The afforestation initiative by Grow-Trees.com has planted 2.5 lakh trees in the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
Odisha: Tapan Sethi, a farmer from rural Odisha with years of experience in traditional farming practices was dependent on soil quality for a healthy crop yield. However, it was after joining the ‘Trees for Cyclone-Affected Areas’ initiative by Grow-Trees.com, that he understood the relationship between soil health and trees. He also elucidates some other benefits of afforestation and says, “I have learnt that trees significantly improve soil quality, reduce erosion and boost biodiversity. They also act as a natural barrier to floods and are vital for Odisha, a state highly vulnerable to natural calamities like cyclones due to its geographical position and topography. ”
He also emphasises the importance of replenishing green belts impacted by cyclones. In the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary for instance, an estimated six million trees were destroyed during 2019’s Cyclone Fani, affecting the region’s biodiversity.
Initiatives like the ‘Trees for Cyclone-Affected Areas’ can help address this issue. Social enterprise Grow-Trees planted nearly 2.5 lakh trees across approximately 110 hectares of land on the periphery of the Sanctuary. “The reforestation project was primarily carried out to restore the sanctuary’s ecosystem, which was heavily damaged by the cyclone. It began with a thorough assessment of the damage, followed by carefully selecting suitable tree species including Casuarina, Karanj and Earleaf Acacia. Community involvement was another key aspect of the project, with residents participating in planting activities and learning the importance of reforestation,” says Pradip Shah, the co-founder of Grow-Trees.com.
Regarding the livelihood opportunities the project has brought to the local communities, Sunil Sethi, a resident of a tribal village near Balukhanda, says, “The tree plantation project has become a crucial lifeline and provided us with a stable income, especially at a time when the cyclone had destroyed a majority of our crops,” says Sunil.
“Before the 2019 Fani cyclone, the Forest Department had actively planted Casuarina and Acacia trees in the area. However, the cyclone damaged these trees, breaking their tops and plundering the green canopy”, says Smt. Rashmi Purti, a Forest official
The forests of Odisha are home to a diverse and rare array of fauna, including Royal Bengal Tigers, giant Asiatic elephants, Leopards, Lion-Tailed Macaques, Barking Deer, Giant Squirrels and Indian Pangolins, to name a few. The plantation project is expected to play a crucial role in supporting these animals by enhancing their habitats, improving food sources and contributing to the overall ecological balance of the area.
