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 Lopsided developmental activities threaten our resources like ponds, lakes, rivers, hills, gardens, open spaces, wilderness areas, and rare species of fauna and flora. Whenever such environment / development issues come up in Pune, Arbutus tries to provide correct scientific knowledge to the children, youth and the common man. This helps them to understand the event in its right perspective.
 For example, in 1985 an Open Air Laboratory was organised by the side of a natural quarry pond in the Model Colony area, because this pond was to be filled up to construct a five star hotel. Actual pumping of water had also been started. At this Laboratory which was set up for two days, it was explained how the water body was unique in many ways as it had a great variety of life forms and presence of some rare species. With the help of microscopes, experiments and colourful charts, the concepts of eco-balance and interdependency of life forms were explained. Importance of water bodies in fast industrializing cities like ours was emphasized. Citizens saw for themselves that the water did not smell as there existed, a perfect eco-balance. All the organic matter in the lake was being converted into high protein food in the form of edible fish which was being harvested every day from the lake. People were told how because of the presence of Gambusia fish (a known mosquito larvae eater) the lake area was free of mosquitoes. Many resident and eight migratory birds were recorded from the area. Thus the importance of saving this pond as a small Bio-reserve was explained. A big movement took place in the city and in spite of many obstacles the pond was ultimately saved and today it stands as ‘green belt’ declared by the Pune Municipal Corporation. Arbutus was invited from the Asia-Pacific region to present the success story of this ecological battle at the UN Conference in 1991 at Miami, Florida, USA.
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