Project Proposal for Immediate Ecological Restoration

To begin preparatory work for the restoration of the coastal belt in the Auroville tsunami rehabilitation programme area.

This micro-project will serve as a pilot project for a proposed two-year ecological restoration project to be carried out in the programme area. Preliminary investigations will be carried out into the options available for an ecological restoration project in the area. The micro-project will allow nursery work to begin as well as initial participatory land use mapping to take place.

1. Planned activities :

• A list of potential species will be drawn up based on experience.
• Seed collection will begin based on the species list and local preferences.
• A strategy will be developed between a number of Auroville nurseries to ensure a coordinated approach to the nursery activities.
• Plastic pots will be filled and a number of tree seeds planted.
• A preliminary survey will be carried out in the affected Auroville beach communities.
• Via the tsunami village coordination team, contact will be made with the Paalam leaders.
• Training in participatory land use practices will be given to the implementing team.
• A number of land use mapping exercises will be initiated in the affected villages.
• Begin developing agreements between the Panchayats and the Auroville Tsunami team regarding the future maintenance and upkeep of the areas to be planted.

A number of these activities already began in February in order to avoid missing an important window of opportunity for seed collection during this period of the year. In addition, plans are under way to begin the participatory land use exercises, with formal contact already made with all of the Paalams. The activities outlined above will provide the necessary feedback to inform the drawing up of the two-year project.

1. Output:

• 15,000 seedlings will be potted in Auroville nurseries.
• Five villages will have participatory land use plans.

1. Human Resources :

The team that will carry out this preparatory work is newly formed and currently consists of the following people:

• Balachandra – Botanist
• Sarvonan – Nursery manager and village / Paalam liaison
• David – Nursery manager
• Krishnamurthy – Village / Paalam liaison and Government contact
• alter – Co-coordinator and Finance
• Caroline – Co-coordinator and administration
• Santo – Village / Paalam liaison
• Payton – PRA trainer / facilitator

1. Budget:

Item	Unit Cost	No of Unit	Total Budget in RS
Project Goods and Services
Field helper	3,500	1	3,500
Nursery workers	3,000	2	6,000
Seed collectors	3,000	1	3,000
Transport - seed collection	1,200	4	4,800
Transport - survey	700	5	3,500
Tea and snacks	100	9	900
Planting bags (per kg)	70	120	8,400
Top soil	300	1	300
Hosepipe	1,800	1	1,800
PRA materials	1,000	1	1,000
Field staff transport	500	5	2,500
Sub-Total			35,700
Staff Cost
Project coordinator	8,000	2	16,000
Botanist	12,000	1	12,000
Surveyor	5,000	1	5,000
Office worker	3,000	1	3,000
Administrator	3,500	1	3,500
Networker / social worker	6,500	1	6,500
Sub Total			46,000
Administration
Electricity / phone	1,000	1	1,000
Stationary	1,000	1	1,000
Office running costs	4,000	1	4,000
Contingencies	500	3	1,500
Sub Total			7,500
Total Budget			89,200

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Auroville Universal Township