Parisara prasasthi:

BCRT wins the Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam Environmental Award for Converting Barren Rocky Region into Forest Eco-System

Jayanth G.R*

In recognition of the activities of Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust (BCRT), Government of Karnataka has conferred on it the prestigious Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam environmental award for the year 2006-2007.

In the very first year of the inception of the award, BCRT, along with four other organizations across Karnataka state have been recognized by the president Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam (President of India). 'Dr. Kalam personally handed a trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs. 1 Lakh on 6 June 2006 in a ceremony that was organized to mark the ‘World Environment Day’. The parisara award ceremony was held at the Jnana Jyothi Auditorium, Central College Campus, Bangalore, which was jointly organized by Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Department and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. The secretary of BCRT, Mr. Krishnamurthy received this award on behalf of the organization. The award recognizes BCRT’s innovativeness, community involvement and performance in addressing the issue of environmental amelioration. The yardsticks used for evaluation include, among others, conservation of water, rejuvenation of bio diversity, enrichment of soil, environmental education, program outreach, community involvement and the extent to which it has benefited the local community.

Started in 2001, BCRT’s first efforts were to afforest a barren rocky region in Anuganalu, a village situated at the foot of Western Ghats, one of the global hotspots for biological diversity in India. Today in 2006, five years down the line, the same area supports a rich forest eco-system that is regularly visited by wild birds and animals. This and other ongoing projects of BCRT have attracted a steady stream of visitors to its campus, many of who have returned to initiate similar programs in their villages. Meanwhile, the sphere of BCRT’s activities itself has expanded and restoration of ecological equilibrium in Seegegudda (see Sri. Sree Padre’s article) is its new target. The potentially far reaching and beneficial effects of this project, both from environmental and humanitarian perspective make it a worthy goal. These and other achievements were summarized in Kannada Prabha, a leading Kannada daily which brought out an article on BCRT in connection with this award.

We are respectful of the people of Anuganalu, Sanenahalli, Ugane, Maranahalli, and other villages around BCRT campus for their motivation and co-operation in all of BCRT’s activities. The success of BCRT work was possible because of the hard word and dedication of the team at Anuganalu, http://www.bcrt.org/people.htm and web team at www.bcrt.org. We are grateful to Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kandali; Department of Watershed, Hassan; Department of Horticulture, Hassan; Wild life Society, Hassan; Taluk and Zilla Panchayat, Hassan; Karnataka Biodiversity Board, Bangalore; Association for India’s Development (AID), Columbus USA, Rays of Hope Foundation, Columbus USA; Jalakoota, Kasaragod and Center for Alternative Agricultural Media, Dharwad who have all shared in BCRT’s vision of ecologically sensitive development and sustained its activities through their support and made all its milestones, that this award recognizes, a possibility.

*Jayanth G R, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio OH 43210, Email: gobbalipur-ranga.1@osu.edu

© 2001-2006 Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust