Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra

“For a better future, we shall protect the nature” is the slogan of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM). The mission of the NGO is to conserve nature through field protection, awareness, education and scientific based action. It is currently working in wildlife conservation, school infrastructure development, plastic and solid waste management etc.

Major Interventions:

Nature Conservation & Citizen Science: SNM initiated the project ‘Conservation of Pangolin in Konkan region’ to protect and conserve this unique species as illegal trade of live pangolin or scale has been noticed through repeatedly incidence of the seizure news report. Awareness meetings, trail-based field surveys are conducted. Mass clean up drives were organized at Kolthare beach to gain community support during the year.

e-Biodiversity is a project designed in collaboration with DMCC to promote scientific understanding among students through the lens of applied scientific research between middle schools in Ratnagiri District. The NGO is also protecting previously planted native tree saplings along with conservation of bats and turtles. My Jungle project is based on the purchase of the forest land and let the forest grow itself without any disturbance wherein local people will also be engaged in conservation activities through SNM’s principle of ‘Livelihood Through Nature Conservation’.

Plastic & Solid Waste Management: Multi-decade targets has been set to put us on a path to achieve carbon neutrality and eliminate plastic waste thereby resolve the Waste management issue in Chiplun city of Ratnagiri. Plastic bhishi is a unique activity designed to gain public participation. The NGO executes daily empty milk bag collection for recycling and upcycling. Further, Educational institutes are educated and sensitized about plastic waste and its management through presentation and lectures. Activities including kitchen waste management and society wet waste composting are also carried out.

School Infrastructure Development & Healthcare: Roof leakage, weak structure creates obstacles in learning environment for rural schools. The NGO works towards the development of such schools and provides necessary equipments and machines, rainwater drainage systems are also constructed. SNM had initiated some activities towards the support of hospitals, PHCs during the second wave of Covid pandemic.