Ecological Guidelines for Riverfront Development of Mula-Mutha rivers

Over 3 months, the Ecological Society team studied the Mutha river from Rajaram Bridge to the Aga Khan Bridge. We documented biodiversity, cultural hotspots, human interventions and ecologically important characteristics of the river. Studying various riverfront projects all over the world, we prepared ecological guidelines for riverfront development. The report was commissioned by Centre for Environment Education (CEE) and has been presented to Pune Municipal Corporation and PMRDA. Click image on left for the report. Also available here. 

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Ecological management of Pashan Lake

The Pashan lake is a man-made unique ecosystem in Pune city. The lake is home to several species of fauna and attracts migrant birds. However, the current state of the lake is highly degraded, with water hyacinth and water cabbage covering most part of the lake. Ecological Society studied the current state of the lake, interviewed experts, scientists and communities around the lake. Based on these observations and insights, we prepared a plan for managing the lake ecosystem in a way that keeps the ecological productivity  of the lake high. Click image on left for the report. Also available here.

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Floral diversity improvement plan for Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

The Mayureshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (MWLS) is a small but popular wildlife destination within easy reach of Pune and Mumbai cities in western India. The sanctuary has a typical dry scrub vegetation with sparse and stunted growth trees. The sanctuary is a home to the Indian gazelle Gazelia bennetti, locally known as the Chinkara, Indian grey wolf Canis lupus, Hyaena Hyaena hyaena and Indian Fox Vulpes bengalensis, besides a variety of insects, birds and reptiles. Presently, it has reached a state where the sanctuary cannot host any tree plantations because of the lack of soil depth. Funded by the GFW Small Grants Program, the Ecological Society, Pune-India undertook a project to recommend measures for improving the floral diversity within the sanctuary. 
Click image on left for the report. Also available here.

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Assessment of Panshet dam catchment

Funded by World Resources Institute, Global Forest Watch, we completed a project in the Western Ghats of India which is a designated biodiversity hotspot. This involved ecological and socio-economic assessment of the Panshet dam catchment region, and ground truthing based on the satellite data from Global Forest Watch to assess the health of the forest ecosystem. Additionally, biodiversity assessment of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary was also completed. This film summarizes our assessment and alerts about the threats to local ecology and biodiversity.
Click image on left for the report.

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Ujani Reservoir Project

The Ujani dam is constructed on the river Bhima, one of the chief rivers in Pune district. The river collects treated and untreated sewage from upstream urban areas, industrial effluents and non-point run-offs from the agricultural fields growing irrigated cash crops. The water shows high values of biological oxygen demand and high Maximum Permissible Number counts. The dam is located in the rain-shadow region of the Sahyadris with rainfall less than 50 cm per annum.  The reservoir is a shallow water reservoir and treated as a wetland. The water level shows high fluctuations as its supply is dependent on the releasing of water upstream and demand for water in command area. The farmers utilize the exposed area of the submergence region for cultivation and grazing of livestock. Cultivation and Grazing on Bank has rendered the area barren and infested with weeds like Alternanthera. Weeds like Eichhornia and Ipomoea spread in the submergence area. The vegetation and habitats along the rivers and streams joining the reservoir are degraded.

Ecological Society took up this region to prepare a management plan for the Ujani reservoir that included reconciliation of the interests of wildlife and people. We undertook several ecological restoration measures over one year, which yielded the following results:

• The pools recorded an increase in fish numbers.

• The grass growth and the rainwater puddles attracted grassland and wet meadow birds.

• The shallow water areas showed good growth of sedges like Cyperus and attracted marsh birds.

• The pools attracted surface feeding waterbirds like spot-billed ducks.

• It was observed, that during high water level the surface feeders dominated while during the low water level wet meadow birds dominated.

• During the project implementation of the project, the area experienced drought conditions. This led to the spread of Paspalum and the saplings introduced had to be watered by irrigation.

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Restoration potential area determination for select dam catchments in Western Ghats

The objective of this research is to evaluate the restoration potential of select dam catchments in Western Ghats, based on the vegetation classes developed in earlier GFW project

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Eco-development plan to improve riverfronts in Pune (1983) (Read Report here)

This project undertook a detailed survey and assessment of Pune's rivers, recording species and physical features and human use of river. The report contains recommendations for ecological improvement in the river ecosystem

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Other completed projects

​Panshet dam catchment restoration project

Nirmal Ganga Abhiyan

On the trail of wintering Black necked Cranes in India

Welfare of the tallest flying bird in the world

Ecological survey of the Konkan coast

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