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The Chambal Conservation Foundation was set up in 1999 by Kunwar Ram Pratap Singh, an engineer from IIT Roorkee and his wife Anu Dhillon Singh, an environmental scientist from London University.
Having pursued successful careers around the world, we decided to return to our ancestral farms, and commence work on our most challenging endeavour till date - to create sustainable and self sustaining projects, that would lead to an improvement in the lives of the local populace, whilst building support for the natural beauty and resources of the valley.
(Find out more about our conservation profile and eco-friendly approach)

The culmination of our dreams, Chambal Safari is an eco-tourism endeavour committed to the sustainable use of natural resources. We are proud to have placed the hitherto unknown Chambal valley on to the international birding and wildlife map; sharing its wonders with the world and guaranteeing its continued protection.

 

 

Eco-tourism by definition requires the involvement and benefit of local people and communities. Most of the team members belong to the area and have been trained by us. They are a highly motivated, enthusiastic and friendly group of people and an integral part of our extended family. They have all made an effort to acquire better skills and constantly strive to improve their communication and presentation abilities.

 
CONSERVATION PROFILE AND ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACH


ECO-TOURISM
• We have been able to create awareness about the National Chambal Sanctuary by promoting eco-tourism, and environment awareness and conservation programmes in the areas around the Sanctuary. This effort has given a much required boost not only to the resource conservation program of the Sanctuary and its environs, but has also created a wellspring of goodwill amongst the local populace.

 • We are proud to have placed the hitherto unknown Chambal valley on to the international birding and wildlife map; sharing its wonders with the world and guaranteeing its continued protection. We have worked hard to ensure that all activity is sustainable and environmentally sound.

 Reforestation& Habitat Regeneration
• Large numbers of indigenous trees and shrubs are planted every year to supplement the existing growth and to create a ‘nature reserve’ that is being progressively allowed to regenerate itself, untouched by human interference. The results of our efforts can be judged by the fact that the Lodge area now boasts of a checklist of over 195 species of birds, reptiles and mammals.

 • 6 acres of our land have been dedicated to develop a Forest nursery to supply reforestation drives.

 • In July 2007, we participated in UP Government Plantation Drive and successfully planted 10,000 saplings with the help of over 100 local participants.

 • We have helped create check-dams in the ravines and also created large ponds for collecting and storing rainwater in and around the Lodge area.

 • In 2008 a further 7 acres of land will be used to interlink the pond areas to create a large lake within the Chambal Safari Lodge.

 Power Generation
• In keeping with our eco-friendly approach, the gently glowing but reliable hurricane lanterns and candles are our last line of defence against our erratic power supply.

 • We only operate our generator to ensure a supply of hot water in the mornings and evenings, and are exploring environmentally sound options for generating our own power. Necessity, as they say, is the mother of all invention!

 Local Community Involvement
• A majority of our team members belong to the local community.

 • Great care has been taken to use indigenous materials and craftsmen. The furnishings are procured locally and showcase crafts and skills honed over generations.

 • Most of the produce used in the Lodge Kitchens is from our own farms or procured directly from the local farmers.

 Recycling
• We use compost pits for all our organic waste and recycle close to 70% of our inorganic waste. We have not been able to find a satisfactory way of recycling our plastic waste (mainly mineral water bottles) and welcome any information and suggestions.

 • Bathwater and water from our kitchen is recycled through soak pits and allowed to filter back into the ground.

 THE CHAMBAL CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
We run the Chambal Conservation Foundation with our own funds and are committed to protecting the pristine environment of the Chambal valley.

 Creating Awareness
• The Foundation works in close collaboration with the Forest Department and the local communities to help strike a balance between ostensibly divergent needs, by organizing awareness camps and interactive meetings.

 • Every year in October, the Foundation organises a Wildlife Conservation Week, to create awareness and generate interest amongst school children. Close to 20,000 children from Agra and from rural schools near the Sanctuary participated in the 2006 and 2007 events, which included talks, essay and quiz competitions, and visits to protected areas near Agra, including the National Chambal Sanctuary.

 Research & Data Compilation
• Every year we participate in and host the census team members for the annual census of the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) carried out jointly by the Forest Department and WWF.

 • We provide logistical and backup support to research students working on projects related to the NCS.

 • A detailed scientific listing of all the birds, mammals and reptiles sighted in the Chambal Valley has been compiled with the assistance of both amateur birders and ornithologists of international repute over a period of several years of extensive research and is extensively revised and updated each year.

 • The process of listing the flora of the Chambal Valley has been initiated.

 • We regularly provide information on the status of the wildlife in the Sanctuary to International and National organizations, including WWF, BNHS, OBC, Ministry of Environment and Forests.

 • We worked with Vulture project of Peregrene fund of USA towards identifying vulture nests in the Chambal valley.

 • We participated in the Yamuna bird count 2005 to learn the methodology to carry out similar activities in Chambal sanctuary.

 Activism
• We work in tandem with the Forest Department and The Ministry of Environment and Forests to raise issues of concern and provide up-to-date data and information on the sanctuary.

 • Since 2002, we have been members of advisory boards for the National Chambal Sanctuary, Sursarovar Bird Sanctuary, Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Patna Bird Sanctuary.

 • We are active members of the River Watch group since 2006.

 • Our boats are also used for patrolling, anti-poaching, anti-sand mining and data gathering activities.

 • We led a sustained campaign and have been instrumental in having a check-post built at the road head into the NCS at Nandgaon, helping to substantially lower poaching and eliminate sand-mining operations.

 Conservation Projects
• We are working with the Forest Department to help establish and revive the eco-development schemes for exploring avenues of employment and economic benefit for the local populace to ensure their greater participation in the conservation and protection efforts.

 • In March 2008, we conducted a socio-economic survey covering 195 villages inside the Chambal sanctuary.

 • In order to reduce dependence on the Sanctuary and provide direct benefits to the local populace, we have provided technical inputs to Forest range offices for rainwater harvesting projects at Nandgaon and Jhirnapura in Bah Range.

 • We have been actively assisting the Gharial Crisis Management Group and WWF at the field level since the Gharial crisis in December 2007.

 • We are working with WWF for preparation of Chambal river basin management plan.

• Every year we identify and provide protective covers for the nesting sites of the Gharials and Muggers.

• We were instrumental in initiating the process of restoration of the Ater Fort that lies on the fringes of the Sanctuary. 

 
 

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