Environmentalist Foundation of India

The Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) is an environmental conservation group based out of Chennai, Hyderabad, Puducherry and Coimbatore which focuses on wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. Started in 2007 and registered in 2011, the organisation is known for its work in cleaning and scientific restoration of lakes in India for biodiversity.^[1]

Activities

EFI focuses on restoration of lakes, flora, care of stray animals and a village development programme. Most of the organisation's work is carried out through volunteer support.^[2] EFI organises lake clean ups every Sunday and as of 2014 had cleaned 39 lakes across India. This includes Madambakkam,^[3] Keezhkattalai, Narayanapuram, and Arasankazhani lakes in Chennai; the Selvachintamani Kulam in Coimbatore;^[4] and the Kapra, Alwal, Gurunadham Cheruvu lakes in Hyderabad.^[5]

In the cases of Arasankazhani lake and the Selvachintamani Kulam, the projects were executed through public funding in the first and government support for the second. The lakes now have "G" shaped central islands for the birds to nest and fish to spawn. These geometric central islands are a first of its kind, with wind barrier capabilities and roosting facilities. The lakes also have percolation trenches and parallel bunds which ensure water retention and trapping of garbage.^[4][6][7][8]

EFI is also involved in the setting up of herbal biodiversity gardens at schools and special interest zones. The idea behind the herbal gardens are to increase people's interest in green cover and live healthy with native Indian herbs.^[9] EFI's "Clean for Olive Green" is a beach clean up project that is organised every year in the months of December to May to keep Chennai's beaches clean for the nesting Sea Turtle Mothers.^[10]

EFI is active in Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Delhi, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram. The organisation is known for cleaning the beach stretch between Veli and Vizhinjiam in Thiruvananthapuram part of the Beach Habitat Restoration. ^[11]

EFI Chennai

The Environmentalist Foundation of India's weekend voluntary clean ups are a regular in lakes such as Keezhkattalai, Madambakkam, Tiruneermalai, Adambakkam, Perumbakkam, Sithalapakkam, Mudichur lakes. ^[12] These clean ups see several volunteers such as students, working class and senior citizen participating.

2016 Lake Restorations in Chennai

Post the 2015 floods, EFI's role in mobilizing volunteers and restoring freshwater bodies in Chennai became furthermore important. Immediately post the monsoons, the organization started working on restoration of 3 ponds within the Perungalathur Town Panchayat. ^[13] Following which scientific restoration efforts were undertaken at the Arasankazhani Lake, Karasangal Lake, Mudichur Ponds, Karasangal Pond and West Mambalam Pond. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Dal Lake

EFI in association with a local group called Arastha in Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir is involved in a multi-phase community based conservation of the Dal Lake. The two year long effort is voluntary with involvement from local citizens, shikaras, houseboat owners and the students in Srinagar. The efforts are aimed at cleaning the Dal Lake and maintaining it as an ecologically sensitive habitat. ^{[17] [18]}

Water Security Mission

The Government of Tamil Nadu launched a water security mission in the year 2015. The project is to focus on 15 lakes around Chennai which would be cleaned and scientifically restored. The Chennai Metro water is the nodal agency and Environmentalist Foundation of India is the executing NGO partner. 15 lakes chosen included the Madambakkam, Perumbakkam, Mudichur, Thiruverkadu, Keezhkattalai, Medavakkam, Adambakkam, Arasankazhani, Madipakkam, Puzhithivakkam lakes and more. This is seen as an effort to improve Chennai's water table and conserve these ecological habitats.^{[19] [20]}

Lake Savaari

In an effort to connect people with environment, Environmentalist Foundation of India is organising a weekly Lake Savaari. Lake Savaari is an ecological safari aimed at increasing public awareness on freshwater habitats in Chennai. The safari is a free guided trip in which participants are taken to six lakes in Chennai where the Geology-Hydrology and Biodiversity are briefly explained. The lake safari is a 3-hour guided tour starting and ending at Thiruvanmiyur covering the Sholinganallur Pond, Arasankazhani Lake, Perumbakkam Lake, Medavakkam Lake and Narayanapuram Lake.^[21]

Founding

EFI was founded by Arun Krishnamurthy when initiated the cleaning of a pond in Mudichur and a lake in Hyderabad. The organisation's approach to recruit volunteers through school and college orientation programmes received support with many students joining them.^[22] Arjun Arya became the first volunteer to join the organisation and six years later is the Research Head at EFI.^[23] EFI's team received support from like minded people across the spectrum who joined them as volunteers in their Sunday clean ups.^[24]

Recognition

• British Council International Climate Champion Excellence Award in 2010.
• Google Alumni Impact Award in 2011.
• Rolex Awards for Enterprise award in 2012 for cleaning Lake Kilkattalai in Chennai.^[25]
• Jane Goodall Institute Global Youth Leadership Award, 2010.^[26][27]
• Youth Action Net Fellow.^[28]

The EFI has received voluntary support from celebrities of film industry as well, including Kamal Hasan^[29] and Trisha Krishnan.^[30]

References

External links

• Arun Krishnamurthy on Twitter
  
• EFI
• Volunteer in Environmentalist Foundation of India