STORY
Environmental awareness and conservation has been a part of our mission at Mahindra United World College India since the inception of the college in 1997.
The college’s 170 acre campus is nestled in the Sahayadri Hills, between two river valleys - the Mula and the Pauna. Part of the biologically rich Western Ghats, it is an area blessed with one of the highest numbers of unique species and is one of 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world identified by Conservation International. The school’s location makes it a living laboratory of diverse flora and fauna.
The idea to set up a Biodiversity Reserve on campus was twinned with the aim to achieve sustainable living and reduce our carbon footprint. Thanks to a generous donation from Mr. Uday Kotak and the wholehearted support of the Governing Board, MUWCI launched its Biodiversity Project in June 2006.
Our Chairman, Mr. Keshub Mahindra, also kindly donated a Nikon D 70 camera which continues to prove invaluable in the on-going effort of documentation and field work. An ever-growing photographic database now details the rich diversity of organisms on site.
On 12th Feb 2008, the Vanavihar Biodiversity Centre was inaugurated by Dr Manmohan Singh, the Honorable Prime Minister of India, on the tenth anniversary of the college.
Details:
The 120 acres of campus kept aside for this project are divided into two zones:
- The Bio-diversity Park, consisting of about 30 acres, includes walking trails and gardens; a bird trail, tree trail, butterfly park, a labyrinth featuring sacred trees of the world, a fern garden, spice garden, medicinal garden and nurseries. Helpful signs provide information for students, visitors and researchers.
- The Conservation Reserve occupies approximately 90 acres of land from which human activity is purposefully kept away. The focus here is on Soil and Water conservation. It is expected that this part of campus will be fully restored to forest over time.
Campus Ariel View
Campus Flora:
So far, no less than 368 species of different flora- trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses have been identified on campus, with many more to go. The identification of flora remains an ongoing assignment for devoted faculty, who continue to draw on the help of scientific experts all over the world. Furthermore, as part of the Mahindra initiative of planting 1 million trees last year, 100,000 native trees were planted here on campus by students, teachers, gardeners, staff and guests.
Gloriosa superba/ Glory lily
Campus FAUNA:
The documentation of the fauna on campus was initiated in September 2004 and the photographic database of birds, insects, arachnids, fungi, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates has been growing on ever since. Butterflies and moths in great numbers frequent the gardens, while barking deer are a more common site on the slopes. Along with these photographic records, seasonal migrations of birds and visits from unfamiliar species are recorded year by year, and up-to-date field notes gathered.
Papilio demoleus /Common Lime Butterfly
Hygrocybe species/ Scarlet waxy cap mushroom
The ‘Environmental Protection Group’ is leading the way towards campus sustainability. Dedicated teachers are incorporating energy conservation into college curriculum, promoting awareness about the relationship between energy and the environment. They work to save energy on campus, with the longer term aim of instituting a watershed management plan which will enable the campus to become completely water self-sustainable at last.
Healthy, functioning ecosystems are necessary to maintain and regulate air quality, fresh water, soil formation, recycling of nutrients, disposal of wastes and climate. Biodiversity encompasses a wide range of diversities (flora, fauna, habitat, gene pool) enriching the ecosystems that support life and bringing with it direct economic benefits; since we can harvest plants for food, medicine, fuel, or construction. Several studies have begun to confirm that emotional and physical well being is enhanced by proximity to the natural environment. Biodiversity contributes to aesthetic, cultural, recreational and spiritual values.
The students and faculty of MUWCI are finding ways to preserve and restore biodiversity and looking to create a balance between development and conservation. One of the long term visions of the school is to develop partnerships with immediately neighbouring rural communities to promote sustainable development and intelligent use of limited resources.
Sindhu Ramchandran
Head of Biodiversity and Conservation
UWC.org