Paryavaran Mitra Reprt 2012

BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN’S ATMAKURI RAMA RAOSCHOOL

Why we chose Biodiversity as our key theme?

i) 2011 -2020 has been declared as the UnitedNations Decade for Biodiversity.

ii) India is our country which has some of theworlds most biodiverse region. It hosts twobiodiversity hotspots the Western ghats, TheHimalayas.

iii) CEE and Paryavaran mitra through itsmultifarious activities and programs have alwaysencouraged student’s handprint in the area ofbiodiversity. (Special mention for GOA Eventwhich kindled the fire in the studentparticipants to work in this area)

iv) India is a host for the UNCOP (COP11) –Convention on biological diversity in October atHyderabad

v) Action plans in the area of Biodiversity are thefirst step in the chain of events that lead tomanagement of climate change at the micro levelof the school.

BIODIVERSITY and GREENING

Objectives

i) Restoration of the lost vegetation in the schoolgrounds.The school has been constructed in 2009-2011. Thishas resulted in drastic change in the biodiversity ofthe six acre plot. The students have been a witness toit and want to restore what is lost.

ii) Develop biodiversity that is endemic to the habitat.iii) Provide the students opportunities to

- Become aware, acquire information and knowledgeabout issues regarding biodiversity

- Build skills through hands-on experience andprojects in-their school

- Imbibe values and habits that are consistent with asustainable way of life.

iv) Provide edutainment i.e. education throughentertainment.

v) Encouraging student participation in inter schoolquizzes, essay writing, exhibition and othercompetitions.

BIODIVERSITY AND GREENING

ACTIVITIES

1. Tree planting drive during van mahotsavacelebrations. (approx 100)

2.Tree plantation by partnering with NGO –DIYA (approx 100)

3. Setting up of open butterfly garden4. Workshop on organic food, healthy eating

habits

5. Setting up of vegetable cum herbal garden6. Visits/ trips/ excursions7. Participation in events such as quizzes/

exhibitions/ essay writing competitionspertaining to environment

8.Workshop on Home remedies9. Rally and street play in support of greening

ACTIVITY 1,2 – Tree plantation drive

Vanmohatsava celebrations

Vanmahotsava was celebrated by planting 100 saplings of various endemic speciesof Hyderabad in the school premises. The saplings were procured from the forestnursery and the nature club WWF students took an active and enthusiastic part inthe organization and planning of vanmohatsava. The first sapling was planted by thePrincipal Smt. P. Satya who also spoke about the important place accorded to treesin our culture. She also spoke about the special significance given to nature at timeof worship and the reverence held for certain trees. The students later plantedthe saplings all around the school premises and learnt a lot of things related to theart of gardening and skill required to tend to plants.

Vriksha Ganga Abhiyan

The All India Gayatri Pariwar (AIGP) started an NGO under the mentorship of Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam called DIYA – Divine India Youth Association. Under the aegis ofDIYA the Vriksha Ganga Abhiyan was organized by the school on 23rd July. Shri

Ramana, Registrar of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Hyderabad Kendra was theChief Guest on the occasion along with senior dignitaries from the Gayatri Parivaras the special guests.

The students were divided into ten groups which were named after the ancientguru’s from India. The first sapling was planted by Shri Ramana and the PrincipalSmt. P. Satya. Students volunteered to dig pits, mix manure and plant a number ofsaplings. They gave positive feedback about the whole programme and were in factoverwhelmed at the idea of being a part of an act of restoration.

Table 1.1 Showing the details about plantation

S.no. Name of thetrees/shrubs planted

No. of trees /shrubsplanted

No. survived Totalplantation

area1. Ashoka tree 17 152. Neem 19 193. Bauhinia 25 254. Pomegranate 05 055. Tomato 02 016. gulmohar 13 137. Mango 07 058. Copper pod 17 179. pongam 03 0310. hibiscus 11 1111. Nerium 18 1712. subabul 22 2013. Cycas 05 0314. Others 35 3515. TOTAL 200 190

Areas covered in syllabus: Class 8, Science, NCERT- Biodiversity

Class 7, Science, NCERT- Forests our lifeline

Class 6, Science, NCERT – Adaptations

Impact on the environment:

One tree can sequester approx. 3.66 to 10 kg of carbon dioxide everyyear.

200 trees can sequester200x3.66 kg of carbon dioxide= 732 kg

Reference:

Low carbon lifestyles, CEE, NFD, 2010 WikipediaNewspaper clippings: enclosed

ACTIVITY 3 – Open butterfly garden

Nagasaki And Hiroshima disasters were remembered and peace daywas observed by the students. The novel idea of observing peace bygifting a plant was put forth by the Principal Smt. P. Satya.

The students lovingly gifted flowering herbs and small plants. Thus asmall flower garden was created in the school quadrangle whichattracted local butterflies the harbingers of peace. Joining them werea host of other members of the insect community like the dragonflies,beetles, bugs, centipedes and millipedes. The ‘gift a plant’ drivesuccessfully added to the greenery of the school premises.

A butterfly garden is simply a flower garden that is designed to includenectar-rich flowers that butterflies love to visit. By providing the rightmix of flowers, shelter, water, and sun it is easy to attract and sustainbutterfly populations so they feel at home.

Importance

Butterflies are called Bio- Indicators. Other than aesthetic value, theyare ecologically significant as they perform Pollination, form a vital linkin food chain, indicate healthy environment.

They are very sensitive to even subtle undesirable environmentalchanges thus forewarning us on changing quality of our surroundings.

How to set up a butterfly garden?

Get to know what butterflies are in your area.Locate your garden in a sunny area. Flowers that needsunlight attract more butterflies.Landscape your garden in an area with flowers butterfliesprefer. Many butterflies prefer plants with clusters of shorttubular flowers.Use large swaths of color. Butterflies are attracted toflowers by their color, so planting in masses of flowers makeit easier for them to find that single plantings.

Flowering plants in the school

Ixora, bluebells, ipomoea, rose, violets, aster, marigold,nerium, hibiscus, mogra, silver spiked cockscomb,lantana

Butterflies seen during Aug to Dec

Common crow butterfly, common bush brown, commonemigrant

Reference

Butterflies of Goa – Parag Rangnekar

Wikipedia

CottonACTIVITY 4 – Healthy food, organic food

The students took part in hands on activity programbased on ‘no fire cooking’. They were first briefed

about the concept of organic agriculture and organicfood. The students then brought various organicingredients from the store and prepared variousrecipes based on minimal cooking and processing.

Thus the students learnt not only about easy cookingtechniques but also how processing and cookingdestroys the important nutrients.

The students prepared sprout salad, sandwiches, fruitjuices with fibre (without using blender and usingtraditional squeezing methods). Their efforts wereappreciated by the Principal, teachers and office staff.

ACTIVITY 5 – Herbal garden/ Vegetable garden

The herbal garden was set up by class 8 and 9students in a barren corner near the block A. Theeffort put in by the students first includedflattening of ground by breaking and removingrocks which will later be used for landscaping.

The ground was later filled with fertile soil mixedwith cowdung. Then medicinal herbs were planted.The yield of ‘methi leaves’ or fenugreek afterthree weeks was distributed among the staff.Aloe, tulsi, bishops weed, mustard, fenugreek,coriander etc. are planted in the garden.

Thus ‘shramdaan’ has transformed barren landinto herbal garden.

ACTIVITY 6 – Visits/trips/ excursions

TERI seminar

The national level teacher’s seminar was conducted by Teri in Hyderabad on the topic ‘TheRoad ahead – ICT and Education for sustainable development’. The seminar discussed the

role of various stakeholders in realising the goals of UNO and the presentation on TERI’swork in the field of research and environmental sustainability.

Paryavaran Mitra – Goa event (11th December – 15th December)

One teacher and two students were invited from the school to attend the Goa event whichwas a National level event. The event successfully helped the participants to explore anddiscover the real wild side of Goa through a myriad of activities like showcase of work inexhibition, presentations, star gazing, interaction with environment Minister of Goa,teacher’s forum, painting and drawing, samudra manthan quiz, visit to Goa science centre,3d- show, visit to Salim Ali bird sanctuary, field trip to Bondla wild life sanctuary, zoo,mangroves, temple trails, beach walk, visit to astronomical centre, interaction with khazanfarmers, visit to spice plantations and traditional kudaghar agriculture, wild lifephotography exhibition etc.

The event proved an eye opener as it helped participants to know about the other side ofGoa which is a part of Biodiversity hotspot of western ghats. The event also providedopportunity to participants from all corners of India to interact and present their culturalevents.

Trips/ excursions

The school organised various trips for students to bring them close to nature andunderstand the interrelation between man and environment. The trips organised were:

a) Bengaluru botanical gardens-lalbagh, Bangaloreb) Botanical gardens, Hyderabadc) Hyderabad zood) ICRISAT Hyderabade) Mysore Zoo

The students took special interest in the breeding centre associated with thezoo meant for conserving endangered species.

ACTIVITY 7 – Participation in competitions related toenvironmental issues.

1. Cities for forests campaign (WWF)

The students took part in the cities for forests campaign by preparing andsubmitting story and a presentation on the work done by them in the month ofSeptember. Ms. Aastha won consolation prize in Story writing at state level. Thestudents also took part in the WWF wild wisdom quiz . The elimination round washeld for classes 7, 8, 9 and Mst. Jayakrishna Sahit and Ms. Meghana were selectedto represent the school in the state level competition held on 9th November 2011.

2. ECO – ECHO exhibition (PEAS)

The students of class 8 took part in the exhibition and programme conducted byPEAS at Obul Reddy school. They presented a skit on energy conservation, a puppetshow on air pollution, best out of waste model ‘Fluid Dynamics’ and ‘Seismograph’.

They also presented a model explaining ‘Forests for sustainable development’. Ms.Garima won first prize in the Essay writing competition.

3. CII – paint our earth green competition

Ms. Raajitha won first prize and Mst. Subhash won the consolation Prize in thedrawing and painting event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industries.

4. CBSE SCIENCE EXHIBITION

The students developed a project on green living for the CBSE Science Exhibition2011 (Chennai). The project comprised of passive solar house and concept of mudbricks. The technique of making plastic roads with waste plastic bags was put forthin the exhibition. (Project report available on request)

ACTIVITY 8 – Workshop on home remedies

The students used the plant parts from the campus to make plant products whichare used as home remedies for common ailments. They learnt how to use plantparts as extracts ,decoction etc.

The general methods for processing learnt were:

Fresh Juice – wash plant material, chop, crush, squeeze crushed material through aclean cloth. (To be used immediately)

Herbal paste – crush the cleaned plant material, add little water and grind to makepaste.

Herbal powder – dry the plant material in shade, crush and pound to powder.(Canbe stored)

Decoction – boil the herbs in water over low flame. Wash material, chop and pound,mix 1 partwith 16 parts of water and boil to reduce to one fourth of its volume.

Home remedies learnt were:

Dry cough - Tulsi and fresh ginger juice mixed with equal volume of honey taken 3times a day for 3-5days.

Wet cough – 2 tsp. aloe pulp with half tsp. ghee and little sugar in morning andevening for 3 days

Fresh wounds – slit aloe leaf open and apply pulp

Fungal infections – Fresh neem leaves ground and applied on affected areas

Indigestion – Seeds of ajwain (bishops weed) powdered and eaten

Activity 9 – Rally and Street play

‘Save trees – Save forests’ rally

The student members of the WWF club along with Mr. Srinivas and

Mrs. Sujata took out a rally in support of forests and the green cover.

The students were armed with placards, banners and shouted slogans in

support of the cause of preserving our forests. The students also

staged a street play in Hindi as well as Telugu underlying the

importance of trees. The locals from the basti enjoyed the play and

were curious and shocked to know that the forest cover determines

the rainfall of a particular area.

The student activists embraced every cut down tree, took great pride

in expounding the virtues of forests and enjoyed being the crusaders

for the worthy cause. What they learned on field greatly added to

their knowledge because they experienced it first hand.

PART - II

Water & Sanitation

Water & Sanitation - Activities undertaken

1) Soak pit constructed near the block B

2) Students asked to empty the water left in

their water bottles in to the plants

3) Leaking taps/ flushes reported and repaired

4) Students sensitized to close the taps after

use, use glasses to drink water at the cooler

5) Housekeeping staff asked to use mop water

for plants

6) School plants watered using bucket and mug

rather than hosepipes

Activity 1 – Soak pits

The school building (block A and block B) is made on differentlevels of land. The water flows along the natural slopinggradient and is directed to the soak pit covered with sandwhich also serves as the playpen for tiny tots. Thus rainwater is harvested. The ground water table charged.

Activity 2 to 6 – Water conservation

A large number of methods are adopted to decrease the

consumption of water as mentioned earlier.

A hose pipe is a quick and easy way to water the plants but it

uses massive amounts of water. Plants are now being watered

effectively with a bucket and mug.

This has resulted in approx. conservation of 100 litres of

water per day through the measures mentioned.

Impact on environment

Table 2.1 Reduce annual CO2 emissions by 24 – 63 kg

Supply Electricityrequiredto pump 1klof water(kWh)

Emissionfactor(kgCO2

/kWh)

CO2

emissionsper kl ofwaterpumped(kg)

Annualwaterconserved (kl)

Annual CO2

emissionreductions(kg)

Borewellsupply

0.82 0.82 0.67 36 24.12

Muncipalsupply

2.13 0.82 1.70 36 63

Reference: Low Carbon Lifestyles, CEE, NFD

Impact: Thus through conservation of 100 litres

of water per day there is a reduction in annual

CO2 emissions by 24 – 63 kg.

Waste management

Waste Management- Activities undertaken

1) Compost pit has been created and is functional. It uses

waste generated from dried leaf plates in the canteen

along with cowdung to make compost.

2) WOW – wealth out of waste programme takes care of

waste paper generated (newspaper, old notebooks and

magazines, loose papers) which is sent for recycling.

3) School office uses both sides of paper for printing

4) In school, wherever possible printing is avoided and

technology used for paperless existence

5) Students are encouraged to use both sides of chart

paper, use old magazines, old boxes for projects and

models and use eco friendly material for decoration

6) Above all students are subtly taught the value in

“WASTE NOT WANT NOT”

Activity 1 – Compost pit

The compost pit is using the waste generated by the canteen in formof used dry leaf plates and mixing it with cow dung to make compost.Thus the waste is effectively used for making compost and thecompost is utilized for the plants in the school premises.

Activity 2 – WOW

The nature club members have attended the National Recycling daycelebrations and taken a pledge to prevent wastage of resources andeffectively recycle, reduce. reuse things.

The volunteers have advised student community against throwing foodaway. Polythene bags are completely banned in the school premises.

Activity 3 and 4 – Paper use

The school office has received a request from the nature club to useboth sides of paper, reuse envelops, request for e-statements.

Activity 5 and 6 - Student projects/ models/ school decorations

Teachers from all the disciplines ask students to makeprojects/models using waste materials like boxes, newspapers, usedCDs. The students are clearly told to not take print outs from theinternet and buy readymade charts, instead they are asked to look forpictures in old magazines and newspapers.

Impact on environment

Table 2.2 : By using just 50 sheets of double sidedprinting a month, by reducing printing by just one ream ofpaper a month

Activity No ofsheets/month

Weight ofpaperconservedannually(kg)

Emissionfactor (kgCO2/kgpaper)

AnnualCO2

Emissions(kg)

Print onboth sides 50 3 29 8.7

Reduceprintingby 1 ream

500 30 2.9 87

o Hence we meet target of reducing one ream of papera month.Thus reducing annual CO2 emissions by 87 kg

o By using 50 sheets double sided printing a month wereduce CO2 emissions by 8.7 kg.

Reference: Low Carbon Lifestyles, CEE, NFD

Energy

Energy - Activities undertaken

1) Turn off lights and fans when not in use

2) Come out and play (1 hour self imposed power

cut every week)

3) Switch off not standby and plug off

4) Use BEE 5 star rated electrical appliances

5) Eat together

6) CBSE Science Exhibition (Chennai)- project on

‘LED- FLECT’

Energy monitors in every class ensure that thepower is switched off when the class leaves forlibrary/games/lab/music and dance/ computerperiod.

o The school office/computer lab/science lab/audiovisual room is advised to switch off appliances atthe plug point. They are also advised to remove theplug at the end of the day.

o Class to class campaigning is done by nature clubvolunteers through novel ways like using bodypaints, to sensitize the student community aboutusing CFLs, BEE star rated appliances, turning offlights and fans when not in use and switching off atplug point.

o Students are also advised to use school bus, walkshort distances, heat food at one go (eat familydinner together) to reduce unnecessary use of gasfuel/microwave oven.

o Teachers are requested to take the students outfor a period everyday instead of remaining inclassrooms.

o Students developed a model ‘LED – Flect’ forefficient lighting based on the scientific principlesof multiple reflections, concave reflecting surfaceto get good luminous intensity from LEDs.

Impact on environment

Taking a bus to school, using transport provided by school.

Table 2.3 : Take a bus to school

Vehicle

Passengerkm/year

Mileage(km/l)

Annualperpassenger fuelconsumption (l)

Emissionfactor(kg/l)

Annual perpassengerCO2

emission(kg)

Cost/km(Rs)

Annualcost(Rs)

Car(5kmoneway)

4000 17.6 227.27 2.325

528.41

2.94 11741

Bustoschool

80 4.3 18.60 2.734

50.87 60 4800

Savings

477.54

6941

Assumption 50 passenger per bus and 200 working days

Thus by using school bus there was

o Reduction in annual CO2 emissions by 477 kgo Reduction in annual fuel cost by Rs 6941

Reference: Low Carbon Lifestyles, CEE, NFD

Culture andHeritage

Culture and Heritage

Activities undertaken

1) Festivals are celebrated in special morning assemblies,

explaining not only the significance, rituals, food and

culture associated with it, but also the connection with

the environment.

Clay ganesha workshop, saying no to diwali crackers,

harvest festival Pongal, vasant panchmi etc.

2) Vigilance awareness week celebrated to highlight the

cause of Heritage, Environment, Consumer Rights and

Corruption.

3) Workshop on batik was organized to explain the

ancient technique which uses natural dyes.

4) Short film screening organized. “Our Earth, Our Home”

by Anjali Bhatnagar as per CBSE circular.

5) Bharatiya Vidya Bhavans promotes vegetarianism as it

salutes the non violent culture of the land of India and

its many religions.

Activity 1 – Festivals and environment

During celebration of ganesha chaturthi festival, a clayganesha workshop was organized for the students and thevirtues of worshipping eco friendly clay ganesha idol explainedto the students.

During celebration of diwali festival, the students were askedto prevent noise and air pollution by lighting few crackers orno crackers at all.

During sankranthi festival the importance of using cowdungballs ‘GOBILLU’ was explained. The significance of eatingpreparations made from freshly harvested sesame, rice andjaggery was also explained to the students.

Similarly the arrival of spring during vasant panchami and thechange of seasons explained through poetry.

Activity 2 – Vigilance Awareness Week celebrated on the birthanniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

To commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar VallabhbhaiPatel, CBSE proposed celebration of vigilance awareness week.

The school celebrated Vigilance awareness week with a newtopic every day.

A day each was designated for consumer rights vigilance,environmental vigilance, heritage vigilance, vigilance againstcorruption.

The environment awareness, consumer awareness, heritageawareness week were celebrated with a variety of activities inthe morning activities. The activities included a puppet show,information about oliver ridley turtles, ocean biodiversity ,ganga action plan which were presented by the students. Thecomic strip presentation, skits and radio jockey showentertained the students besides being informative. The RTIact, website address for complaints were given in theassembly.

Activity 3 – Work shop on Batik

The nature club students took part in the workshop where thetechnique of batik was presented and art of using natural dyesand colours was explained.

The students prepared extracts of various colours by boilingpetals of marigold, beetroot, leaves, turmeric etc. The boiledand reduced extracts were used for dyeing the fabric. Thehandkerchiefs, bandanas, hair bands were made by firstpouring molten wax in a pattern traced out earlier. Later thecloth was dipped in dye. Fresh wax was applied to get patternswith contrasting colours.

Activity 4 – Film screening “Our Earth, Our Home”

As per the CBSE circular, the film-Our earth, Our Home wasscreened for the students in the AV room. The film talkedabout different ways which could be adopted individually tosustain our natural resources and preserve planet earth.

Activity 5 - Vegetarianism

Turning vegetarian can seriously help environment. A Vegan dietreduces global warming far more than switching to a hybrid car.

ConclusionThe impact on environment in terms of reductionin carbon dioxide emissions is

1) Conserving 100l of water 43kg

2) Using school bus 477kg

3) Reducing printing by 1 ream/month 87kg

4) Using 50 sheets double sided printing/month8.7kg

_____________________________________TOTAL reduction in CO2 emissions 615.7kg

Approximately 615 kg of CO2 emissions hasbeen brought by Paryavaran Mitra Action inschool.

Also 732 kg of CO2 has been sequesteredthrough plantations.