Symbiosis - Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence

Biodiversity

University Biodiversity committee:

Symbiosis International (Deemed) University is conscious of the adverse aspects of development and benefits of ecological diversity for the sustainable development of human beings and especially for educational Institutions. Being one of the top progressive Universities in India, SIU lays a strong emphasis on building responsibility for all to conserve and enhance the biodiversity landscape. As a part of this initiative, the University has established a University Biodiversity Committee to nurture biodiversity, create awareness through education, foster the spirit of respect for nature amidst human interaction with environment and ensure conservation of key site areas of the University campus and various Constituent Institute/ Departments of Symbiosis.

University Biodiversity Cell

The cell has been established to study, collect data and document all biodiversity conservation related matters in 350 acres of the University’s campus and surrounding areas.

Biodiversity @SIU

Activities

Books

'Fauna of Symbiosis International University', a pictorial field guide has been published in July 2018. 191 species of birds, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and mammals documented at University, Lavale campus are documented in the book. The copies of the book are available for sale in the University’s Central Library.

Fauna of Symbiosis International University Shri Siddhanta Das, Director General of Forest and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro Chancellor, SIU, Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, Chancellor, SIU, Dr. Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor, SIU
Fauna of Symbiosis International University University Biodiversity Committee members Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, Dr. Prakash Rao and Shilpa Avate with Shri Siddhanta Das, Director General of Forest and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro Chancellor, SIU, Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, Chancellor, SIU Dr. Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor, SIU during book release function on July 4, 2018.


Butterfly Garden

The University has developed three butterfly gardens at its Lavale campus in 2018 under the guidance of Butterfly man and a Moth lady of India, Isaac Kehimkar and Dr. Shubhalaxmi.

Saplings of more than 2000 food plants and nectar plants are planted at these three sites. Around 45 species of butterflies, many types of moth and 22 types of dragonflies & damselflies are seen around butterfly garden area.


Butterfly Garden
Signage Board in the Butterfly Garden in the Lavale Campus
Butterfly Garden
Striped Tiger Butterfly in the Butterfly Garden

Student Biodiversity Club

Student members of Biodiversity Cell are involved in regular documentation of flora and fauna and various conservation activities on the campus.

Biodiversity Club Students of Biodiversity Club at Bandhara- Eco sensitive area in the campus understanding wetlands and birds.
Biodiversity Club Dr. Rajani Gupte, Vice Chancellor observing wetland birds through spotting scope at Bandhara - December 2021
Biodiversity Club SIBM-P students on Nature walk in December 2021
Biodiversity Club SIDTM and SSVAP students on Nature walk, understanding grasslands in the campus in November 2021

Biodiversity Club SSBS & SSBF Biodiversity Club students on a Nature walk in October 2021
Biodiversity Club Great Back Yard Bird Count Event in February 2022
Biodiversity Club SSBF students on Tree Walk to learn to identify trees in February 2022

Water body restoration

The Lavale campus has built two Bandharas (water storage reservoirs) of total storage capacity of about 30,000,000 litres of freshwater. Eco restoration along the banks of the Bandharas has been carried out and several aquatic vegetation have been introduced. Big rocks added at the banks to attract birds to perch on.

Water body restoration
White eyed Buzzard by Viren Narvekar SIT
Water body restoration
Water body Vegetation
Water body restoration
Water body in Symbiosis University Campus

Water body restoration
Spot Billed duck a dabbling duck found in hundreds of numbers in the Lavale campus waterbody, Image by Sarthak Agrawal SSVAP
Water body restoration
Pied Kingfisher a rare one which are found in pairs in the waterbody of Lavale campus. Image by Keyur Bhatt, SSP

Education and Awareness

Biodiversity Cell organise Sunday Special Series where eminent personalities, researchers, conservationists, grass root workers in wildlife are invited to interact with students and staff.

Areendran Gopala
Oct 4, 2020
Varad Giri
Nov 8, 2020
Dr. Harini Nagendra
Dec 13, 2020
Neelima Vallangi
Jan 31, 2021
Adithi Muralidhar
March 14, 2021
Sarika Khanwilkar
May 9, 2021
Kunal Shah
July 25, 2021
Zoya Taybji
September 05, 2021
Dr. Kiran Ranadive
October 17, 2021
Dr. Anand Padhye
December 19, 2021
Rohan Chakravarty
January 09, 2022
Dr. Rani Bhagat
January 30, 2022




Conferences/ Workshops

With the assistance of constituent Institutes/ Departments, the Biodiversity cell hosts conferences on wildlife and conservation

Poster presented in the Bird Monitoring Conference in February 2021
Poster Presented in Students Conference in Conservation Sciences in September 2021

Contact details:
Mr. Avishkar Munje
Research Assistant
Symbiosis Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability (SCCCS)
Telephone: 9823632461 Email: biodiversitycell@siu.edu.in
Website: https://scccs.siu.edu.in

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Website last updated : January 10 2024 09:04:21.

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