Kaas / Chalkewadi - Biodiversity of Western Ghats

Things to carry:

• Carrying your macro lens is a primary need.
• There are good opportunities to use wide angle lenses for landscapes.
• Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
• Carry sturdy tripods for some awesome landscape images
• Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
• Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
• Fill your camera bag with silica gel to protect your gadgets from moisture. They are available in chemist shops.
• You must carry headlights for the night search. Headlights make your both hands free to operate your camera.
• Do carry protective rain gears for yourself and for your equipment. We find Ponchos very good
• Carry basic first aid along with you. Carry regular medicines if you are on medication. Carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites. Carry Permite cream to keep you protected from tick bites.

Remember that the plateau has many rare, endangered and threatened, unique plant species, found nowhere in the world other than this place. It is our responsibility to protect these and avoid extinction. If we take care of the plateau and enjoy the beauty, without hurting it, it will be there for years to come for our enjoyment as well as for our next generations. It is prestigious World Heritage site. Damage to it will be shameful to us as a country. Let us not only put all responsibility on the shoulders of government, but own some responsibility of conservation.  

• Do not walk on the plants, flower beds.
• Do not pluck any plant, flowers. These plants survive only in this plateau and cannot be grown in your garden.
• Do not litter. Do not throw the plastic bottles, food wrappers or any sort of plastic
• Avoid eating on the plateau. Do not throw and food items, chewing gum etc. on the plateau.
• Avoid use of any music systems, however small it may be.
• Avoid going too close to the flowers. Be sure not to harm the plants during macro photography.
• Do not take your vehicles on the plateau. The smoke of vehicles is damaging.
• Do not kill any animal of the plateau including snakes and scorpions.
• Be careful while driving, avoid any road kill of any animal.
• Do not consume alcoholic drinks on the plateau.
• Avoid smoking on the plateau, which also adds to the litter and pollution, though at small level.
• Avoid staying on the plateau between 6 pm to 6 am.
• If you find some one damaging, plucking the plants/ flowers, sitting on the plants, be bold and do resist him/ her in good convincing words. If he is not in mood to listen to you, draw the attention of forest guard around.
• It is illegal to collect any samples of flora or fauna from the plateau, without prior permission from the forest department. You may be fined heavily or prosecuted if you are found collecting anything.

Spread this message to maximum people.Govt of Maharashtra Forest Department, Satara Division