Target 107,000
Planted 92,000
Remaining 15,000

Trees for Villagers™

Kheda, Gujarat, India

Available for Adoption: 15,000 Trees

Project Purpose

Trees for Rural Communities™

Location

The project involves plantation of local tree species on the revenue wastelands and catchment of river Mahi in Dhnudhava and Sarnal villages of Kheda district, Gujarat, India.

Aim

Groundwater

Recharge

Increase in

Green Cover

Generation of

Rural Employment

Control Soil Erosion

Improvement of

Wildlife Habitats

Why trees?
The banks of the river Mahi experiences massive flooding and soil erosion. This results in immobility, crop loss and renders the land uncultivable, according to the Foundation for Ecological Security. The water results in the formation of deep ravines thus making the cropland infertile. The organisation also mentions the importance of trees in checking the problem. The trees planted to hold the soil together thus preventing it from being washed away and increase the water holding capacity of the soil, mentions the World Agroforestry Centre.

The project area is endowed with an enormous variety of bird species, reptiles, fish species, amphibians and tree species. The 9th May, 2016 article in the Times of India, ‘36 animal, plant species endangered in Gujarat’, mentions the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of endangered species in Gujarat, including the black mahseer, golden mahaseer, leatherback sea turtle, Indian white-backed vulture, long-billed vulture, red-headed vulture, steppe eagle, greater adjutant- stork, great Indian bastard, lesser florican, sociable lapwing, spotted greenshank, forest spotted owlet, dhole, caracal, blue whale, fin whale and Indian wild ass. The local trees planted provides habitat to these species.

Tree Species
The dominant forest type is Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, the species to be planted here include Desi Babool (Acacia nilotica), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), Karanj (Pongamia pinnata), Saragva (Moringa oleifera), Ber (Ziziphus spp.), Kanji (Holoptelea integrifolia) Kasid (Cassia siamea) and Kothi (Limonia acidissima).

Social Impact
The trees planted will improve the local environment by conserving the soil against the severe erosion and will recharge the ground-water. This will, in turn, improve the environment and contribute to the agricultural output. The trees will hold the soil, preventing rapid flow of water thus checking the erosional process, controlling the formation of ravines, preventing siltation in the river and protecting the water bodies. The local species will provide Non-Timber Forest Products to provide livelihood opportunities to the community. Alongside the community, the rich biodiversity of the area will also benefit from the conservation of the soil, water and the natural habitat of the area.

Adoption Summary

Name of the Company	Number of Trees Adopted	Year
IPCA Laboratories Ltd	10,000 trees	FY 2018-19
Blue Dart Express Ltd	36,000 trees	FY 2016-17
Group Landmark	26,000 trees	FY 2016-17
MakeMyTrip Foundation	20,000 trees	FY 2019-20

Tree Species

Common Name

Botanical Name

Common Name
Neem

Botanical Name
Azadirachta indica

Common Name
Drumstick

Botanical Name
Moringa oleifera

Common Name
Karanj

Botanical Name
Pongamia pinnata

Common Name
Bamboo

Botanical Name
Bambusa vulgaris

Common Name
Indian Elm

Botanical Name
Holoptelea integrifolia

Common Name
Velaga

Botanical Name
Limonia acidissima

14% remaining 92,000 Trees planted
107,000 Trees to be planted

Planters

Audit for Kheda, Gujarat

INDEPENDENT AUDIT

Kheda, Gujarat

Excerpt

Total trees planted were 36,000 in 5 villages in 2017-18. One main sapling is planted along with 3 seeds of the local species in order to survive in the given ecological conditions. In Sarnal Village, a strategy of planting 1 Limonia Acidissima (Kothi) between 10 Holoptelea Integrifolia (Kanji) is adopted. This has ensured the survival rate of 94%.

The planting has been carried out as per the plan and the approximate number of saplings physically verified is in agreement with the number of saplings planted (as per the report of Grow-Trees.com’s planting partner). We are of the opinion that looking to the steps taken by FES i.e. location of the site, encouragement to planting and positive response from the village to save the planting, the result of the activity will be affirmative.