Dethali is a village 90km from Ahmedabad with a population of 1300, 40% living below the poverty line. In 2000, Dethali Gram Vikas Mandal began various self-help projects including digging a main lake covering 30 acres that can hold 90 million liters of water, as well as 10 surrounding smaller lakes for water conservation. They also revived village wells, improved dairy and road infrastructure, and replenished groundwater channels. To protect the main lake, they conceived of "Jambuvan", a forest on the lake banks using 87 trees to attract birds and provide shelter, food and peace for people and birds. Jambuvan has since expanded and now includes islands in the lake as bird habitats,

1. The Story of
Dethali
31-Jan-2015
By Mayur Shah
Shaimay Shah
Dethali Gram Vikas Mandal

2. Where is Dethali
90KM from Ahmedabad, Population of 1300 people, 40%
live below poverty line. Main occupation is Agriculture and
Animal Husbandry

3. Story within Story: Flashback Year 2000

4. Dethali then….

5. Dethali Gram Vikas Mandal -
- Self-help group and their activities -
— Water conservation Digging a main lake and 10 more
surrounding small lakes.
— Main lake is in 30 Acres of area and can hold upto 90 million
litres of water.
— Was dug over a period of 8 years. Water can store upto two
years even without rains.
— Reviving village wells.
— Dairy development
— Road building and School Infrastructure improvement
— Ground water channel replenishment

6. Concept of Jambuvan
(JivDaya on Large Scale)
— Once digging was over the lake
front had to be developed to keep
the lake intact.
— An idea was conceived to create a
beautiful forest by growing tree on
the bank of Lake.
— The trees will give enough
strength and conserve water both
in their roots and canopy will help
reduce evaporation
— Jambuvan in the memory of late
Jain Monk Jambuvijayji (A globally
renowned scholar and strong
believer in Jivadaya) was planned.

7. Initial Plan
Jambuvan
Gate Deri
(Temple)
Trees
Based on the principles a plan was drawn to grow 87 trees (87 years
was his mortal age) which will attract birds, give them shelter, food
and peace. People will get peace while praying here.
Which was later evolved into a bigger project

8. Project Jambuvan (Natural chabutaro)
in revised avatar
Jambuvan
Spirituality
(Making of
unique pilgrim
place)
Environment
(development of
Lake, lakefront
and birds)
Sustainable
Tourism
(Village uplifting
and awareness
for birds)

9. What is Chabutaro
An Oasis for granivore birds. People keep grains
and water on elevated platform with shelter
Dethali’s Chabutaro

10. Ariel shot of Jambuvan and
Lake
DEEP
Shallow

11. A shape similar to Maharashtra

12. Grand Entrance

13. Place for deri (temple for
Jambuvijayji) under Banyan Tree

14. Lake front and defense wall

15. Creation of JambuDweep (Islands in lake)
an oasis for birds

16. 146 Species of Resident and Migratory
Birds Recorded
Still Counting….
!
1. Grey'Francolin'
2. Cotton'Pygmy'Goose'
3. Lesser'Whistling'Duck'
4. Rudy'ShellDuck'
5. Eurasian'Wigeon'
6. CombDuck'
7. Gadwall'
8. Spot'Billed'Duck'
9. Garganey'
10. Northern'Shoveler'
11. Northern'Pintail'
12. Common'Teal'
13. Common'Pochard'
14. Eurasin'Wyreneck'
15. Black'Rumped'Flameback'
16. Common'HooPoe'
17. Indian'Roller'
18. Eurasian'Roller'
19. Common'KingFisher'
20. White'Throated'Kingfisher'
21. Pied'KingFisher'
22. Green'BeeSEater'
23. Indian'Koel'
24. Asian'Koel'
25. Jacobin'cuckoo'
26. Common'Hawk'Cuckoo'
27. Pied'Cuckoo'
28. Greater'Coucal'
29. Southern'Coucal'
30. Rose'Ringed'Parakeet'
31. Spotted'Owlet'
32. Laughing'Dove'
33. Rock'Pigeon'
34. Eurasian'Collared'Dove'

17. 6 Ft Saras Cranes pair with cub

18. Painted Storks – Newspaper Click

19. Innovative Methods
Pitcher Irrigation at Dethali

20. Pitcher Irrigation
— Pitchers are round earthen containers used in rural areas for water storage
— It consists of pitchers which are buried to their neck in the soil and are filled
with water
— The water gradually seeps out through the walls into the roots of the plants
and maintains plant growth around the pitcher
— This is the most cost efficient and zero water wastage irrigation method.
— The water only releases when there is need of moisture.
— It helps give employment to potters in village and its 100% environmental
friendly technique.

21. Birds Eye View Jambuvan

22. Involving next generation
- Art work by Dethali Primary School kids-
CLEAN VILLAGE--CLEAN LAKE
ART COMPETITON.
The participation by Village kids and their
pious thoughts for cleanliness, Environment
and Jeevadaya was an eye-Opener

23. Visit by Distinguished guests
Ms. Meera Sanyal CEO Royal bank of
Scotland, India at Jambuvan site
on her visit to Dethali
Joint meeting with Trustees and
villagers at Jambuvan
Renowned Scientist Dr. Arvind Patel
and Mr. Sakuma of Daiwa
Securities Japan at Dethali to talk
on modern and sustainable
agriculture

24. Towards Avian Special Zone…
— Awareness towards each species
— Realization of using non-toxic chemicals in farms
— Involving Kids as Avian Ambassadors and clean
village
— Move towards putting Dethali on Avian-Eco tourism
map.
Bird nest
Avian
Ambassador

25. Future Plans – more trees, more islands,
floating nests

26. Lessons Learnt
PPPPPP

27. Contact Us
Dethali Gram Vikas mandal
somchandshah@gmail.com