Environmental Education Center & Afforstation in Maval Taluka, Emulushi, India April 1997 - March 1998 Implemented by: ICA Pune, India; ICA Japan, and local people
PROJECT OVERVIEW Environmental Education and Agroforestry Malegaon cluster, located three hours west of Pune, Maharashtra State, is seven tribal villages of 3200 people isolated from regular traffic and communication. When ICA India began this project in 1989, even drinking water was in short supply. The situation has gradually improved through water systems construction and dairy and agriculture development. With their survival needs relieved, the villagers began to turn their attention to agroforestry and environmental education projects. In 1995 and 1996, we began accelerating environmental education impact by constructing an Environmental Education Center, and we began 50 hectares of afforestation and agroforestry. In 1997, we began adding residential rooms to the training center and building a nursery and greenhouse. Villagers are eagerly participating, and have become teachers in environmental conservation and community development. They are helping expand the project to seven additional forgotten villages. Our next step is to furnish the training center with chairs, tables, kitchenware, beds, library materials and audio-visual equipment, and to provide environmental education and materials in the new villages.
1. Extension and renovation of the Center was completed at the end of January, 1998.
	2. Much manual labor is used in building construction in India.
	3. The third and last slab is now completed.
	4. Extension of Environmental Education Center (EEC) was started in July, 1997.
	5. Behind the center, the new nursery construction has begun.
	6. The greenhouse nursery has the first posts installed. The nearly complete center is in the background.
	7. Construction of a greenhouse for nursery and vegetable crops at the Center.
	8. Black cheesecloth is used instead of vinyl for cutting sunshine.
	9. Demonstration of spinach cultivation by using drip irrigation in the greenhouse.
	10. There is a nursery for tomato, cucumber and green pepper in the greenhouse.
	11. Spinach grown by drip irrigation at 30 days after sowing. Above is a sample grown in the covered nursery, below is a sample that was in the direct sun.
	12. Making cow dung compost to improve soil compaction and structure
	13. Sterilizing the compost in order to kill nametode and soil diseases.
	14. Grass cutting to make new model-farm at the Center.
	15. ?Upeople spent 2 days to cut the grass completely.
	16. Cut grass was stored in one place and will be used for compost later on.
	17. In preparation for terracing the demonstration farm plots, grass was burnt in areas that could not be cut, taking care that the grass still had moisture from dew to prevent unintentional spreading of the fire.
	18. Plowing for terracing 3000m2 after grass cutting. Here will be planted beans, vegetables, fruit trees, and general purpose trees.
	19. Children help take large seedlings to their school grounds.
	20. Straw mulching for fruit trees to prevent them from drying and dying.
	21. Plantation trees in Maval Taluka will be improved next year copying the successful experiment at the EEC in mulching for nutrition and drought protection.
	22. 4-year-old fruit trees and forest trees.
	23. At the Kune village tree plantation, a tree planted in the 1st year which has grown large is being shown to Ms. Toda.
	24. Ansute village tree plantation.
	25. The agroforestry farmer and village leader Mr. Supe visit the fruit plantaton plot B in Malegon.
	26. The long village meeting planning their next five years has begun. They will review the village history, state their visions, think carefully about conflicts, and then create their strategic proposals.
	27. This team is assigned to find solutions fo some of the conflicts. It is carefully mixed with elders, youth, men and women.
	28. A large number of women participated in the planning.
	29. The general scene in Mulshi village taken at the beginning of summer (April).
	30. The river flowing nereby Mulshi Village is a great source of water even in dry season. After the dam is finished, a second crop will be possible each year. But during the last two months of summer, only water for drinking will be available.
	31. The 2 specialists from Japan with members of ICA India in front of the EEC.