India habitat conservation expedition

From the jungle-covered Western Ghat Mountains to the sun-baked plains of Tamil Nadu and the coastal mangroves beyond, South India is a region of enormous environmental diversity. However, as in so many parts of the world, that rich diversity is threatened by the activities of man. Until recently, people in rural Tamil Nadu lived much the same way as their ancestors; farming the land with simple tools, collecting firewood from the forests and discarding their waste on any available land.

In the past this hadn't caused any great problems, but damage to the natural surroundings is now occurring because of the rapidly increasing population, the introduction of environmentally-damaging products - like plastics and chemical pesticides - and with greater levels of trade demanding higher productivity. These changes - coupled with a lack of education and awareness of the problems - mean that farming in India is suffering considerably. The Eco-development Project is a programme, aimed at promoting sustainable farming and environmental conservation in and around South Indian villages. Since it began in 2001 as a tree-planting exercise in a remote village at the foot of the Western Ghat Mountains, this project has expanded to include the promotion of many environmentally-friendly farming practices. At the heart of the Eco-development Project is the Model Farm, a demonstration site for many of the sustainable practices that we promote. Volunteers are totally responsible for the running and maintenance of the Model Farm site. Villagers from the surrounding area visit the farm to learn about the different techniques and technologies that can benefit them. After working with villagers at the farm, our volunteers then assist them in implementing the ideas in their communities.

You'll learn all about sustainable development and organic practices, including how to produce 'vermi-compost', a natural fertilizer produced from domestic and farm waste, made using earthworms. Once a week volunteers visit the nearby town of Rajapalayam to sell the vermi-compost at the local market. There is also a large medicinal plants nursery where you might help to cultivate indigenous species that are used to treat a variety of common ailments. We are increasing the number of botanical species and introducing other endangered plants to the collection.

The acquisition and recording of relevant information is also an integral part of work at the Model Farm. You'll learn about the medicinal properties of plants and you'll use our manufacturing equipment, producing medicines that are distributed throughout the local community. In Tamil Nadu, you might also spend time planting and looking after trees. We are replanting areas that have suffered deforestation in the past, using species carefully chosen to provide benefit to local communities. Volunteers usually work from about 10am to 1pm, and in the afternoons from about 2.30pm to 5pm. You'll live with a local family and other volunteers in a nearby village, where you'll also return to eat lunch each day. Our placement supervisor, Ponraj, is based at the Model Farm full time and will train you in the different work and techniques when you first arrive. He's always available to offer help and advice. In the evenings you can play cricket with local children, or take time to relax after a hard day's work. At weekends you can meet up with the other volunteers based in India on our twice-monthly social events, or travel and explore the area with new Indian friends or some of the other volunteers on the project.