In May 2024, raging forest fires claimed five lives and set the hills of Uttarakhand on fire. The fire primarily affected various areas under the Kumaon division and devastated a significant portion of the forest cover, which played a major role in safeguarding the region’s biodiversity. Various rare, threatened, and endangered plant species, orchids, medicinal plants, animals and birds bore the brunt of the calamity.
In a major afforestation initiative that will help restore the area’s forest cover, social enterprise Grow-Trees.com, has launched the ‘Trees+ for the Himalayas’ project. Through this plantation effort, which will be implemented in 17 villages of Nainital and six villages of Almora in Uttarakhand, a total of 4,00,000 trees will be planted in the area.
Pradip Shah, the co-founder of Grow-Trees.com says: “The pine-dominated landscape of the Himalayan region poses a significant forest fire risk. Hence, the ‘Trees+ for the Himalayas project’ aims to replace these pine belts with native species like Oak and Bhatula. These socio-environmentally beneficial trees can enhance the ecosystem’s resilience and reduce fire hazards. Also, other selected tree species including Bauhinia variegata, Melia azedarach, Cinnamomum tamala, and Bauhinia purpurea are well-suited for hill slopes due to their exceptional soil-holding capabilities. This will also help to combat soil erosion.”
Earlier, Grow-Trees.com had launched the ‘Trees+ for Himalayan Biodiversity’ project in Nainital. These initiatives serve as testimonials to promote environmentally friendly forestry practices and community involvement in conservation efforts.
“The project’s emphasis on native species has helped restore the natural biodiversity of the region. It also brings together various stakeholders including the community, NGOs, and government agencies, towards a common goal of environmental conservation, which is a huge positive,” says Mr Tiwary, DFO, Nainital.
Meanwhile, Pramod Kumar, Range Officer of Nathuwakhan village said the ‘Trees+ for Himalayan Biodiversity’ projects have not only strengthened the forest cover and biodiversity of the region but also provided employment opportunities to many villagers.
Uttarakhand also has one of India’s oldest forest management systems – Van Panchayats – where villagers living on forest fringes are entrusted with the responsibility of managing and protecting forest areas. Through their projects, Grow-Trees.com also aims to shift attention back to the Van Panchayats, which have experienced several setbacks over the years. Through maintaining this traditional system, the organization also hopes to ensure the involvement of local communities, which will ensure that the trees planted are properly taken care of.
