Conservation in India

From the jungle-covered Western Ghat Mountains to the sun-baked planes of Tamil Nadu and the coastal mangroves beyond, South India is a region of enormous environmental diversity. However, as in so many parts of the world, that rich diversity is threatened by the activities of man.

People in rural Tamil Nadu live much the way their ancestors did, farming the land with simple tools, collecting firewood from the forests and discarding their waste on any available land. In the past this never caused any great problem, but with rapidly increasing population, the introduction of environmentally damaging products such as plastics and chemical pesticides and increased trade demanding higher productivity, the traditional way of life is becoming more damaging to the natural world. This is coupled with a lack of education and awareness of the problems, meaning that Indian farmland is suffering considerably.

The Eco-development Project

The Eco-development Project is a scheme, funded by Teaching Abroad, aimed at promoting sustainable farming and environmental conservation in and around South Indian villages. It began in late 2001 as a tree-planting project in a remote village at the foot of the Western Ghat Mountains, and has since expanded to include the promotion of many environmentally friendly farming practices.

"You can expect the occasional blister as much of the work will require you to get your hands dirty, but you really feel like you are contributing to something worthwhile - there's lots of scope for you to bring your own ideas to the programme."
Lindsey Pope Eco-development volunteer

The Model Farm

At the heart of the Eco-development Project is the Model Farm, a demonstration site for many of the sustainable practises that we promote. Volunteers spend the majority of their time working at the Model Farm and are totally responsible for the running and maintenance of the site. Villagers from the surrounding area visit the farm to learn about the different techniques and technologies that can benefit them. After working with villagers at the model farm, our volunteers then assist them in implementing the ideas in their communities.

You'll learn all about sustainable development and organic practices, including how to produce our 'vermi-compost' - a natural fertilizer produced from domestic and farm waste using earthworms. Once a week volunteers visit the nearby town of Rajapalayam to sell the vermi-compost at the local market. There is also a large medicinal plants nursery, where we cultivate indigenous plant species that can be used to treat a wide variety of common ailments. We are currently increasing the number of species as well as introducing new endangered species. The acquisition and recording of relevant information is also an integral part of this work. You'll learn about these plants' properties and using our manufacturing equipment will produce medicine that will then be distributed throughout the local community.

Much of your time will be spent planting and looking after trees. We are replanting areas that have suffered deforestation in the past, using species carefully chosen to provide benefit to local communities.

Volunteers usually work from about 10am to 1pm, and in the afternoons from about 2.30pm to 5pm. Accommodation is with families in a local village and volunteers return there to eat lunch each day. Placement supervisor, Ponraj, is based at the Model Farm full time and will train you in the different work and techniques involved when you first arrive. He is always available to offer help and advice. In the evenings you can play cricket with local children, or take time to relax after a hard days work. At weekends you can meet up with the other volunteers working in India on our twice monthly social events or travel and explore the area with other volunteers on the project.

To read a more detailed information about this project, you may visit our Volunteer Conservation in India specialized website.