Afforestation
Objective
The objective of this project is to implement afforestation in the villages where the farmers are unable to harvest their land due to migration and wild animals. We are working with the local communities to plant trees that produce sandalwood, providing both environmental and economic benefits.
The villagers are also paid to take care of the trees, creating job opportunities and income for them.
Benefits of Afforestation
Afforestation has a significant impact on climate change. It can help to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere by sequestering carbon in the trees and the soil. Moreover, it can help to prevent soil erosion and reduce the impact of floods.
Afforestation also has several socio-economic benefits. It creates job opportunities for the local communities, generates income, and provides the opportunity to harvest fruits and wood from the trees. This project will also help in the overall development of the community.
We are running education sessions to make villagers aware so that they can replicate the this model in their unused land
Target Location
Village-Ghughuti, District-Almora, Uttarakhand, India.
Maintenance and Monitoring (FY 2024-2025):
From April to August 2024, the primary focus was on the maintenance of the planted sandalwood saplings.
The team regularly visited the site for monitoring plant health, applying fertilizers, addressing pest control, and maintaining proper irrigation.
We have been successful in ensuring that a majority of the plants have thrived and are showing healthy growth
Pictures, Videos and Testimonials are shared below
Accomplishment
- Plant Survival Rate: 60% of the sandalwood saplings have survived, and 50% of the supporting plants are flourishing, providing much-needed support to the ecosystem.
- Community Engagement: Local communities, especially women, have been instrumental in maintaining the plantation, aligning with our goal of empowering them through environmental initiatives.
- Ecosystem Restoration: The supporting plants have helped maintain soil fertility and provide a favorable environment for the sandalwood to thrive.
Impact:
The plantation project has created a significant positive impact on both the environment and the community:
- Environmental Impact: Restoration of green cover, improved soil health, and increased biodiversity.
- Social Impact: Empowerment of local communities through participation in sustainable practices. Moreover, we have created 4 jobs.
Challenges we faced:
Here are the challenges faced in planting sandalwood plants at the site of Ghughuti village, Almora, detailed for the progress report:
1. Frequent Wildfires:
- The jungle near the plantation site caught fire during the summer, particularly at night, which posed a significant threat to the sandalwood plants. Wildfires spread rapidly and can cause extensive damage to the surrounding area.
- The villagers came together to combat the fire using traditional methods like water, sticks, and mud, successfully putting it out. Despite this collective effort, the incident still impacted the overall health and survival of the plants.
2. Water Scarcity:
- Water scarcity during the summer months presented a major challenge. The delayed or insufficient monsoons caused water sources to dry up, making it difficult to consistently water the sandalwood plants.
- Sandalwood plants, especially in their early stages, require significant care and consistent watering for at least the first year and a half, making this a critical challenge.
3. Excessive Rainfall and Floods:
- On the other hand, when the rains did arrive, they were often excessive, leading to floods in the mountainous areas. Flooding caused soil erosion and damage to both the sandalwood and host plants.
- Flooding also hindered the proper growth of the plants, as they were occasionally submerged or damaged by water runoffs.
4. Accidental Damage by Farmers:
- Another challenge arose from local farmers working in the fields. Inadvertently, some sandalwood plants were damaged by farming activities, such as plowing the fields. This accidental harm contributed to the reduced survival rate of the plants.
5. Intensive Care Required:
- Sandalwood plants need intensive care and attention, especially during their first 1.5 years of growth. Despite the team's hard work, these challenges limited the overall success rate of the plants.
Conclusion: Despite these numerous challenges, we worked diligently to save and nurture the plants, resulting in a 60% survival rate for the sandalwood plants and a 50% survival rate for the host plants. This outcome highlights both the obstacles faced and the perseverance shown in maintaining the plantation.
Pictures of Challenges faced:
We will educate villagers benefits of Afforestation and benefits of planted trees:
Empowering Our Villagers Through Education on Afforestation and Tree Plantation.
Educating villagers about the importance of afforestation and the benefits of cultivating chandan (sandalwood) plants.
Through informative sessions and workshops, we will empower our community members with valuable knowledge about the positive impact of afforestation on the environment and the numerous advantages of cultivating these specific tree varieties.
The benefits highlight include:
1. Environmental Conservation:
Afforestation contributes to a healthier environment by enhancing air quality, preventing soil erosion, and promoting biodiversity.
2. Economic Opportunities:
The cultivation of chandan trees not only aids in environmental conservation but also opens up economic opportunities for our villagers through sustainable harvesting and sale of these valuable resources.
3. Medicinal and Aromatic Properties:
Chandan is renowned for its medicinal and aromatic properties.
4. Carbon Sequestration:
Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide. Afforestation with chandan trees contributes significantly to carbon sequestration.
We believe that by fostering a deeper understanding of these benefits, we are not only promoting sustainable practices but also paving the way for a more prosperous and environmentally conscious community.
Pictures of Afforestation Progress:
Impact we have created
(An income of 3 Crores in next 10-12 years)
The impact expected in the future
# Nos of Plants | Income per tree from branches after 5-7 years in INR | Income from branches (we can do lopping in every two year) | Avg wood per tree in Kg after 10-12 years | Per Kg wood rate | Income by selling the trees after 10-12 years |
1 | 5000 | 5000 | 10 | 10000 | 1,00000 |
300 | 5000 | 1,50,0000 | 10 | 10000 | 3,00,00,000 |
*Above is the rate as on today, the rates might be double by the time plants become tree and ready to give return
*All above incomes are on the lower side. We can get more rate based on the quality of the tree
*Tree Lopping is a process of cutting down entire branches, or even whole trees, for a variety of reasons. This can include the removal of dead or diseased branches to reduce the risk of further damage to the tree, as well as the removal of branches blocking roads and sightlines.
Thank you Experis IT Pvt Ltd for your continued support in our efforts towards a greener and more sustainable future.
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