User:Marcus334/Research of the Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu

Research of the Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu was conducted in Tamil Nadu, South India between November 10, 2007 and March 7, 2008. Visits were made to all National Parks and some Wildlife Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu.

Published documents and original photographs were obtained for use in improving several articles in the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

These articles can have a high impact on improving the education of people worldwide about these protected areas and will ultimately help to more effectively conserve the areas.

Recommendations for improved parks' management, improved public education about the parks and improved public services in the parks were made.

Abstract:
This research was conducted in India between November 10, 2007 and March 7, 2008.

Published documents and original photographs of some Protected areas of Tamil Nadu, including all National Parks and some Wildlife Sanctuaries, were obtained for use in improving several articles in the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

These articles can have a high impact on improving the education of people worldwide about these protected areas and will ultimately help to more effectively conserve the areas.

Introduction:
The purpose of this project was to collect published documentation and take original photographs of the Protected areas of India, especially in Tamil Nadu, for expanding encyclopedia articles in Wikipedia about those areas.

My reasons for working on these Protected areas of India topics for Wikipedia are:
 * I appreciate and enjoy the beauty, serenity and grandeur of these protected areas.
 * Concern about decreasing biodiversity and depletion of endemic species of flora and fauna in South India.
 * Concern about Habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction and deforestation caused by poaching, illegal forest clearing and agriculture, especially in the Western Ghats.
 * Concern about decreased groundwater recharge, increase of surface water runoff and increasing drought severity due to deforestation.
 * Concern about degradation of the culture and habitat of the Adivasi native nomadic tribes people who have lived in remote parts of the Western Ghats for millenniums.
 * I believe that conservation movements, environmentalism and Internet activism can help alleviate these problems.
 * I believe increased education of the public about protected areas can have a positive impact on protection of these areas.
 * Articles in Wikipedia are a popular educational tool and receive high visibility worldwide due to their high search result placement in Google Search, Yahoo Search and Windows Live Search, the 1st, 3rd and 5th most visited websites in the world. Wikipedia itself is ranked 6th.

Objectives:


The main purpose for this project was to collect additional published source material and take original photographs primarily of the Protected areas of Tamil Nadu and secondly the Protected areas of Kerala for expanding the content and quality of encyclopedia articles in Wikipedia that I have been editing as a member of WikiProject Protected areas of India. This an effort to help create informative and well-written articles on Protected areas of India, which includes National parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves and other protected areas of India.

The intermediate goal is to create featured Articles, good articles, featured lists and featured images for high worldwide visibility on Wikipedia, Google and Alexa.

The final goal is to stimulate awareness and advocacy of the Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu and help reverse habitat intrusions, species depletion and the impact of droughts.

In addition, I was requested by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildllife Warden of Tamil Nadu to make some recommendations based on my observations and submit the results of my research.

Methods and tools:
The primary method of this research was to travel directly to the protected areas, meet with the Forest Department officers in charge, obtain and or take notes from relevant published documents, spend time walking and observing inside the areas and taking photographs while there. The primary format used for new article creation and upgrade of existing articles is the format of the one Wikipedia Protected Areas of India featured article, Kaziranga National Park. The Protected areas toolbox was useful.

I used a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S650 for all my photographs and an Apple MacBook 2.16 Ghz laptop computer for most of my writing and storage of photographs and documents in the field.

Prior to this project I undertook 3 weeks of intensive Tamil language tutoring in Madurai to improve my daily communication with park staff and increase the efficiency, economy and enjoyment of my travels.

My useful travel planning aids were: Tamil Nadu road/rail Map, Tamil Nadu road Map, India Railways Map , India Railways Schedules, Calendar

Results:
Many original photographs and published references about protected areas were obtained during this project. These have and will be used for upgrade of articles in Wikipedia.

Photographs:
My Photographs from Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu have and will be uploaded to My Gallery at Wikimedia Commons as needed for illustrating articles.

950 photographs including: Guindy National Park 48 photos; Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, 51 photos; Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, 398 photos; Mukurthi National Park, 117 photos; Mudumalai National Park, 106 photos; Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, 199 photos and Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, 31 photos; were taken. Photographs of associated subjects and other protected areas were also taken.

Documents:
Documents obtained during this research include:

Articles:
As a result of obtaining this information, I have and will continue to update articles on several protected areas:

including all 6 National Parks in Tamil Nadu: Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Indira Gandhi National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Palani Hills National Park and Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary.

3 areas in Kerala: Silent Valley National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary‎ and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

Some of their associated articles: Manjampatti Valley, Amaravathi Reservoir, Wildlife of Tamil Nadu, Pambar River, Rhododendron arboreum, Sisara peak, Paliyan, Anaimalai Hills, Ooty, Nilgiri Hills, Western Ghats, Kodaikanal and Kodaikanal Solar Observatory.

In addition I visited and obtained reference documents and photographs of Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park‎ in Goa and Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Maharashtra and will be updating their articles.

Recommendations:
Recommendations for management of these protected areas are aimed at improved education of the public about the parks and improved service to the public. Goals are increased public visitation of the parks, improved public education about the parks and improved protection of the wildlife and habitat of the parks. These suggestions are aimed at Mudumalai and Top Slip but can be selectively applied to all areas.
 * Hire resort management consultant.
 * Increase weekend accommodation prices.
 * Increase Eco-tour prices
 * Recycle increased revenues to increased services.
 * Place trash cans in all public areas and empty often.
 * Publicly post list of visitor services with prices.
 * Post map of park showing names and location of visitor services including names and capacity of lodgings.
 * Place maps near ground level with walkway and seating in front.
 * Improve public bus transport to parks from nearest major town.
 * Have tour guide give commentary on Eco-tours
 * Improve restaurant service and cleanliness.
 * Establish gift shop stocked with local products, post cards, posters, books and simple packaged food.
 * Upgrade infrastructure including toilets, accomodations and outside seating.
 * Post wildlife photo posters in public areas.
 * Install solar hot water heaters in some accommodations.
 * Use electric powered vehicles as at Guindy NP.

Acknowledgments:
I wish to especially thank Dr. Sukdev Thakur I.F.S., Principle Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu (now retired) for understanding the nature of my project and issuing me a special research permit to visit, document, photograph and stay at staff accommodations at the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries including areas that are closed to the public.

I am also grateful to the the Wildlife Wardens and staff of the parks and sanctuaries for the information, guidance and hospitality they provided. I thank several old personal friends, my Tamil teacher, those Wikipedians I finally met and many new friends interested in my work who all pointed me in the right direction when I needed help.

This project was a self funded volunteer service to the public.

Schedule:
November 10, 2007 to March 7, 2008.


 * Nov. 10, 2007 Sat.:, Arrive Bombay, Elephanta Caves, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Meet Nichalp, Nov. 14, Wed.: train #0103 CST-Panaji, Goa, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park‎, Honavar, Shimoga, Jog Falls , Tumkur; Nov. 19, Mon.:Bangalore Meet Sundar and Shyamal, Nov. 25, Sun.: Chennai - Apollo Hospital ,  Guindy National Park, Meet PlaneMad and Vdakshina.
 * Dec. 2, Sun.Pondicherry - meet Bhadani. Dec. 3, Mon.: Madurai - Tamil language, Dec. 22 Sat. Kodaikanal, Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, Chennai - Apollo Hospital.
 * Jan. 4, 2008, Point Calimere Bird Sanctuary, Jan. 7, mon.: Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary,  Jan. 11, Mon.:Kodaikanal, Vilpatti,  Pollachi, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Amaravathi Reservoir, Manjampatti Valley,  Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Coonoor, Ooty.
 * Feb. 2, Sat.: Mudumalai National Park, Feb. 10 sun., Doddabetta Peak, Mukurthi National Park, Bangitappal, Mukurthi peak; Feb 25 Mon.: Chennai, Feb 28, Pollachi.
 * March 1 Chennai, Apollo Hospital, Guindy National Park, Depart: March 7, Fri.

Visiting card:
Captain Marcus Sherman

President - Catboat Rides Inc.

Box 458 Hyannis Port, MA USA

| www.catboat.com

Co-Editor - Wikipedia 

WikiProject Protected areas of India

Web Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Marcus334

Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53476720@N00/ Phone #: 001-508-775-3334 (USA)

Please contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions, especially if you edit articles about and/or are in Tamil Nadu or Kerala. You can talk to me or E-mail me privately. I will reply.

Wildlife sanctuaries of India