Trees for Tigers™

Why Trees?
After successful plantation of 300,000 trees in the adjoining villages of Kanha National Park in the initial two years, Grow-Trees.com shifts its focus to the nearby village of Pench Tiger Reserve. Karwahi village, situated very close to one of the entry gates (Turia) of Pench Tiger Reserve.

According to a report by WWF India - Fragmentation threat in the Kanha-Pench Corridor, 23 February 2011, “Located in the Central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the Kanha-Pench corridor is one of the most important forest corridors in India and facilitates tiger dispersal between Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves. Sub-adult male tigers are forced to move out of areas where they are born and find new territories. These dispersing sub-adult males are often the ones that manage to use a corridor and get to the adjacent protected area. Without these linkages tiger populations isolated within individual tiger reserves face the risk of extinction due to poaching and loss in genetic vigour over generations.” Further discussing about the necessary actions required to address the issue, the report also suggests to stop the current practice of monoculture plantation and promote the growth of mixed forest trees and plants suitable for wild ungulates. It also highlights the need for sustainable livelihood options for the rural communities to reduce their dependence on fuelwood.

Village Karwahi is home to around 3500 tribals of Gond and Meena community. The plantation of 100,000 local species like drumsticks, custard apple, neem, amla, shisham, jamun, etc. in this region of the state will not only benefit the environment and the wildlife but also the rural communities by adding an additional stream of revenue to their income. Tribal women are getting partial employment in the planting processes like nursery maintenance, pit digging, watering and actual planting. In future, these communities can use the Non-Timer Forest Produce for their own use and/or can also sell fruits, drumsticks, honey, etc. to the nearby markets.

WWF India, in its report - LIFELINE FOR TIGERS, Status and Conservation of the Kanha-Pench Corridor stated, “The conservation significance and potential for long term viability of the tiger population in this landscape has been recognized by national agencies such as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and by various independent conservation biologists. To secure and safeguard corridor connectivity in the long term, WWF-India recommends several measures such as: engaging the local community in sustainable forest-based livelihoods such as collection and marketing of minor forest produce, ecotourism and Joint Forest Management. Our study suggests that in spite of the presence of tigers and other wildlife in the Kanha-Pench corridor area, the threat to tigers is ever increasing due to different factors including habitat fragmentation, developmental pressures as well as the changing socio-economic status of the local communities. It, therefore, becomes imperative that the status of such corridors is maintained and secured. Securing the Kanha-Pench corridor is critical for the long-term conservation of the tiger population within this landscape. Engagement with local communities, supporting the Forest Department and continuous monitoring of the tiger population in these corridors are some of the major activities, which would ensure that the functionality of the corridor is maintained in this politically sensitive area.”

Tree Species
Amla (Phyllanthus Emblica), Baheda (Terminalia Bellirica), Bamboo (Bambusa Vulgaris), Harra (Terminalia Chebula), Imli (Tamarindus Indica), Karanj (Millettia Pinnata), Khamer (Gmelina Arborea), Mahua (Madhuca Longifolia), Saja (Terminalia Elliptica), Sisu (Dalbergia Sissoo), Subabul (Leucaena Leucocephala), Arjun(Terminalia Arjuna), Aam (Mangifera Indica) And Jamun (Syzygium Cumini).

Social Impact
On average, a tree offsets 20 kgs of carbon and produces 118 kg of oxygen per year upon maturity. The trees reverse the effect of adverse climatic conditions and natural phenomena, thus, protecting the community at risk. The project seeks to provide over 51,800 workdays of jobs to the rural community, women being the key beneficiaries. The local communities can also earn wages from the upkeep of the saplings and benefit from the use of the non-timber forest produce. The tribal communities will perceive a significant reduction in soil erosion in the area over time and regeneration of the cultivated land will take place. With the new saplings growing, the source of income for the households would be maintained, thus, making it sustainable.

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