By Andrea Ballinger

People view and value nature in numerous ways.  While studying abroad, as a graduate student in the Earth Expeditions 2015 India: Species, Deities & Communities coursework and Global Field Program of Project Dragonfly at Miami University, the value of nature, for the people in the Western Ghats of India, was explored. Using inquiry, participatory education, field and reflection journaling, visits to rural cultural and religious temples and sacred groves, and meeting the people who care for them, a common theme of aesthetics in nature, with trees in particular, resonated in this particular summer experience.

My tree project began on National Arbor Day, April 24, 2015 until the week day of our study abroad in India on August 9.  The number 108, signifies the number of pieces, known as pithas  (aka bench or locus of worship) that fell to the ground from a goddess’s body, Sati, while Shiva was carrying her around India and mourning her death (Eck, 2012).

Our first stop, on the way to the sacred grove sites of the Western Ghats of India, we took a chai tea break at a road side cafe.  I shared my idea and inquiry action project plan, of journalling on the subject of trees for 108 days, with others at our table.  The director and co-founder of Project Dragonfly, Chris Myers, said “Trees? You should talk to Jayant so he can tell you about their tree projects.”

Jayant Sarnaik, himself, of the Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) soon came over to our table. I told him about my tree journal, and he explained the fairwild project and the ripe fruit collection protocol.  Fruit is either collected after it falls ripe to the ground or into nets with the help of gravity (AERF, n.d.). Visiting the sites and knowing the villagers or farmers, collect the fruit instead of using heavy operated and gas powered machinery, adds aesthetics to the already aesthetic sacred groves.

A ficus peepal (aka pipal) tree worship, with a water offering, at a temple and sacred grove, in the Amba Ghat of India.

Our in-country course reader offers the scientific literature that supports the concept that aesthetics in nature are valued, as well as cultural and religious significance by  both villagers and tourists in regards to trees as a flagship species (Takahashi, Verissimo, MacMillan, & Godbole, 2012).

AERF (n.d.). India. The Bhimashankar strategy – towards a region-wide community conservation programme in the north Western Ghats of India.

Eck, D. (2012). India. A sacred geography. Three Rivers Press. Crown Publishing Group. Random House, New York. (1), 26-27.

Takahashi, Y., Verissimo, D., MacMillan, D.C., & Godbole, A. (2012). Stakeholder perceptions of potential flagship species for the sacred groves of the  North Western Ghats, India. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 17, 257-269.

By Andrea Ballinger

Nature’s hero theme consistently repeats itself throughout the summer of 2014 Project Dragonfly‘s Earth Expeditions Guyana, South America experience in the city of Georgetown, the Iwokrama Forest, and the Villages of Surama. Parallel to the experience, I realized the logistics and mindset that it might take to develop and implement the ground and air transportation, outfitter amenities, as well as the knowledge and experiences shared by the Makushi Amerindians. Indians and superheroes seemed to resonate in reality and mind throughout the journey, and I can only just begin to describe it in this first blog post on this site.

Chartered flight to Guyana’s northern Rupununi interior.

Northern Rupununi Guyana interior air strip.

Landing strip in the northern Rupununi interior. Chartered plane during arrival, welcoming logistics crew, and ground transportation.

At the motel in Georgetown, Mrs. Thomas would ensure we all had a place to stay before and after our journey and discoveries in the Iwokrama Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development and the Surama’s Villages, forests and savannahs. The pilots chartered us to a remote landing strip near to the Iwokrama Forest and Preserve, circled and landed near the majestic falls at the Kaieteur National Park.

Frank, Aunty Paulette’s son, would see to it lunch was delivered in time.  Brought to us off the back of his motorcycle from a milk crate while we were at the Surama Village, his mother’s farm, or with the Children’s Wildlife Club. He’d also ensure we had a straight-as-an-arrow wood fire seared grass shaft to craft an arrow at Milner’s place in a savannah. Milner would have the plant and synthetic materials we needed to complete the arrow and try a shot using one of the Makushi community hand crafted bows.

Guided Inquiry: Are there more bugs in the burned or unburned areas? Surama Village Children’s Wildlife Club. Photograph and inquiry by Earth Expeditions Guyana 2014 Instructor  Ricardo Stanoss .

Paulette would welcome us into her farm, her kitchen, and among her family. She’d tell stories of long ago while her grandchildren sat on her lap and stood by her side. From her open air kitchen she cuts us oranges as a snack and handed them to us outside her window. Raquel and her administrative staff, would help ensure our travels back into Georgetown, hotel stay, farewell dinner, and ground transportation would be more at ease than if we tried to coordinate it all ourselves.