Environmental Sustainability
Urban Afforestation: Tree Plantation Drive at Nacharam, Hyderabad
As the earth’s green cover continues to shrink and global warming and climate change become more imminent, it’s more important than ever to be conscious of our fragile ecosystem and stop deforestation Instead, our efforts should be directed towards afforestation.
GMM Pfaudler Foundation in association with SayTrees Environmental trust planted over 2000 native saplings using the Miyawaki method at Malkajgiri, Hyderabad. The drive saw participation from 44 employees of GMM Pfaudler’s Nacharam manufacturing facility.
The Miyawaki method of tree plantation has been proven to grow saplings 10 times faster and create small patches of dense forests to act as carbon sinks for urban locations. This latest drive at Malkajgiri, Secunderabad should help in creating a micro-forest within the next two years, with a cover that is 30 times more dense than what could be achieved through other plantation methods.
Objectives of the program
- Increasing Green Cover and carbon sink capacity through Urban forestry
- Improved Livelihoods, Soil Health & Biodiversity
- Bringing communities together to solve the problem of land degradation & afforestation.
Restoration of Coral Reefs in Andaman Islands
75% of the world’s coral reefs are classified as ‘threatened’ and are likely to be the first eco-systemic victims to global warming. GMM Pfaudler Foundation has partnered with ReefWatch Marine Conservation to pilot the restoration and rehabilitation of corals in the Andaman Islands by creating conducive conditions for them to thrive.
Objectives of the program
- Re(ef)Build concentrates on physically restoring artificial reefs, helping maintain species diversity on an artificial reef.
- Re(ef)Grow, on the other hand, is the part of the project that will help maintain genetic diversity on an artificial reef. It does this by identifying when corals spawn, collecting the released genetic material and, artificially fertilizing the same, and then growing them in a wet lab to enhance the genetic pool of corals.
- The Re(ef)Generate course is an initiation into the active coral restoration techniques that help conserve and replenish the coral reef cover in the Andamans.
Marine Megafauna Rescue at Karnataka Coast
Karnataka has a coastline of about 320 kilometres with several transient species of Marine Megafauna, some of which are endangered and vulnerable. GMM Pfaudler Foundation has partnered with ReefWatch to encourage reporting of stranded megafauna on the Karnataka Coast, and also build awareness locals towards marine conservation along the coast of Karnataka.
Objectives of the program
- Rescue and Rehabilitation of reported stranding cases of megafauna
- Sea turtles’ nest and hatchery monitoring
- Marine megafauna first aid and rehabilitation workshops for veterinarians and Karnataka Forest Department Staff from Coastal Districts of Karnataka.
Dissemination of Improved Biomass Cookstoves
Many families in villages are unable to access or afford Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) for their daily cooking needs, and are often forced to use wood or other organic material, which is time-consuming, smokey and adversely affects the health of the users. To address this, the Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute has launched ‘Project IBCS’ to provide & Install Improved Bio-mass Cook Stoves (IBCS) to families in rural areas of India.
Objectives of the program
- Time reduction in collection of fuelwoods.
- Efficient cooking conditions
- Enriched environment conditions.
- Reduction in Medical expenses.
- Mitigation of Green House Gas Emissions.
- Quality time for productive activities.
Animal Rescue Center
Dr Iyer’ Animal Rescue Center is Located at Ambadi-Vashind Road, Vajreshwari. The Animal Rescue Center has a total of 104 animals and is successfully functioning for nine years with the efforts of Dr. Shyam Iyer.
GMM Pfaudler Foundation had partnered with A.J Patel Charitable Trust and J.V Patel Charitable Trust to improve the facilities and support the operational expenses at the Animal Rescue Center.