education and Awareness
- Locale-specific environment education interventions in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, J & K (Ladakh), Karnataka and Maharashtra
- Development of educational resources(e.g. teachers? manuals, games & posters )
- Melas, bazaars and other activities to develop awareness regarding organic food
- Public awareness on biodiversity issues through books, talks, melas and other forms of celebration
- Talks, slide shows, field camps and nature walks for schools, colleges and interested groups
- Training programmes on various environmental issues
- A newsletter, ?Protected Area Update?, on wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across South Asia
- Stories and articles on environmental issues contributed to newspapers and magazines
- A Documentation Centre, for students, researchers and interested citizens to access information on environmental issues
- A newsletter , ?People in Conservation?, on community-based conservation (Hindi and English)
- Production of simple advocacy and educational material
Investigation and Research
- National & international level Community Conserved Areas (CCAs)
- Environmental and social impacts of development projects and activities (e.g. large dams in Northeast India)
- Environmental compliance and monitoring of development projects and activities
- Review of Ecologically Sensitive Areas declared under the Environment (Protection) Act
- Impacts of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regimes on biodiversity and local communities
- Use of Right to Information (RTI) provisions for collation, analysis and dissemination of critical information on the implementation of environmental laws and procedures
- Forest logging, status of indigenous communities and tourism issues in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Social and ecological impacts of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act
- Underlying causes of deforestation in the era of neo-liberal globalisation
- Conflicts between local communities & wildlife conservation and their resolution
- Sustainable organic agriculture including the revival of agro-biodiversity
Legal and Policy Action
- Inputs on content and implementation of laws impacting conservation and livelihoods e.g. the Wildlife (Protection) Act, Biodiversity Act, Scheduled Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act
- Initiatives to oppose the ongoing dilution of the legal framework for Environment Impact Assessment of development projects and activities in the country
- Inputs to various policy level documents and processes through advocacy, participation in government committees, critiquing of drafts and citizens? mobilisation
- Technical support to local groups and communities seeking legal action against destructive development projects and activities across the country (e.g. in Chhattisgarh, Sikkim)
- Coordinated the preparation of India?s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, through a process of extensive nationwide participation
- Litigation to stop deforestation in the Andaman & Nicobar islands and protect the rights of the indigenous communities, and to stop mining at Nahin Kalan, Uttarakhand
- Initiatives to influence and implement urban tree laws and policies
Advocacy, Campaigns and Direct Action
- To support ground actions on conservation of biological resources and related traditional knowledge by tracking the biodiversity regulatory regime in India (Campaign for Conservation & Community Control over Biodiversity)
- To protect ecologically & culturally sensitive areas from destructive development projects & activities in several parts of India
- Against the destructive role of WTO, TRIPS, and globalisation
- For food self-sufficiency, and social equity through development of a Home Gardens and Seed Exchange Collective in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
- To promote natural Holi colours
- To protect aspects of the urban environment in Delhi and Pune
- Co-ordination of Pune Tree Watch, a citizens? group to protect the city?s green cover
- To support local citizens? actions related to environment and forest clearances of development projects
- To facilitate conservation and livelihood interventions in protected areas and community conserved areas
- Media campaigns, protest letters and green alerts on various issues
- Against indiscriminate tiling of Delhi?s pavements
Networking
- With communities, local NGOs, social activists, conservationists and forest officials to initiate dialogue and resolve conservation-related conflicts
- Co-ordination of a national network on conservation and livelihoods (Future of Conservation in India)
- International NGO networking related to the Biodiversity Convention (CBD Alliance) and forestry issues (Global Forest Coalition)
- Coordination of a Strategic Direction on Governance, Equity and Livelihoods in Relation to Protected Areas (TILCEPA) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- With individuals, groups and communities to respond to environmental and social issues regarding development projects and activities
PUBLICATIONS
- On community based conservation efforts across South Asia
- On environment and social impacts of development activities (e.g. dams, mining)
- On different aspects of biodiversity and the effects of IPR regimes on the same
- On issues related to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- On tribal self rule and Adivasi rights
- On birds and butterflies of specific regions (Delhi, Pune)
- On environment education for students, teachers and educators (e.g. manuals)
- On understanding and protecting urban biodiversity (citizens? guides for Delhi and Pune)
Note: This is an indicative list; for more details, write to us or visit our website
CONTACT US
Delhi: C/o 134, Tower 10,Supreme Enclave,
Mayur Vihar - I,
New Delhi 110091, India
Tel: 91-11-22753714
Email: kalpavriksh.delhi@gmail.com
Pune: Apt. 5, Shree Dutta Krupa,
908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 411 004, India
Tel: 91-20? 25675450 Telefax: 91-20-25654239
Email: kalpavriksh@vsnl.net
For Publications: Contact either office or email kvbooks@vsnl.net
www.kalpavriksh.org
|
|