Archives for December 2007

Best Wishes for a happy and prosperous 2008

December 31, 2007 by 3 Comments

Treesouls wishes all fellow green comrades and everyone a smashing 2008. A year has passed and though memories tide and events ebb in tow, there is a lot to look forward this coming year. No better time than this New year eve to renew, reinforce and green stamp Treesouls’s commitiment to green values and more progress in our eco-conservation efforts.

Simply put, a slew of of plans are on the anvil that will accelerate our objectives in terms of education, advocacy and colloboration and hopefully they will bear fruits according to the vision we have envisaged. Watch the ‘announcements’ section for more grapevine on our activities as and when they pan out.

We also invite suggestions, brickbats and lots of ideas from all those who “eyeball” this website and for all those who would like to colloborate to make a much more concerted effort to propogate green values, feel free to hit the contact form and we shall get back to you in a jiffy. Community participation is the key and we welcome all like minded souls to join, share, care and help make this planet a better place to live for one and all.

Once more, peace, joy and happiness in all you do this new year.

Bangithapal Trek – Day 2

December 30, 2007 by 5 Comments

To follow things better, read an account of Day 1 on the Bangithapal Trek.

I stir out of bed by 5 a.m. and complete my morning ablutions in the icy cold water. Soon, our group stirs one by one. I am out to catch the early morning pre-sunrise view from the rest house. It is ethereal. Hills in front rolling away to both sides. A stream gurgles below. Faint light from behind the hills gives a dull orangish tinge to the sky above. Wisps of mist float past me.

By 6.30 a.m. we set off after waking up fully with a cup of instant coffee. Trekking in the early morning air is always refreshing and we move along at a fair clip initially through a thick shola and then winding up the side of a grassy hillock. Behind us peaks stretch to infinity. There seems to be no end to the corridor that is visible through the hills. The hill in front of us has two brown strips cut all the way to the top and looks very steep.

Nandeesh tells us that these are fire lines cut to control spread of forest fires. We are on our way up one of these. The climb is steep and at one point as we look up and see only blue sky meeting the top of the hill, I recall the song “stairway to heaven”. As we hit the top, we make to a small outcrop of rocks to our right. For a couple of moments there is absolute silence except for the gentle breeze. A view that can only be described as spectacular greets us.

This is the Kerala border and a single pole stuck into the ground with a cloth piece tied to the top confirms it. More than a thousand feet below, thick dark green forests cover the entire landscape in sight. Just ahead the forests rise up in what seems like ever increasing waves, which are actually rolling hills.

Five such hills, each one taller than the one in front end in the Nilgiri peak which is visible directly across us. The peak lives up to the Nilgiri name of “blue mountains”. Nandeesh tells us a story of how he climbed down the Nilgiri peak to the forest below and trekked through the forests to the town of Nilamber and then came back via Gudalar. The forest is full of elephants he assures us. Already our minds are drifting away with the sight of elephants and the next trek is already being planned.

We climb another ridge and park at the top to observe the vast expanse of grass lands ahead. Breakfast consisting of bread, butter, jam, bananas and biscuits is consumed. Suddenly Nandeesh points to two V shaped sticks projecting on the side of the hillock up ahead. On close observation, we confirm that it is a pair of sambar sitting and taking in the morning sun. Eager to capture these animals from close quarters, we silently move down the ridge and climb the one in front from the side. We peer over the top of that ridge hoping to catch them unawares. But these elusive creatures are too sharp of smell and hearing. They have already stood up and looking fixedly at us. About half a minute passes and then the pair casually lopes up the ridge and down the other side.

We don’t really have time to make it all the way to Silent Valley viewpoint, so we start back to the rest house. To cut effort, Nandeesh takes a shortcut and we are gingerly moving down the steep hill. Once we hit the stream below, the route is clear and all we have to do is follow Rule 1 of the jungle. When in doubt, follow the water body. The stream cuts its way along the side of the hills through several shoals. As we approach the rest house, we come upon a couple of full sized jungle fowl scurrying across the path. For 10 minutes, they play hide and seek with us and finally disappear from sight.

Tired of drinking tea/coffee flavored with amul milk powder, we settle down with a cup of hot lemon tea. Lunch is ready and we sit in front of the rest house slowly eating. The sun goes behind cloud cover and mist creeps in on us from all directions. Soon we are enveloped in a film of whiteness and nothing is visible beyond ten feet. One feels that one could relax forever in such an atmosphere. However, we have to get back to Ooty and catch the bus down. We pack up and get on to the jeep. The winding 70 km drive to Ooty commences. Enroute we drop Nandeesh off at the picturesque Upper Bhavani dam, spend a few minutes there soaking in the pristine beauty. The only other incident of note is the spotting of a solitary bison by the road side. By this time, we are pretty tired and only thoughts are on getting back.

Do you want to make a trip to Bangithapal? Just make a query using our contact form and we shall arrange an eco-trek for you at Bangithapal.

45 Indian Tree species face extinction

December 26, 2007 by 1 Comment

The western ghats, the northeast forests and the Andamans might still look pristine but of late there is enough scope to believe that conservation efforts is not not taking the right direction. The loss of habitat due to deforestation and human inhabitation is on the rise if one heeds a recent report by the The World Conservation Union comprising of 83 member countries.

Shocking though is the fact that 45 valuable tree species across India is almost at the brink of extinction. And to boot, 247 tree species have touched the endangered zone.

Reasons abound, theories proliferate but the crux of the issue lies at man’s insatiable greed to overreach his frontiers of existence at the cost of these national green treasures. Flora devastation. Fauna destruction. Betrayal of nature. Whatever, habitat decline has no excuses whatsoever.

Take the following facts that need to brook real answers.

The Ilex khasiana tree, native to Meghalaya is in its last thores, only 4 left in the high altitude Shillong Peak.
The Actinodaphne lanata tree, native of the Niligiri Hills cannot be spotted easily. Simply because there is just one left in the Shola forest.
The Andaman Syzygium manii, a semi-evergreen forest is almost non existent.
There are no records for many species feared extinct since 2000.

The Botanical Survey of India has to have answers ready. But like all governmental organizations, all they do is refute the evidence and cook up statistics to pat themselves on the back. Remember Sariska and the furore. Seems like the flora in India will meet the same fate as the fauna.

The only way out is for organizations and individuals to speak up in one voice and be heard. The rot has to stop now.

Bangithapal Trek – Crystal streams and misty peaks

December 19, 2007 by 2 Comments

No trek in the Nilgiris can kick off without experiencing the winding road journey up the ghat to Ooty. The three of us roused ourselves in the wee hours of the morning with some difficulty and got onto the Ooty bus at 5.45 a.m. The fact that we were seated directly over the back tyre did not help our cause of trying to catch up on lost sleep. Somehow defying its rundown appearance, our bus managed to reach Ooty by a quarter past nine.

We joined the rest of our group who were already there and downed a sizeable breakfast of pongal, vada and roast at Hotel Navrang (opposite the Railway station). The jeep manned by the experienced Jambu arrived soon after. All seven of us squeezed in after depositing our bags on the roof carrier. Fifteen minutes at the forest office to complete the documentation formalities followed by a quick Nilgiris chai at the canteen there and we were on our way.

The 30 km drive to Avalanchy is a pleasant meandering experience. Grassy hillocks give way to valleys dotted with hamlets and fields. A few tea estates also occupy some of the slopes. The occasional well fed black and white cow crosses our path. The road is narrow but traffic is restricted to the occasional bus or LCV carrying poultry or produce.

A sudden patch of water appears in the valley and Jambu informs us that this is a catchment area. There are several such catchment areas up in the Nilgiris. All of them are reservoirs that store the water that flows down from the surrounding hills during the rains. Closer to Avalanchy, we also catch a glimpse of the picturesque Avalanchy and Emerald catchments.

Avalanchy is famous for the valley of orchids, magnolias and other exotic flowers; also the accompanying insect and bird life. The hamlet houses only forest department officials and the only other place of interest is a 100-year-old trout farm taken care of by the forest department. We pick up our official guide Nandeesh from here.

We get off the jeep a couple of kilometers after Avalanchy. A single bag is prepared to hold the essentials like water bottles, cold lunch, towels and some knick-knacks. Jambu moves off towards Bangithapal rest house with the rest of our luggage and the provisions. It is a 35 km drive for him. We would be reaching the rest house through a cross-country trek of about 18 km. It is just past1 p.m and Nandeesh estimates that we will reach our destination by 5.30 p.m.

We start off on a fairly broad well defined path through a typical Nilgiri forest cover generally referred to as a shola. As we climb along the side of the hill, the path narrows sufficiently so that the thorny shrubs can prick our legs. The next half an hour is spent trying to avoid these as also ducking or crawling under numerous fallen trees strewn across the path at regular intervals. A profusion of tiny yellow flowers dot the shrubs along our path and light up the entire scene. The sun is playing hide and seek behind the afternoon cloud cover.

Nandeesh halts suddenly and gestures us to stop. He points to the ridge just across the narrow gorge to our left. A couple of full sized sambar deer turn their heads and stare inquiringly at us. We just have time to take in their grayish brown coat color, the V of the antlers and ears sticking up. As our cameras get into action, they turn around and within the blink of an eye or possibly the click of a shutter, they plunge into the shola just above. There is absolute silence and for a couple of moments, not even the smallest sound or movement disturbs this stillness.

It is these fleeting moments that capture the essence of the Indian forest and what make it such an exciting place to trek. The sudden discovery that there is someone else also sharing the vast expanse of greenery with us. The joy of watching one of God’s creations of beauty, grace and power all rolled into one. Wonder fills us when we think about how superbly these creatures adapt to their surroundings and lifestyle. By experience, we know that it is futile to try and pursue them in order to spot them again.

As the first drops of rain hit us, we struggle up the steep path that leads to the Kondatarai communication tower. This point is 2600 meters above MSL and is only 60 meters below Dodabetta which is the highest point in the Nilgiris. By the time we make it to the abandoned stone building next to the tower, we are soaked to our skins by the bitingly cold rain.

It is now 3.30 p.m. and we take this opportunity to consume our lunch. No knives or spoons have been packed. A couple of spoons improvised from the cardboard cover of Kodak film rolls help us spread butter and jam onto the bread slices. Some biscuits complete out working lunch and we wash this down with some “packaged drinking water” brought along from Ooty. This would be the last such water that we consume till our return to Ooty. There is no let up in the rain and Nandeesh lights a fire with some paper and twigs thoughtfully left behind in the room by some previous occupant. We warm ourselves by the crackling fire for sometime.

At 4.30 p.m. time constraints dictate that we step out once again into the cold rain and continue to our destination. With obvious reluctance we do so, brave the first onslaught of piercing raindrops on our bodies and move on. It is the ears and nose which are most affected in the cold rain up there. The track now leads us up and down several small peaks that make up the ridge. All along, the spectacular panoramic view to our left keeps us motivated to keep moving. The view has now changed to a different shade of green – darker, duller and subtler.

The sudden bark of sambar right next to us startles us but we are not able to spot the elusive animal. As the rain stops, a thin film of mist coats the entire atmosphere giving a translucent feel to the entire picture. We are indeed fortunate to see three different textures of the same picture; all within an hour. Just shows you how quickly the weather can change on top of the Nilgiris.

We finally begin our long descent from the ride. As it is already 5.30 p.m., Nandeesh decides to take us through a shorter and more direct route. This means shuffling our feet sideways down the grassy slope with the hope that we will not plunge straight down by placing our foot on the wrong spot. Descent completed without incident, we now move through the valley placing our feet carefully between thick tufts of wild grass.

A stream gurgles along to our left. The bottles are quickly filled up and we get our first taste of mountain water. Clear. Sweet. Cold. Perfect. As dusk approaches, a sudden movement in the rocks to our side alerts the front runner of our group. He catches a glimpse of a curved tail and the spotted cat glides across the path in front of him and disappears into the forest to our left. Panther!

After the initial excitement dies down we continue towards our destination. Bringing up the rear, I now start feeling a sudden unease and start looking behind me every couple of minutes or so. Dusk turns to darkness as we approach a large shola. Suddenly we spot a family of sambar, 3 adults and a little one, up ahead. Hearing our trampling approach, they scurry up the hillock and disappear behind it. The shola is thick and dark and we now move in single file within touching distance of each other. We are thrilled to get a feel of night trekking at long last though without torches to guide us. A single dim light guides us to our final destination as soon as we break out of the shola. The first hut is called a trekking shed and the one nest to it is the rest house. Jambu and jeep are already parked in front of the rest house. As we enter the hall, the smell of cooking and raw onion greets us. The cooks are at work preparing our hard earned dinner.

The Bangithapal rest house is a compact structure. The main hall houses a dining table, some plastic chairs and a fireplace. On both sides, doors open out into bedrooms, which have attached baths. Cots with mattresses, a couple of wooden chairs and a dressing table make up the bedroom. The bathroom is a basic Indian style toilet and has provision for bath water and a wash basin.. The kitchen and storeroom are in a separate hut behind the main hut and a simple fireplace is available for cooking.

After a quick wash, we settle down by the fire in the main hall. The soaking shoes and socks are placed strategically around the fireplace as none of us have a second pair to wear the next morning. My doubts about how pressure cooker is used over a fire are soon cleared. The cooker is balanced carefully over the sticks on the fire. Once the whistle sounds, it is allowed to continue unabated for 5 minutes and the cooker is then taken off. Our dinner consists of spicy sambar, curry and rice is done by 10 p.m. Anticipating (as always!) and early start to the morning trek, we retire to our beds soon after.

Here ends the day 1 account of the Bangithapal Trek. Check out the account of Day 2 here.

Go Organic this Christmas – Make an Eco-friendly Wreath

December 17, 2007 by 4 Comments

Before you set out to make this wreath for Christmas, promise yourself that you will not step out to buy anything. Look around for what is available in your house and visualise the look and feel of the wreath you want.

Be creative. Think out of the box.

Things you will need

Plenty of dried flowers (you can also use newspaper bits, crushed brown paper shreds, dried leaves, dried straw bits, etc)

Fillers – for embellishing the wreath (you can also use dried grass, twigs, dried tendrils, spaghetti, thin and slender dried leaves, any stuff from your old arrangements, etc.
Cellophane Tape – to seal the loose ends
Cable Wire/ Thick Wire/ Round Metal Frame – to form the basic frame of the wreath
Thin sheet of foam which may be leftover or recycled – the add body to the wreath’s frame
Thin metal wire – to fix the flowers around the frame. Or glue – If you do not like the idea of using a metal wire to fix the flowers
Left over coir rope or strings – for making a loop to hang the wreath

LETS GET STARTED

Make a circle out of the old cable wire. Since it is thick and sturdy, it forms a perfect circle and because of its weight, the wreath will not fly away when hung on the door.

Seal the ends of the cable wire ring with cellophane tape, so as to prevent it from getting unwound.

Cut 2-inch wide long strips out of any waste foam sheet. Start from the top and wind it around the cable frame, spirally, completing the whole circle. Seal the foam strip ends to prevent it from unwinding.

The base is now ready. Sort your dried flowers into buds and blooms. This will later help you pick up the right kind of flower you may need, as work progresses.

Start securing twigs to the wreath base. Let the natural formations and twig patterns help you decide the design. You can make a perfect circle with twigs or let the beautiful imperfections come in.

Start from the sealed spot. Pick up a single flower or a bunch of flowers and wind them around the foam padding. Use a thin metal wire as a binder and secure this first bunch firmly onto the frame.

Dried Woodroses are secured to wreath base

Add another flower or set of flowers to the frame and keep securing them with the metal wire or glue. Keep working around with more flowers and secure them to the base. You may place the flowers randomly or make a full floral circle.

You will get a fair idea of the pattern as you work along. More often than not, the work in progress patterns look far better than the finished product. Be creative with the thrash you throw around while making this wreath. Broken bits of twigs and dried petals can add far more beauty and depth to this organic wonder.

Once done, tie a coir rope or any cord to make a loop. Your basic wood rose wreath is ready to be hung on the door.

If you desire, this woodrose wreath can be further embellished with fillers. These could be dried grass, small dried flowers, etc.

Insert fillers in little gaps to form a pattern. You may insert the fillers in such a way that they are secure and wont fall off or fly away. Or simply glue them.

This eco-friendly Christmas wreath is now ready to be hung on your door.

Or you may add some candles for the added warmth at the dining table.

Dried Woodroses wreath with candles

Have a healthy and happy Christmas.

What Santa Claus will not tell you this Christmas

December 13, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Its jingle bells time, Christmas season awash with glad tidings, decked trees, gaiety, mirth and the customary Santa visits. Well not just Christmas, all festivals brings in its wake not just good times but also an indelibe amount of waste and an inherent impact on the environment and the surroundings. Lets take a starry look at some commonsense ways wherein we can usher in the Christmas season in a more responsible manner.

Turn off the Christmas light when its not needed or when you are’nt at home.
As simple as turning off your thermostat by a degree can whittle off 10 percent on your energy bills.
Buy recycled paper to wrap your special presents.
Choose a gift that can be useful, lasting and recyclcled.
Cold shoulder energy guzzling gadgets as gifts.
Ensure gifted gadgets have rechargable batteries.
Better green friendly gifts include concert tickets, gym memberships, baseball game tickets etc.
Make it a point to buy Christmas trees potted or with roots intact. You can always keep it in the balcony for next year or better still can be planted in the garden for reuse next year.
Reduce lighting up your garden or premises. You waste energy as also be a unwarranted nusiance to birds and insects.
Say yes to cloth napkins and porcelain plates. Say no to paper plates and cups.
Switch to organic produce for the Chrismas feast.
Ensure spare food and leftover are cooled before storing in the fridge.
Cook with the pan lids on. Your food cooks faster. You save energy too.
If you want to live it up with caviar, say no to endangered sturgeon and choosed the farmed variety instead.
Go for oysters than red meat. Oysters function like tiny carbon-wells that absorb CO2 to build their shells.
Going for Atlantic salmon and swordfish might ensure you might not have it again soon. They are endangered and need to be protected. Go for other better choices.
Do not use the dishwasher until it has a full load so that you can use it only once thus saving more.
Use decor made from recycled or eco-friendly materials.
Say yes to natural decoration. Easy to recycle and can be used as compost.
Pinecones, painted eggshells, crushed (colored) aluminum foil, paper chains, paper snowflakes, old CDs can always double up as decoration when handled creatively.
Sending an e-eard might not be too personal but it does help.
Preserve boxes, gift bags, wrapping, filler, ribbons and bows for future gift wrapping or craft projects.

These are just a few tips that will not only make this Cmas greener but also give you the added satisfaction that you did contribute to the environment in little ways that really matter. And at the end of it, please dont forget to recycle all the Christmas waste..

Have a merry Christmas all the way…..