50,000 Trees Adopted by YES BANK!

Project Purpose
Trees for Rural Communities 

Location
Planting 140,000 trees in Kolikh, Pata, Pangra, Rajegaon, Undarni, Manjri, Jarur, Naya Savanga, Amravati and Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India.

Aim

• Controlling the adverse effects of climate change like heat waves and erratic rainfall.
• Increase in agricultural output by preventing pest attacks.
• Contribute to increasing the fertility of the soil and soil moisture as well as atmospheric moisture. 
• Provide the community with forest products as an alternative method of livelihood.
• Conserve the habitat for the endemic wildlife. 

Why trees?
This area is in the Deccan plateau experiences extreme climatic variations resulting in hot summers and cold winters, the temperatures ranging from 42° C in summer to 5°C-13°C in winter months (Government of Maharashtra). The former chairman of Karnataka Agriculture Board and former Vice Chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Dwarakinath has stated that districts in Central India would be hit severely by the effects of climate change which include intensification of pest and insect attacks on crops, increased pressure on lands and harsh changes in the microclimate. To minimize the effects of the dry winds it would be required to increase the vegetative cover which would also help improve humidity in the atmosphere. Tree crops would help in the biological exchange between the cultivable area and non-sown area. (Climate Change will impact the Deccan Plateau, The Hindu, Sept. 26, 2009)

Flora  
The tree species planted here include kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), babul(Vachellia nilotica), ber(Ziziphus mauritiana), hiwar (Acacia leucophloea), khair (Senegalia catechu), bel (Aegle marmelos), chandan (Santalum album), jamun (Syzygium cumini), karanj (Millettia pinnata) and neem (Azadhirachta indica).

Fauna
The animal species at this location include the Jackal, Antelope, Blue Bull, the Sambhar and Barking Deer. The animals of the area are bound to benefit from the trees, as they will contribute to the development of their habitats. The Nilgai population was seen moving away from the area due to lack of vegetative cover but with an increase in the plantation of trees, Nilgai has been spotted back grazing in the wild. 

Social Impact
The cases of drought have been severe in the Deccan region and they are slated to increase, due to climate change. Due to this, the community is bound to experience severe crop failure due to the attack of pests and water crisis. There are also cases of drinking water crisis and deaths due to the heat waves and untimely monsoons. The trees planted will contribute to reducing these adverse effects at the same time providing the community with jobs during the plantation and maintenance period. 
The project has already provided around 3000 workdays of jobs to the rural community, mainly to women. Locals are getting a scope of earning from wages and are encouraged for the upkeep of the saplings. Multiple programs are run by our planting partners to educate the villagers for the conservation of natural resources and they have been greeted with a positive response from the community. For the protection of the saplings, villagers are more united which will create a positive atmosphere and is beneficial for long-term developmental measures. 
Adoption Summary