Title: Aranyak

1. Objectives of the Practice:

A Green Campus is a place where environmental friendly practices and education combine to promote sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the campus. The green campus concept offers an institution the opportunity to take the lead in redefining its environmental culture and developing new paradigms by creating sustainable solutions to environmental, social and economic needs of the mankind. Sustainable environment in college campus impacts students’ lives positively. Studies have shown that students studying in active green campuses have better retention capacity, environmental beviour, and community solidarity e.t.c. As an educational institution, Kabi Jagadram Roy Government General Degree College is aware of its duty to educate the youth on the importance of conserving the environment by encouraging the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle. The College is committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability within its campus. As a hub of learning and growth, we recognize the importance of preserving and protecting the natural world around us. The College believes in teaching through practice and therefore attempts to set an example for the students by adopting and encouraging a number of green initiatives.

2. The context:

Kabi Jagadram Roy Government General Degree College is situated on the river bank of Damodar amidst the coal fields. Along with the coal dust this area is severely polluted because of the presence of two sponge iron plants, fly ash from the Mejia Thermal Power Plant and several Brick Kilns. To make the situation worse all of the previous greenery in the college premises was wiped out during the construction of the college building. The only thing that left was a nothing but a arid desert like field. Due to the increase in the level of all kinds of pollution the ecological balance has been disturbed. Hence to restore the flora and fauna of the college premises and reduce the pollution level is the need of the hour. Our college is committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability within its campus. As a hub of learning and growth, we recognize the importance of preserving and protecting the natural world around us. This document outlines the best practices adopted by our college to promote the conservation of flora and fauna on our campus.

3. The Practice:

This Best Practice has been executed in two ways:

1. Environment Protection Activities
2. Environmental Awareness Program

Kabi Jagadram Roy Government General Degree College organizes various activities involving students, teachers and collaborating partners under these two broad categories of activities.

1. Environment Protection Activities: In this segment, Kabi Jagadram Roy Government General Degree College has been continuously performing the following activities to restore the flora and fauna of this place:

Flora:

1. 1. Native Plant Species: We prioritize the planting of native plant species, which require less maintenance and support local biodiversity. We have planted native species like Mahua, Piyasal, Kusum , Indian Gooseberry ,Bahera and Ashok which has become very rare because of rapid urbanization in this locality.
2. Tree Plantation Drives: Regular tree plantation drives are organized, involving students, faculty and staff, to increase the campus’s green cover. Along with the native species we have planted more than 300 fruit trees containing species like Mango,Malabar Plum,Java Apple,Jackfruit,Banana, Falsa,Guava,Papaya,Star Fruit,Wood Apple,Tamarind and Elephant Apple in the college premises.
3. Herbal Garden: A designated herbal garden showcases more than 30 varieties of medicinal plants has been set up for promoting the knowledge of indigenous medicine among the students.
4. Flower Beds: Colorful flower beds are maintained using organic gardening methods, adding vibrancy to the campus while supporting local pollinators.

Fauna:

1. Wildlife-Friendly Habitat: Our campus is designed to provide a welcoming habitat for local wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and insects. We do not use any kind of chemical pesticide ,herbicide and fertilizer so that the life of birds and butterflies are not jeopardized by any means.
2. Birdhouses and water body: birdhouses are placed strategically which support the local bird population, fostering a thriving ecosystem. A natural water body is maintained within the campus which attracts several water birds and even some migratory birds in the winter season.
3. Butterfly garden: A butterfly garden has been set up featuring both the host plants like Lemon, Passion flower, Oleander and nectar plants like Ixora ,Tridax and Lantana.
4. Environmental Awareness Program:

In this category Kabi Jagadram Roy Government General Degree College organizes:

1. Quiz shows related to environment are organized every year.
2. Documentary films based on environment are shown time to time to the students.
3. Regular workshops, awareness campaigns, and collaborations with local organizations promote environmental stewardship among students, faculty, and the wider community creating a community engagement.
4. Seminars on significance of various dedicated days like Earth Day, World Environment Day, Wild life Day, International Oceanography Week etc.
5. Every year Van Mahotsav is celebrated in collaboration with the forest department where tree saplings are distributed among the students and college staffs.
6. Wild life photography competition is organized every year.

Evidence of success:

The college now stands like an oasis among the heavily polluted locality. More than two thousand plants are thriving in the college premises. Most of the fruit plants are started to produce fruits which attract a lot of birds. The college students as well as the local people are enjoying the rich taste of fruits. The Green audit of the campus was carried out from 2021to 2023. For this, the species richness data was obtained during the monsoon and post monsoon period from the campus spread on 2.75 acres of land. The students were also motivated to have the photographs of the flowering plants and animals and write down the information about the specimens.

Campus flora:

During the green audit we have recorded plants of different families like Leguminosae,Asteraceae,Apocynaceae,Bignoniaceae,,Amarantahceae,Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, Lamiacea and Myrtaceae .More than 100 varieties of plants can be seen in the college premises.

Campus fauna:

During the campus survey , different types of animal species were recorded including Mammals(8sp), Reptiles (10 sp), Amphibian (03sp), Birds (26sp), Butterflies(24 sp).Some rare species like Fishing Cat, Bengal Fox, Indian Rock Python ,Paradise Flycatcher can be seen in the college premises which are hardly seen anywhere else in this locality. College premises acts like a safe haven for different types of venomous snakes like Crait, Russels Viper and Indian Cobra as we consider them as an integral part of the eco system.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required:

1. Financial constraint remains the biggest problem in implementing the practice. College has to depend on other institutions like Local Panchayat and Forest Department for the required fund.
2. Shortage of manpower is another problem to take care of the trees as the college is situated in an arid area.
3. Several trees have died because of the fly ash dumped just outside the college periphery.
4. Huge fund is needed to implement some other important environmental projects like installation of solar panel, rain water harvesting, solid waste management unit etc.

        For detail click here:  https://kjrggdc.ac.in/green-property/.