Tree Planting & Preservation + Irrigation pump system

The goal of the Saturday Morning Panchavati Hill CCA is to replace foreign plants with local
varieties in the Panchavati Hills of Pune, India, in order to reestablish and preserve the local
biodiversity and make the ecosystem sustainable. More than 20 students have volunteered
to achieve sustainability of the Panchavati Hills by preserving local species that encourage
sustainable ecosystem. The Panchavati Hill Tree Plantation Service is a group of individuals
dedicated to improving the environment by planting new seedlings, using organic manure to
fertigate soil, and eliminating weeds. However, manual watering of plants was
time-consuming and hindered their ability to plant more trees. To address this issue, the
group embarked on a journey to create an irrigation system that could efficiently water over
all saplings in the upper side of the hill.
The first investigation stage involved identifying the problems faced in the hill and analyzing
the strengths and weaknesses of the current hill service in terms of efficiency. In order to
identify the needs and wants, we have collaboratively made a survey and collected views
from various perspectives from volunteers, supervisors, workers at the hill and owner of the
hill. This helped us identify the challenges that volunteers face while watering the saplings
located on the upper side with steep slopes. This inspired me to come up with an idea to
efficiently make a pump drip irrigation system to eliminate human labour required for
watering.
The second preparation stage included clarifying roles and responsibilities within the group
and developing a plan of actions with specified resources to prepare a budget proposal to
get funds from the school. In order to identify the required resources to create the pump, we
first measured the distance of the long, curved path through the plantation area from the
water tank to calculate the energy required. Through calculation, we could deduce that 0.5~1
HP pump will be needed to power the pump. With these calculations, we have prepared a
proposal with the lists of all required materials with costs to get funds from school. Our initial
plan was to design a solar-power pump but as the total cost was too high, we had to modify
it into an electrical pump.
The third action stage was the vital step to implement the plan through making and
problem-solving. We took action by using the funds we had obtained to purchase the
necessary materials for our project. However, this process was quite fluid as we had to adapt
to changing circumstances. For instance, the organizers of the tree plantation initiative
arranged for a grid power supply to be installed near the water tank, which meant that we
didn’t need to use a solar-cell to power the pump. As a result, our project design changed
and we were able to reduce the overall cost of the project. With the help of professionals
such as electricians and plumbers, as well as the heads of the tree plantation drive, we
successfully installed a drip irrigation system that was capable of watering over 1000
saplings located on the upward sloping area of the hill.
The fourth reflection stage was important in order to evaluate our actions and to ensure the
efficiency and sustainability of the project. We had to reflect on our decisions throughout the
process to make sure we had adequately anticipated potential challenges during both the
preparation and action stages. Reflection was especially critical when we had to modify the
design during the action stage to find a balance between budget constraints and
environmental concerns as we transitioned from solar-power to grid power supply. This
process taught me the importance of anticipating the ripple effects of my actions.
Furthermore, as the leaders and the volunteers of the saturday hill service group, we have
encouraged other volunteers to plan for the sustainable pump irrigation system for their
future cas project and service.
To conclude, the construction of the drip irrigation system was a valuable project that
demonstrated collaboration and effective planning throughout the process. Communication
played an important role in order to raise funds and also to collaborate with the professional
electricians that we collaborated to construct the irrigation system. The project was
successful in achieving our goals to create a sustainable system to preserve the plants and
enhance the ecosystem. Throughout the project, I was able to not only reflect but also
develop my skills in links to LO: 1,2,3,4,5,6 & 7

Human systems and economic activities	The study of how and why people construct organizations and systems; the ways in which people connect locally and globally; the distribution of power and authority.
Social organization and culture	The study of people, communities, cultures and societies in the ways in which individuals, groups and societies interact with each other.
Continuity and change through time	The study of the relationships between people and events through time; the past, its influences on the present and its implications for the future; people who have shaped the future through their actions.
Human and natural environments	The study of the distinctive features that give a place its identity; how people adapt to and alter their environment; how people experience and represent place; the impact of natural disasters on people and the built environment.
Resources and the environment	The interaction between people and the environment; the study of how humans allocate and manage resources; the positive and negative effects of this management; the impact of scientific and technological developments on the environment.

Living things	The study of the characteristics, systems and behaviours of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.
Earth and space	The study of planet Earth and its position in the universe, particularly its relationship with the sun; the natural phenomena and systems that shape the planet and the distinctive features that identify it; the infinite and finite resources of the planet.
Materials and matter	The study of the properties, behaviours and uses of materials, both natural and human-made; the origins of human-made materials and how they are manipulated to suit a purpose.
Forces and energy	The study of energy, its origins, storage and transfer, and the work it can do; the study of forces; the application of scientific understanding through inventions and machines. (IBO, 2009)

Tree Planting & Preservation + Irrigation pump system

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