Introduction

Globally, forest cover is one-third less than what it once was and global deforestation continues at 13 million hectares per year. This indiscriminate felling of trees threatens the environmental health and sustainability of communities in rural and urban areas

Afforestation needs to be undertaken on a large scale to reverse the ill effects of deforestation and restore the ecological balance. It will also contribute towards creating a carbon sink and increasing green cover.

Tree plantation projects focuses on planting native tree/shrubs species with ecological importance contributing towards higher GHG sequestration, soil-water conservation, nitrogen fixation.

Social forestry projects undertake development of rain forest at specified concentrated land and/ or along national highways/ railways, barren government land, common urban and rural land along with National Green Highways Mission and State Forest Department.

Vision and Goal

Vision : Our Mission is to increase the green cover in order to reverse desertification, reduce soil erosion, restore local self-sufficiency and coexistence, recreate sustainability and survive climate change

Goal :

• To distribute, and aid to plant and grow 2,000,000 native tree/shrubs species with ecological importance, seedlings for fruit, amenity, and agro—forestry purposes for afforestation and tribal upliftment in Forrest and Rural areas over a period of 10 years.
• Build resilient ecosystem "Green Corridors" along National Highways for Combating global warming and climate change effects.
• Ex situ conservation of native species of the region
• Make forests self-sustainable. Reduce soil erosion at embankment slopes.
• To contribute towards increase in tree cover in the country by focusing on non-forest lands through public participation

Significance of the Project

The project will contribute to improvement of livelihood and resilience to climatic change through:  

• Increase in green cover which facilitates rain and water balance and balances temperatures and humidity
• Reduction in soil erosion from wind and water
• Negating the effect of global warming
• Improving air quality by filtering harmful dust and pollutants such as ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide from the air we breathe.
• Improving forest cover and protecting species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat
• Improving community knowledge and awareness of climatic change issues and supporting demonstration and adaptation practices that reduce the impact of climatic change on peoples’ livelihoods such as best practices in water protection and preservation, soil fertility conservation, best energy production and conservation among others

Project Area,Target Planting and Methodology

 

• The project will cover various forest areas of Maharashtra owned the Government and certain tribal areas as may be required to be afforested under government supervision
• Strugence Benevolent Foundation shall maintain government nurseries wherein 20,00,000 seedlings will be planted over a period of 10 years. These seedlings will be grown at the nurseries maintained by Strugence Benevolent Foundation along with the Department of Forest, Government of Maharashtra
• Seedlings shall typically include: The trees planned to be planted include: Terminalia paniculata (Kinjal), Memocylon umbellatum (Anjani), Terminalia chebula (Hirda), Syzigium cumini (Jambul), Olea diocea (Parjamun), Mangifera indica (mango), Actinodaphne hookeri (Pisa), Terminalia paniculata (Kinjal); Memocylon umbellatum (Anjani); Terminalia chebula (Hirda); Syzigium cumini (Jambul); Olea diocea (Parjamun); Actinodaphne hookeri (Pisa); and Pongamia Pinnata (Karanj)
• Implementation of the project will take course through a number of phased stages designed to ensure acceptance and effective implementation.
• These activities are summarized in the following account.
  • Base line strudies
  • Tree Nursery establishment
  • Distribution of Seedlings
  • Delivery of the Seedlings to the planting sites
  • Site Preparation and Planting
  • Nurturing of Trees
  • Monitoring and measuring the improvement in parameters over the base line surveys

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

The project will employ a team who will compile a periodical report and data on various project parameters. These will be submitted to stakeholders and donors.

Project indicators will include:

• Number of hectares under forest cover per year
• No of people with increased economic benefit/year (men/women)
• Number of people trained (men/women)
• Number of trees planted and survived in the 1st year
• This project will be implemented over a period of ten years from the date of commencement of activities.
• Mid-term review will be conducted after 4 years of operation to ascertain whether the project is being run in the desired direction.
• Internal Audit mechanisms will be put in place to ensure close monitoring and evaluation of project performance on a periodical basis.
• The project will be subjected to a full audit examination of its contribution on pre set parameters and management objectives.
• Depending on trade-offs justified by new opportunities/successes created by the former project, recommendations will be made for either a completely new project that will seek to address fresDepending on trade-offs justified by new opportunities/successes created by the former project, recommendations will be made for either a completely new project that will seek to address fresh challenges or extension of the operational tenure of the former project to sustain similar benefits/opportunities to a wider target community.