“Nature is giving every little thing to human beings, however we aren’t giving a lot again to nature,” says Mr Ganeshan D, founding father of Koodugal Nest (Community for Surroundings Sustainability Belief). The Chennai-based NGO is taking part in a key function in boosting the sparrow inhabitants within the metropolis by way of its distinctive efforts in nest conservation.
From an agricultural background in a small village close to Bengaluru, Ganeshan D has all the time held a deep love for nature, which advanced right into a passionate dedication to environmental conservation.
Ganeshan’s journey is rooted in a strong basis of schooling, skilled expertise, and a deep dedication to giving again to nature. He has carved out a singular path, dedicating himself to creating a significant impression by way of conservation efforts, with a selected concentrate on sparrow preservation, water management, and waste discount.
His curiosity in nature started in his early years. “From childhood, I’ve all the time been fascinated by nature and deeply enthusiastic about conserving sparrows,” Ganeshan tells The Higher India. As a pupil, his curiosity was nurtured by a supportive professor who recognised his zeal for the surroundings and inspired him to pursue it additional.
From engineer to surroundings warrior
Ganeshan pursued mechanical engineering, incomes a bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma. Following his research, he labored as a professor at SRM College, the place he continued to foster his pursuits within the surroundings whereas additionally educating. Nonetheless, his skilled life didn’t totally fulfill his ardour.
After his time as a professor, he transitioned to the IT sector, at present working as a site specialist in knowledge expertise at Coda Expertise Options. Regardless of his technical profession, his true calling lay in his environmental efforts, and thus the Koodugal Nest was born.
The seeds for Koodugal Nest had been planted throughout Ganeshan’s pupil years. He says, “I started engaged on tasks like sparrow conservation, water administration, and waste administration as early as 2014, throughout my MTech research.” He began his first tree-planting initiative on college campuses, setting a private purpose to plant not less than 500 timber yearly. These early efforts had been fueled by his perception that people ought to give again to nature in no matter method attainable.
On 29 July 2020, Ganeshan and his spouse, Shanthini, a professor at JNN Institute of Engineering and a PhD candidate in arithmetic, formally registered Koodugal Nest, marking the start of their shared journey to make a distinction.
“After marriage, my spouse Shanthini turned the spine of Koodugal Nest, taking up the function of challenge supervisor and guiding the mission with unwavering assist,” admits Ganeshan. What started as a private challenge had now advanced right into a fully-fledged organisation.
‘Sparrow populations have elevated by 15%’
Koodugal Nest’s core mission is to considerably enhance the sparrow inhabitants, guaranteeing their presence thrives throughout communities. The organisation works by educating college students and communities in regards to the significance of sparrows and involving them in hands-on actions corresponding to developing sparrow nest containers. These nest containers present much-needed shelter for sparrows, who face extreme habitat loss resulting from urbanisation.
“As insectivores, sparrows play an important function in controlling pests like mosquitoes, flies, and crop-damaging bugs, which helps cut back ailments corresponding to malaria and dengue, supporting human well being. By retaining grasshopper populations in verify, in addition they shield crops, selling agricultural productiveness,” Ganeshan explains.
“Conserving sparrows can be important for sustaining biodiversity, as they play a key function in seed dispersal. By feeding on seeds from numerous crops, sparrows assist unfold plant species throughout ecosystems, supporting the regeneration of flora. This course of not solely promotes wholesome and various habitats but in addition ensures the long-term stability of ecosystems, making sparrow conservation essential for environmental steadiness,” he provides.
The NGO’s impression has been far-reaching. Over the previous few years, Koodugal has distributed greater than 10,000 nest containers throughout 40-45 colleges and gated communities in Chennai. In line with Ganeshan, “About 60-70% of the nest containers are actually occupied by sparrows, with a number of generations now nesting within the containers. In North Chennai, sparrow populations have elevated by 15% within the final 4 years.”
Overcoming challenges
Like all formidable enterprise, Koodugal Nest confronted its share of challenges. “Once we first approached communities in North Chennai, folks had been hesitant. We had been strangers, and lots of didn’t perceive why sparrow conservation mattered,” Ganeshan recollects. The group confronted preliminary roadblocks in convincing native residents, colleges, and organisations to take part.
“After we reached out to 10 colleges and gained media consideration, colleges started welcoming our tasks, and shortly each, academic establishments and native communities began actively participating with us to advertise sparrow conservation,” says Ganeshan.
The following problem was the price of developing the nest containers. Initially, Koodugal labored with a carpenter who charged round Rs 200-250 per nest field. However the group needed to make the challenge extra sustainable. To beat this, they began producing their very own kits.
“We minimize the supplies ourselves, and as an alternative of giving out completed merchandise, we educated college students to assemble their very own nest containers,” Ganeshan explains. This hands-on strategy helped decrease the associated fee to Rs 100-150 per field, whereas additionally empowering college students and residents.
Suggestions from college students was essential in enhancing the design of the nest containers. Ganeshan’s group adjusted the scale and construction primarily based on real-world use, steadily refining the design to maximise its attraction to sparrows.
“Koodugal Nest work wouldn’t have been attainable with out the assist of its company companions. Chennai Willingdon Company Basis (CWCF), Surveysparrow Pvt Ltd, and Lennox India Expertise have been instrumental in funding the distribution of nest containers and guaranteeing the continued development of the initiative,” Ganeshan acknowledges.
Bringing communities collectively
Though company partnerships have been a major supply of funding, Ganeshan stresses that the challenge’s true success lies in the neighborhood’s involvement. “The true impression comes from college students, households, and communities coming collectively to make this challenge a hit,” he says.
“Earlier generations understood the significance of sparrows, however immediately’s era is much less conscious of how important they’re for human survival. Sadly, most people typically lacks the time or curiosity to find out about their significance. Because of this we determined to concentrate on colleges, to lift consciousness and clarify the mission of Koodugal Nest,” the founder provides.
One important discovery the NGO made was that the discount in sand in city areas was a significant component within the sparrow inhabitants decline. In 2020, at Revoor Padmanabha Chetty Matriculation Greater Secondary College in Tiruvottiyur, the abundance of sand made it the proper surroundings for sparrows.
After putting in 100 nest containers on the college campus, the outcomes had been quick. “Inside six months, a lot of the containers had been occupied, and immediately, 100% of the nest containers are in use,” Ganeshan proudly shares.
“We dedicate our time to conserving sparrows as a result of as their inhabitants grows, they may assist management mosquitoes, cockroaches, and different small bugs that usually go unnoticed. Sparrows thrive near human settlements, as they will solely survive in temperatures that are perfect for us, not in extremes,” he provides.
Empowering the following era
Koodugal Belief has made a major impression on college students. Sharing her expertise, Prayukta, a 14-year-old pupil from RPC Matriculation College, says, “My father was part of the Koodugal Nest challenge, and he introduced house a nest in 2022. All of us helped in putting in it, and it was wonderful to observe sparrows deal with their younger ones. I’ve developed a behavior of feeding them and observing their actions. I might like to proceed this sparrow conservation sooner or later.”
“By participating college students in hands-on tasks, Koodugal just isn’t solely educating them about sparrow conservation but in addition improves their motor expertise, focus, and empathy. These actions have considerably diminished display time and have helped youngsters develop a eager curiosity within the pure world,” notes Ganeshan.
As for future plans, Ganeshan is set to make sparrows a typical sight throughout Chennai and increase the attain of the challenge to extra colleges and gated communities. “Our purpose is to achieve 1,00,000 households and distribute extra nest containers in 10 years,” he says.
The NGO can be specializing in growing sparrow sanctuaries in additional colleges, the place sparrows can nest and flourish in secure, protected environments. They’ve efficiently established eight sparrow sanctuaries to date, offering a house for 100 to 200 sparrows on every campus.
“Our first companion, Dhanalakshmi Greater Secondary College, accepted fifteen containers. In the present day, we’ve distributed over 10,000. Initially, we aimed to put in 1,000 containers, and we achieved that. Wherever we’ve distributed nest containers, we’ve seen college students get extra engaged. I’m lucky to have supportive dad and mom who assist me steadiness my work and the Koodugal challenge,” Shanthini says.
T Mohanalakshmi, a devoted Botany instructor at KC Sankaralinga Nadar Greater Secondary College, and her husband, Ganesh, are additionally deeply concerned within the Koodugal Nest challenge.
“In our house, we’ve got a big neem tree. After I first discovered about Koodugal Nest, I acquired two sparrow nest containers and put in them. Quickly after, I used to be thrilled to see sparrows visiting the tree. Now, I’ve ten sparrow nests, and I get up each morning to the sound of birds chirping at 4-5 am,” says Ganesh.
Koodugal Nest’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2023, the NGO acquired the celebrated Tamil Nadu Management Award from the World CSR Congress. This recognition got here on account of their dedication to environmental conservation and the numerous impression they’ve made within the communities they serve.
Moreover, in 2024, the belief was honoured with the Inspiro Award by Agilisium Consulting for its excellent contribution to conservation and schooling.
As Koodugal Nest continues to develop and attain extra folks, its mission expands past simply sparrow conservation. It’s about fostering a way of environmental duty, understanding the fragile steadiness of nature, and provoking others to take their very own steps towards a sustainable future.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; Photos: Ganeshan D
