NAGPUR: In a novel private initiative to benefit the wildlife corridor between Kanha-Pench tiger reserves, 3 lakh trees will be planted in over three years. The planting activities will be spread over 100 hectares of forest land between the two reserves. The planting process on site will begin by early August, in the midst of the seasonal monsoon.
Kanha and Pench reserves straddling Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are important habitats for tiger population in central India. As tigers need large home ranges to ensure population viability, it is important to ensure habitat connectivity between different breeding areas.
The Kanha-Pench corridor therefore gains high importance in the efforts to save tiger and other wildlife. Such a corridor is vital for long-term survival and viability of tigers as it connects smaller tiger populations in Pench to larger populations such as at Kanha. Without these linkages tiger populations isolated within individual tiger reserves face a higher risk of extinction due to poaching and loss in genetic vigour over generations.
The initiative was announced on World Environment Day (June 5) by Grow-Trees.com, the exclusive Indian planting partner for United Nation's Environment Program's Billion Tree Campaign and Vodafone India. This will be India's first private initiative to boost wildlife corridor which is shrinking.
Handing over the first sapling to Pradip Shah, co-founder and chairman of Grow-Trees.com, to formally launch the project, Marten Pieters, CEO of Vodafone India, said, "The company is committed to initiatives that protect environment and benefit the community. With this project, we will be able to offset 33 million kg of carbon footprint generated by our offices every year for three years."
"In addition, we will be able to support livelihood opportunities, enable reforestation and facilitate habitat connectivity in tiger breeding areas. This is a win-win proposition for all - the organization, the community and the environment, exemplifying the true spirit of sustainability," he added.
The project will create about 25,000 workdays of direct jobs mainly for women and tribals inhabiting the area in addition to supporting several allied livelihood generating activities such as farming, fruit and honey gathering etc on a sustained basis.
The site is in Sijhora range and would be jointly protected by three villages - Majhipur, Jogisoda and Chandiya. A variety of trees, including karani, harra, baheda, bamboo, khamer, ladiya, mango and amla, that are local to the region, will be planted. Saplings of these trees are being grown in special nurseries funded by Grow-Trees.com.
Shah said approximately 45% of India's land is degraded primarily due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, mining and excessive groundwater extraction. "More than two thirds of this can be regenerated and our endeavour is to facilitate this by providing planting opportunities to individual and corporate customers," he added.
