Pune environment is of prime concern to the residents of this Maharashtran city. The city of Pune spreads over 138 square kilometers and has a green cover of 40%. Compared to Indian city standards this is an encouraging figure. The local inhabitantsk, in an effort to protect the environment of Pune, has set up RANWA and the Kalpavrish Environment Action Group.
Pune RANWA
RANWA (Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration) in Pune is a NGO of nature lovers formed in 1993 to protect and conserve the environment through research, education and social awareness programs. The activities of RANWA include:
- Action - Afforestation, or planting trees of local species is the primary activity of RANWA. Other actions include organizing environment awareness campaigns, and support all forms of environmental issues
- Education - Conducting nature study programs for children and adults alike, and introduce them to different species of birds, butterflies, and plants
- Research - Recording and documentation of plants, and animals generally in Western Maharashtra and particularly in and around Pune
RANWA had undertaken the following projects for furtherance of their cause towards conservation and protection of environment:
- A Western Ghats Biodiversity Project undertaken in 1995-96 aided by Indian Institute
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of Science for conserving the flora and fauna of the Western Ghat Hills.
- Sacred Groves Biosphere reserve protection in 1997-99 sponsored by World Wildlife Fund.
- The Pune Urban Biota Project for creating and conserving a biosphere for Pune urban area in association with Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in 2000-01.
Presided by Dr. Ajay Dixit, RANWA is located in C 26/1, Ketan Heights, Kothrud, Pune - 411 029
Kalpavrish Environment Action Group
Kalpavrish is a non-profit concern set up in 1979 to work on environmental issues. It spreads awareness, organizes campaigns, does research and litigation on all activities related to conservation and protection of environment
According to Kalpavrish, a society or nation can develop meaningfully only when oneness with nature and among fellow beings are achieved through social equity and ecological sustainability. Kalpavrish achieve their objectives through: i) environmental development through water conservation, safe mining procedures, ii) urban environment conservation through afforestation, iii) conservation of protected forests, iv) protection of community conserved areas.
Kalpavrish is located in Apartment 5, Shree Dutta Krupa, 908 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune - 411 004.
Pune Environment protection has been a successful attempt by these two non-profit groups. The healthy environment has been a great motivation for people deciding to settle in Pune.
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