Our Projects

Kodagu

Background:

Wayanad, has undergone 50% deforestation over the last few decades with invasive species taking over open forest lands. With Wayanad also being one of the main catchment areas of the rivers Kabini and Cauvery, water security is a cause of concern due to deforestation.
80+ native species, ,many of them being RET (ICUN) grow here in these areas and several of these are edible or have medicinal value.
The spread of invasive species such as Lantana Camara and Senna Spectabilis is highly detrimental to these native species.

Our Intent:

To restore degraded forest lands by eradicating Lantana camara and Senna spectabilis and conserve more than 80 species of trees and shrubs in a bid to conserve RET (rare, endangered and threatened) species of the Western Ghats specific to the region. The intervention is based wholly on involving local communities, creating local stewards through the process of restoration and habitat conservation. Over a period of 5 years, the land is envisaged to be a biodiversity conservation habitat.

Our Impact Over the Years:

Restoration Impact:

From an area of 8 acres in 2010, we now have over 300 acres of land under restoration in Wayanad.

Forest Land: We eradicate invasive species and imporove diversity by planting at least 70 species
through Assisted Natural Regeneration.

Sacred Grooves: Conserving diversity of over 100 native species that belong to this category. These sites will perform the function of providing seed bank and seed pool.

Riparian Buffer: Reduce soil erosion and improve habitat for local species like otters by adding 25 native species.

Coffee Estates: By adding upto 30 diverse and biologically important species in large coffee estates, we aid in improving pollination.

Landslide Eco: Restoration: Using native grass like Bamboo and Vetiver to restore lands afftected by landslides to aid soil stabilisation.

Livelihood Impact

Smokeless and Fuel Efficicient Cook Stoves: We have distributed over 118 of smokeless and fuel efficient cook stoves in 3 tribal hamlets. Fuel efficient stoves enable in reducing fuel consumption by 40% thus reducing dependency on nearby forests and ensuring reduced indoor air pollution.

Solar Home Lighting: 30 solar lightings installed and another 50 procured/in the process of installation. Rooftop solar lighting and mobile charging enables remote rural homes to have basic facilities during long outages during monsoon.