NERT

Nashik Environment Research Trust NERT is a dream. A dream to have a field research station in Nashik where every and any one who wants to study and help in conservation of Nashik’s wildlife can come and have access to all the tools they need. The location Located close to the northen most parts of India’s western ghats complex, the field station is proposed to be located 45 kms from the city of Nashik and 20 kms from Trimbakeshwar the origin of river Godavari in Nandgaon Koli village. The base is surrounded by grasslands, shrub forests, and forests. Though the area is not a dense forest, a landscape commonly associated with western ghats, the area is buzzing with life with various species of micro fauna, flora and fungi. With average annual rainfall of >2000 mm and elevations of between 500 to 1000 metres above sea level, the surrounding landscape comes to life during and after the monsoons. There have been a few people and institutions who have been working to document and study and wildlife of Nasik district, especially w.r.t to birds (> 300 species of birds have been recorded in the district by NSCN, and local medicinal and edible wild plants. NERT aims to work together with such institutions as well as young researchers to comprehensively document, study and protect the fauna, flora and fungi of the region, with a special emphasis on the smaller reptilian and insect species, as well as fungi, with the objective of understanding their overall roles in the eco system. Our plan is to rewild about 3-4 acres of land within our farm, by planting as many varieties of native species of trees (between 50-100), and removing any known foreign / invasive species from this patch. Longer term, we also plan to work with farmers who the surrounding lands to plant and protect native species of trees in parts where they do not cultivate due to various constraints.