A Glorious Beginning on World Environment Day! 🌱✨

On this World Environment Day, we celebrated the launch of Arulagam Poonthalir Nursery with a sapling planting ceremony at our new campus. 
It was a moment filled with purpose, pride, and hope.This day also marks a meaningful milestone in our conservation journey. We planted a sapling of Hildegardia populifolia (Malapurasu), one of India's rarest tree species, currently on the verge of extinction.

Our Secretary, Mr. S. Bharathidasan, along with our dedicated nursery staff, came together to mark this special occasion.

🌟 The highlight of the day -  young Jithesh stepped forward with enthusiasm and planted a sapling himself. In that small act, we saw the greatest promise of all: a greener world being passed into the hands of the next generation.

At Arulagam Poonthalir Nursery, we are committed to cultivating rare and endangered plant species, and contributing to the protection of India's precious biodiversity - one sapling at a time.

 

 

As part of our Vulture Conservation Programme, three Bachelor's students from the Department of Zoology, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, successfully completed a 21-day internship from 07 May to 30 May 2026. The internship provided valuable field-based exposure to vulture conservation, environmental education, community engagement, and biodiversity conservation practices.

During the programme, the students actively participated in tribal community outreach activities across selected tribal settlements within the Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve landscapes. They contributed to environmental awareness programmes, stakeholder engagement activities, documentation, and the formation of Village Vulture Conservation Committees. Through these experiences, they gained practical insights into vulture conservation, field research methodologies, and community-based conservation approaches.

The internship offered a unique opportunity to understand the vital role played by indigenous communities in conserving biodiversity and protecting habitats for critically endangered vultures. By working alongside conservation practitioners and interacting with local communities, the students developed a deeper appreciation of the challenges and opportunities involved in landscape-level conservation.

The programme concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony, where Mr. S. Bharathidasan and Mr. G.Rammohan congratulated and encouraged the interns for their dedication, enthusiasm, and active participation throughout the internship. They presented the Internship Completion Certificates and copies of Kaatin Kural (Voice of the Forest), authored by Arulagam's Secretary, as a token of appreciation and encouragement for their continued engagement in nature and wildlife conservation.

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Arulagam extends its sincere appreciation to PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, for encouraging students to gain practical conservation experience through field-based learning. We are grateful for the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the interns and wish them success in their future academic and professional journeys.

At Arulagam, we remain committed to nurturing young conservationists and creating meaningful opportunities that bridge academic learning with real-world conservation action. Together, we continue our mission to conserve vultures, protect biodiversity, and strengthen community-led conservation across Tamil Nadu's critical landscapes.

 

 

 

Arulagam’s Sand Dunes Restoration project and Neithal Nursery project in Rameswaram has been featured in a booklet “Community-Led Biodiversity Restoration in Coastal India: Local Actions Creating Global Impact” released on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2026 under GEF-SGP India OP7. Read the full booklet - https://teriin.org/files/Community-Led-Biodiversity-Booklet.pdf

The section highlights Arulagam’s work on raising over 70,000 native saplings for planting. biodiversity outcomes from the project are -

 🪴Around 53.1 hectares of sand dune ecosystems restored
🪴Native coastal vegetation re-established
🪴Improved coastal ecosystem stability and biodiversity
🪴Enhanced protection against erosion and saline intrusion.

Livelihood and Social Outcomes
🌿More than 4,000 households indirectly benefited;
🌿Women and youth gained livelihood opportunities through nursery and restoration activities;
🌿 Increased awareness regarding coastal ecosystem conservation.

The booklet highlights the commendable work carried out by all SGP partners in Coastal India. 

 

 

 

As part of the special summer training camp for students that has been going on for the past five days, the Headmaster of Thorappalli, Mr. Krishna Moorthy, and, Mr. Thavasimani, English Teacher, participated as special guests.

In this camp, they shared special awareness messages with the students, first of all, about the importance of education, which group to choose after 12th standard, which department they can join, guidelines for higher education, and awareness regarding new student admissions.

This interaction was very encouraging for the students. On behalf of Arulagam, we thank the teachers and the headmasters for giving their time and participating in this special camp conducted by Arulagam, and encouraging the students.

 

வணக்கம், கடந்த ஐந்து நாட்களாக நடந்து வரும் மாணவர்களுக்கான கோடைகால சிறப்பு பயிற்சியில் இன்று சிறப்பு விருந்தினராக தொரப்பள்ளி தலைமை ஆசிரியர் திரு. கிருஷ்ணா மூர்த்தி மற்றும் ஆங்கில ஆசிரியர் திரு. தவசிமணி ஆகியோர் பங்கேற்றனர்.

இந்த முகாமில் அவர்கள் மாணவர்களுக்கு சிறப்பு விழிப்புணர்வு செய்திகளை பரிமாறினர் இதில் முதலாக கல்வியும் முக்கியத்துவத்தை பற்றியும் பன்னிரண்டாம் வகுப்புக்கு பிறகு எந்த குரூப் எடுத்தால் எந்த துறையை சேரலாம், அது போன்ற மேல் கல்வி களுக்கான வழிகாட்டுதல்கள் மற்றும் புதிய மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கைக்கான கல்வி விழிப்புணர்வுகளையும் மாணவர்களுடன் உரையாடினர்.

இந்த உரையாடல் மாணவர்களுக்கு மேலும் ஊக்குவிக்கும் வகையில் இருந்தது . தங்களின் நேரத்தை கொடுத்து அருளகம் சார்பில் நடந்து வரும் இந்த சிறப்பு முகாமில் கலந்து கொண்டு மாணவர்களை ஊக்குவித்ததற்கு அருளகம் சார்பாக உங்களுக்கு நன்றி தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறோம்.

"Saving vultures is not just protecting a bird species; it is protecting the balance of nature itself."

Chokkanali is a small Irula tribal village situated in the Mudumalai landscape of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Surrounded by forests and rich wildlife habitat, the village is home to the Irula community, who share a close traditional relationship with nature and the surrounding ecosystem. The peaceful environment and proximity to the forests make Chokkanali an important part of the Mudumalai conservation landscape.

On 10th May 2026, the Arulagam team conducted an awareness meeting with 39 villagers. The villagers were introduced to Arulagam and its vulture conservation initiatives. The team explained the ecological importance of vultures in preventing the spread of diseases and discussed the harmful effects of diclofenac, a veterinary drug that causes the death of vultures when they consume treated cattle carcasses.

The villagers were advised to dump only healthy cattle that had died naturally and were not treated with banned medicines. The team also encouraged cattle rearing and explained how forests, birds, and wildlife contribute to environmental balance and water conservation.

During the discussion, the villagers expressed concerns about cattle loss due to tiger attacks and the insufficient compensation provided for such losses. To support affected families and encourage sustainable livestock rearing, Arulagam proposed providing buffalo calves through the VVCC initiative.

The villagers were introduced to the VVCC (Village Vulture Conservation Committee) and informed about its role in addressing cattle health issues, carcass management, and village welfare with the support of Arulagam. A PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) exercise was also conducted to collect information about the village. The villagers mentioned problems such as lack of grazing land, high veterinary expenses, and difficulties in accessing treatment for sick cattle.

 

The team suggested preparing cattle feed locally and assured support through training programs, equipment assistance, and livelihood improvement initiatives. Arulagam also emphasized the importance of education and stated that support would be provided to students pursuing higher studies.

 

The villagers cooperated actively with the Arulagam team and participated in the PRA exercise conducted on 11th May 2026. It was recorded that the village has 74 houses, of which 54 households own cattle. Some villagers requested buffalo calves as the region was not suitable for raising Jersey cows.

On the same day, seven VVCC members were selected by the villagers. The committee members accepted their responsibilities and decided to conduct meetings on the 11th of every month. The organization informed the villagers that one family affected by tiger attacks would receive a buffalo calf through the committee. The first calf born would be given back to the VVCC for community benefit, while the second calf could be retained by the owner. Arulagam also announced that a bank account would be created for the committee and that members would be changed once every three years.

 

The villagers were informed that vaccinations for cattle are safe and necessary, but banned veterinary medicines should not be administered. They also provided details regarding the number of cattle, goats, and other livestock owned by each household for organizational records.

At the end of the meeting, the village elder delivered the vote of thanks and appreciated Arulagam’s efforts towards both community welfare and vulture conservation.

"Conservation becomes meaningful when communities and nature grow together."

 

   

 

 

On April 12th 2026, the Melchemundi Tribal Village stepped into a new reality. For the 14 families and 52 individuals of the Paniyar community, the day marked more than just the end of a project,it marked the beginning of a more stable, self-reliant future.

Change is most meaningful when it addresses the basics of daily life. Our focus was on providing the infrastructure necessary for a community to thrive on its own terms.

The transformation at a glance:
 1. 9 homes repaired and painted.
2. A new community learning centre for the children.
3. Direct access to safe drinking water for every family.
4. New street lights and LED lighting for every household.

 

 

During the inauguration, the State Street Team focused on connection rather than ceremony. By spending time with the families and listening to the children, they ensured that the work genuinely aligned with the community’s lived experience.

Special thanks to the leadership of Mr. Kaathick Mariappan, Mr. Ashok, Mr. Prasanth, Mr. Ramajayam, and Mr. Amuthan from State street.

Deep appreciation goes to the Arulagam team—Mr. Shanthakumar, Ms. Nilitha, Ms. Swarna Mughi, Ms. Latha, and Mr. Mathan & our creatives team- Mr. Santhosh, Mr. Tejas, and Mr. Vignesh. Their persistent work ensures these upgrades translate into long-term hope for the Paniyar community.