Rainfall abated further in all other places in Kodagu district except Madikeri on Sunday and the rivers that were in spate receded. The average rainfall in Kodagu district from 8 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday was 39.41 mm.
Madikeri city received 123 mm rainfall in the period between 8 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Sampaje hobli in Madikeri taluk continued to receive heavy rainfall in the district with 140.8 mm. Bhagamandala hobli recorded 76 mm rainfall followed by Shantalli hobli receiving 51.2 mm rainfall.
HARANGI FULL
The inflow into the Harangi reservoir was at the rate of 11,600 cusecs on Sunday and the outflow was at the rate of 8,050 cusecs.
The water-level in the Harangi reservoir stood at 2,855.40 ft as against the maximum reservoir level of 2,859 ft. The water-level during the corresponding period last year was 2,820.06 ft.
AVERAGE RAINFALL
The average rainfall in Kodagu district from January 2013 till July 7 at 8 a.m. is 1,312.76 mm as against 643.47 mm rainfall during the same period last year.
Madikeri taluk received an average rainfall of 1,951.10 mm from January till July 7 at 8 a.m. It was 894.22 mm in the corresponding period last year.
Madikeri taluk recorded an average rainfall of 91.10 mm in the period between 8 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Virajpet taluk recorded an average rainfall of 968.90 mm from January till July 7 as against 551.03 mm in the same period last year. Somwarpet taluk recorded an average rainfall of 1,017.07 mm from January till July 7 as against 485.16 mm rainfall in the corresponding period last year, according to meteorological department sources.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore – July 08th, 2013
The high court has recently directed the Kodagu administration to conduct a survey to find out about the encroachment of a canal and to send a report to the high court for further action. PuggeraRevathiChengappa of T Shettigeri village in South Kodagu had filed a petition requesting the authorities to evict the encroachers.
In response to the court direction, deputy commissioner N V Prasad, along with assistant commissioner G Prabhu, Virajpet taluk tahasildar Arogya Meri, visited the spot. They have identified the encroached area with the help of surveyors.
The canal was formed 60 years back. Recently some persons have encroached on the canal, adding it to their land. They have closed the canal which was formed to use by farmers for farming activities. The encroachers have built a commercial complex, houses and also have formed sites for business purpose. All these issues were mentioned in the petition.
The officers said that a detailed survey report along with the identification sketches will be submitted to the high court.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore / TNN / July 06th, 2013
The Harangi reservoir in the taluk is just two feet away from reaching its maximum level. On Monday, the level stood at 2,857.14 feet, against a maximum level of 2,859 feet.
A total of 400 cusecs of water is being released from the dam since morning. The inflow into the reservoir stood at 3,600 cusecs at 8.30 am. The present storage in the reservoir is 7.65 tmc feet against the total capacity of eight tmc feet.
The reservoir had reached its brim in August last year. But this time, the rainy season has begun a month early, facilitating good inflow into the dam. Engineers manning the dam said that the irrigation consultative committee would meet on July 15, after which water would be released to the canals for irrigation. Releasing water to the canals would irrigate 1.37 lakh acres of land.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / DHNS – Kushalnagar (Kodagu Dist.) / July 01st, 2013
The inflow of water into Harangi reservoir has increased following copious rainfall in various parts of the district on Tuesday.
Madikeri, Napoklu, Sampaje, Bhagamandala, Virajpet, Srimangala, Shanthalli recorded more than 100 mm rainfall.
The house belonging to M C Changappa was partially damaged in Kunjila village. Another house in Bellur village was also damaged in the rainfall. Cauvery, Lakshmanatheertha, Hemavathi, Harangi, Barapole, Chiklihole rivers are in spate following incessant rainfall in the region.
With rain water flowing on road, the movement of vehicles on Napoklu-Moornadu road has been disrupted. Flood water has inundated road at Bhagamandala. If the region continues to receive rainfall, then road will be cut off from the rest of the world. A minor bridge in Balamuri is inundated in flood water. Water has entered paddy fields in Balamuri.
In the last 24 hours, the district received an average of 91.91 mm rainfall. This includes Madikeri—121 mm, Virajpet—90.15 mm and Somwarpet taluk—64.75 mm.
Rains received in hobli centres are as follows: Madikeri kasaba—100 mm, Napoklu—110.8 mm, Sampaje—132.2 mm, Bhagamandala—150 mm, Virajpet kasaba—127.4 mm, Hudikeri—38.1 mm, Kodlipete—40 mm, Kushalnagar—24.4 mm, and Suntikoppa—62.3 mm rainfall.
Chikmagalur
With heavy rains lashing Mudigere, rain water has entered into fields in Kesavalalu and Uggehalli. If the region continues to get rainfall, then houses will also be inundated.
Paddy saplings kept ready for transplantation in the fields have been inundated at Banakal, Baggasagodu, Horatti, Mugrahalli, Kithlegandi, Bettadamane and Gonibeedu.
Work in the coffee estates have been suspended following heavy rainfall. With rains lashing catchment areas, Bhadra and Somavathi rivers are in spate in Kalasa.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri – DHNS / June 25th, 2013
A Soliga man told Survival, ‘In my village, Hosapodu, we are very happy that we can continue with our work’.
The confiscation of honey was in direct violation of the 2006 Indian Forest Rights Act, which recognizes the rights of India’s tribal peoples, such as the Soliga, to live in and from their forests, and protect and manage their land.
Tribal peoples like the Soliga have been living with and protecting the wildlife in their forests for countless generations. However many forestry officials still believe that forest and tiger conservation requires the removal of all people from the forests. These prejudices often make foresters unwilling to respect tribal rights – especially the right to make a livelihood from the forest. The recent court victory exposes this injustice and the necessity for the rights of India’s tribes to be respected.
The Soliga tribe of Karnataka made history in 2011 when their rights to their forests were recognized, even though they lie inside a tiger reserve. The community has been caring for the forest and harvesting its produce – including honey – for countless generations. After their rights were recognized one village established a collective to get a fair price for their honey.
More Soliga villages are awaiting the recognition of their forest rights and local organizations Keystone, Atree and the Soliga Abhivriddhi Sangha (Soliga Peoples’ Collective) are supporting them in the process.
Despite severe constraints from forestry officials, the Soliga remain determined to manage, harvest and protect their forests sustainably for current and future generations.
source: http://www.survivalinternational.org / Survival / Home / June 19th, 2013
Landslides reported from various parts of the district The rains have intensified in Kodagu district. All taluks including Madikeri received heavy rainfall on Monday.
The overflowing ponds, streams and rivers have brought smiles on the faces of farmers. Rise in the water level in Kootuhole check dam, Chikli and Harangi reservoirs have helped to solve water crisis in the district. Vehicle users were put to hardship on water logged roads.
Landslides have been reported from different parts of the district. There has been disruption in power supply following damage to electric wires. Kodagu district recorded an average of 39.65 mm rainfall till 8 am on Monday, whereas that received on the same day last year was 25.65 mm. The district has received 560.28 mm rain from January till date, against 291.47 mm rain recorded last year. Madikeri taluk has received 56.40 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, Virajpet taluk — 36.38 mm and Somwarpet taluk — 26.18 mm rainfall.
The water level at Harangi reservoir on Monday was 2817.31 ft as against the maximum level of 2859 ft.
Telemetric rain gauges
Kodagu district has 48 telemetric rain gauges, of which 38 rain guages are functioning. The gauges are located at Sudarshan guest house, Avandur, Bhagamandala, Galibeedu, Karada, Mundrotu, Napoklu, Naladi, Sampaje, Talacauvery, Moornadu and Dabbadka in Madikeri taluk, Somwarpetm Koodige, Kushalnagar, Madapura, Shanivarsanthe, Suntikoppa, Harangi, Shanthalli, Soorlabi, Koodlipet in Somwarpet taluk, Virajpet, Ammathi, Kurchi, Karmadu, Kallalla, Maldare, Mathigodu, Moorkallu, Nagarahole, Ponnampet IB, Srimangala, Thithimathi, Siddhapura in Virajpet taluk.
The telemetric centres at Karike, jail in Madikeri, Anekadu, Dubare, Huduguru, Kargodu in Somwarpet taluk, Balekovu, Devamachi, Makutta, Vatekolli in Virajpet taluk have been damaged.The State has proposed to install telemetric rain gauges in 98 gram panchayats in the district, of which 23 rain gauges have been already installed, said District Statistician Prameela.
In the backdrop of heavy rains forecast by the meteorological department, Additional Deputy Commissioner (In-charge) G Prabhu, in a press release has said that head teachers have been entrusted with the responsibility of declaring holidays to schools.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DHNS – Madikeri, June 17th, 2013
Bees of the Apis cerana (eastern honeybee) species pollinate coffee flowers. Farmers can increase the services of pollinating insects with particular cultivation methods. (Photo: J. Ghazoul / ETH Zurich)
By Peter Ruegg
No food for the human race without bees? It is not quite as straightforward as that. A case study by ecologists from ETH Zurich in a coffee-growing area in India reveals that pollinating insects are just one production factor among many. Farmers have several possibilities to increase their harvest.
All over the world, bees are dying and insect diversity is dwindling. Only recently, both the media and scientists expressed fears that insect pollination is in decline, which jeopardises food security. The (lack of) pollination has thus become a sound argument for the protection of species and natural habitats, and organic farming.
ETH-Zurich researchers from the group headed by Jaboury Ghazoul, professor of ecosystem management, set about investigating this argument by studying the influence of pollinator insects on coffee harvests in an agroforestry system at coffee plantations in the province of Kodagu in southern India. They also included soil and forest management, environmental factors such as water and soil fertility, and tree cover for the cultures in their study.
The research group thus obtained a different picture of the role of pollinators to the popular perception of this cultivation system of “no bees, no harvest”. According to their findings, pollinator bees are merely one production factor among many and to some extent coffee farmers can increase the productivity of their plantations independently of the insects. The results of the study have just been published in the journal PNAS.
Important but not the only factor
“Pollinators are important for coffee farmers,” stresses Ghazoul; “as far as effective coffee growing and increasing harvests are concerned, however, they are much less important than irrigation or liming, for instance.” This encapsulates one of the central findings from coffee farming in the Kodagu province.
Coffee is grown in a traditional agroforestry system in the region. As coffee plants must not be grown in direct sunlight, they are planted in the forest’s undergrowth or the shade of large, isolated trees. The coffee plants all bloom at the same time after heavy rains between February and March and three species of bee pollinate the flowers: the giant honeybee Apis dorsata, Apis cerana and the solitary wild bee Tetragonula iridipennis. The giant honeybee is the largest and most important pollinator, forming large colonies and needing the thick branches of tall trees to bear the weight of their nest.
Greater yield through irrigation and limestone
In order to harvest more coffee, however, the farmers have got other options than merely banking on the work of bees, as Ghazoul discovered. They can increase the yield through liming, irrespective of bee density. And instead of relying on rainfall, it is worth the farmers’ while to induce flowering with artificial irrigation. “It is particularly in a farmer’s interests to irrigate his plantations at a different time to other farmers in the vicinity,” says Ghazoul. After all, this will turn his plantations into bee magnets. This concentrated pollination increases the yield from the plantation enormously, the ETH-Zurich researchers reveal in their publication. It is a different story if the rain makes all the coffee plants in the region flower at the same time, however: the bees spread out over a wide area, the pollination is less effective and the harvest is poorer.
Trend towards deforestation
In an agroforestry system, the farmer also has another trick up his sleeve: felling trees or the forest to shed more light onto his coffee plants, which also increases the harvest. In doing so, however, he destroys the habitat of the giant honeybee (Apis dorsata).
A farmer who combines both courses of action is especially successful, initially unaffected by the disappearance of the large bees on his own plantation. Only when all farmers opt for this course of action do things take a turn for the worse. “From a plantation perspective, it makes sense to remove trees and increase yields,” says the ETH Zurich professor. “But if every farmer goes for the same option, they will all suffer the consequences of poor pollination because the giant honeybee will disappear.”
Sure enough, the researchers observed gradual deforestation in the Kodagu experiment area. Ghazoul is convinced that the farmers will lose Apis dorsata in the long run and thus – unless they take countermeasures – their valuable contribution towards coffee pollination. “It remains unclear whether the other two species of bee could compensate for this loss.” However, the farmers’ predicament is not hopeless, he says. They could domesticate Apis cerana, a very close relative of the European honeybee, and place beehives on the plantations, which would guarantee the pollination service without becoming dependent on Apis dorsata. The drawback: this absolves the farmers from their responsibility for the forest and trees. “The farmers are thus free to decide whether they want to have trees on their land or not,” stresses the ecologist, which spells bad news for nature conservation. “But good news for farmers. They have got possibilities to increase their harvest and sustain or even improve their existence.”
Unexpected threat from exotic tree species
The traditional forest trees face another danger. Farmers often replace felled local trees with the exotic Australian silver oak (Grevillea robusta), which provides the coffee plants with the shade they need. Moreover, it grows quickly and has a straight trunk, which farmers can use to grow pepper as the spice can be harvested more easily on the trunks. The sale of pepper and wood from the silver oaks is a way for the farmers to supplement their income.
However, the farmers are increasingly beginning to realise that the exotic tree also has its drawbacks. For one, its leaves barely decompose, covering the ground and coffee plants and thus becoming a breeding ground for harmful fungi and bacteria. It might also influence the nutrient cycle, which one of Ghazoul’s doctoral students is currently looking into. The silver oak leaves probably slows the nutrient cycle, preventing the coffee plants from receiving enough nitrogen in the long run, which eventually affects the harvest.
The example case of coffee growing in the province of Kodagu is interesting from a research perspective as it brings home how bees, farmers, their farming methods and natural occurrences influence and depend on each other. In this respect, the insects are not the sole influential factor in this agricultural system.
Ten principles for the reconciliation of nature and humankind
Teaming up with other scientists, ETH-Zurich professor Jaboury Ghazoul has defined ten principles that should help reconcile the conflicting interests of agriculture, nature conservation and other stakeholders with regard to a sustainable agricultural land use. The principles, which were published in the journal PNAS, include training farmers in cultivation methods that can be adapted to changing conditions. Another principle advocates taking different levels into consideration for a landscape approach, namely the landscape level itself and the individual farm level. In the example case in India, another principle is significant: the clarification of rights and responsibilities. For instance, the cultivated land belongs to the local farmers but not the trees, which belong to the state. This can cause conflicts. The principles should help to use an approach geared towards the landscape.
Further reading
Boreux V, Kushalappa CG, Vaast P, Ghazoul J. Interactive effects among ecosystem services and management practices on crop production: Pollination in coffee agroforestry systems. PNAS. 2013 May 21;110(21):8387-92. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1210590110. Epub 2013 May 13.
Sayer J, Sunderland T, Ghazoul J et al. Ten principles for a landscape approach to reconciling agriculture, conservation, and other competing land uses. PNAS 2013 110 (21) 8349-8356; published ahead of print May 21, 2013, doi:10.1073/pnas.1210595110.
source: http://www.ethlife.ethz.ch / ETH Life / Home> News Archive> Science / by Peter Ruegg / June 04th, 2013
As we set out for a darshan of Sri Omkareshwara from our forest lodge at Madikeri, gray hornbills are flapping out of Guler trees at dawn.
The birds live in sacred groves called Devakadu , which have been protected for centuries by the local Kodavas. Their belief in the power of the spirit world forbids them from taking even a single twig or berry from these jungle sanctuaries of the gods.
This might explain the presence of so many wild creatures in our vicinity, which are otherwise conspicuously absent in unprotected areas. In the Kodava pantheon, such an endlessly bountiful aspect of Nature is incarnated in the Great Spirit called Igguthappa. Igguthappa literally means “Giver of Grains” .
He also embodies a deep ecological irony of the sacred forest grove – and that is, Nature thrives best only when humans exploit it the least. Biodiversity, therefore, remains inversely proportional to intensity and scale of use.
The Great Spirit that supposedly fulfils all the desires of the devotees also teaches them the value of forbearance and curbing of wanton use of scarce resources. From base to top, the towering Ironwood trees in the sacred grove are covered with gorgeous bunches of electric blue flowers . Over several centuries, these have never been plucked!
In stark contrast, scores of majestic trees lining the old roads of Kodava coffee lands are being slaughtered to make way for wider lanes. The spindly green saplings lining the new roads can never hope to attain their full stature without watchful care and compassion provided by humans lasting several generations.
source: http://www.articles.economictimes.timesofindia.com / The Economic Times / Home> Opinion> Spiritual Atheist / by Vithal C. Nadkarni, ET Bureau / May 29th, 2013
Bar-headed geese seen in a lake on the outskirts of the city —Clement Francis Bengaluru:
Bengaluru counted its birds on Sunday as part of International Bird Day and also to create a national data base on avi-fauna. Bird enthusiasts flocked to lakes, hills and grasslands to count the number and species of birds.
The concept of creating a national data base on avi-fauna was mooted by the Delhi Bird Watching Society (DBWS) which invited the bird watching community across the county to conduct a bird count in their areas on Sunday and submit the number of species they sighted till evening. The event was named Big Bird Day and about 200 teams and individual bird watchers took part in the counting.
“We had tremendous response from all over the country. The bird watching groups submitted their numbers till evening. We were flooded with 100 plus messages at 6 pm on Sunday from all over the country. We have team sightings of 100-120 birds on an average and we are still waiting for the counts from out-station. The report on the count will be ready in a week,” said writer and birdwatcher from New Delhi, Bikram Grewal.
In Karnataka, bird-watching enthusiasts took an early morning walk to count the birds in different parts of the state. A bird watching team in Kodagu, led by bird expert Dr Narasimhan, counted 120 species of birds in one single day.
Manjunath Prabhakar, a wildlife photographer who took part in the count, said the bird counting was a great opportunity to record research on bird diversity as many species that were not thought to exist in urban areas are being sighted. “We sighted close to 60 bird species atop Nadi Hill during the count and we managed to sight two birds from the Western Ghats,” Mr Prabhakar said.
Harish R Bhat, a bird expert and researcher from the Indian Institute of Science said that he was able to sight 110 bird species in Bijapur. “I happened to be in Bijapur for a lecture and I decided to count the birds here. Due to the presence of the Alamatti backwaters, the presence of birds is large around Bijapur city,” Mr Bhat said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Amit S. Upadhye, DC / February 25th, 2013
he Karnataka Forest Department is awaiting a response from its Madhya Pradesh counterpart on transfer of 11 tamed elephants from three state camps for ‘forest-related activities’.
Recently, while hearing a PIL filed by Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) the High Court had refused to interfere in State government’s decision on transfer of pachyderms.
The CUPA in its petition had contended that the elephants might not to able to sustain the extreme weather in Madhya Pradesh.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Ajay Mishra told Express that three elephants from Dubare, two from Mattigodu and six from Bandipur elephant camps, are listed for translocation to MP. He said they are basically second line elephants and doing similar jobs here. Karnataka has 95 tamed elephants in its many camps.
Allaying fears that elephants will be used for non-forest activities in MP, he said they would be used only for patrolling and not for display or safaris.
There have been instances when elephants from one state have been translocated to another and the pachyderms have had no problem in adjusting to the new environment.
“It may take some time for them to acclimatise but it will not create any problems. The beauty of elephants is that they develop a bond with their caretakers very soon,” he said.
The Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh has to look out for arranging mahouts and kavadis since Karnataka cannot spare their services. As per the Forest Department manual, there should be a mahout and a kavadi for each, and Karnataka has enough staff to take care of all the 95 jumbos. Elephants are known for co-existence and the question of feeling alien does not arise, argued Mishra.
There is a standard food chart for tamed elephants in camps and the forest department of every state has to follow it strictly.
“The tamed jumbos are just like our employees and separate registers are maintained to record its health, food habits, behaviour and service. Once they attain superannuation, they are given rest in camps,” he said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Shyam Sundar Vattam / ENS – Bangalore / March 16th, 2013
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