Quarterly Update Report

Anirudh Gupta

Soil is prepared by adding organic materials that contain carbon - organic compost, mulching materials etc. This is to nourish the soil before plantation.

Planting native species that mimic natural forests in the region.

Periodic field visits to offer technical support on leading forestry practices, monitor the maintenance and management of the trees.

Creating urban forest experiences in Gujarat

Abundance of the Commons: Reviving community forests in Uttarakhand

with local employment opportunities from project activities thus far

Hasten in collaboration with Alaap has taken on the mission to bring back the lost native forests of the Himalayas. In the state of Uttarakhand, mono cultured pine plantations, a colonial legacy, are the root cause of severe environmental degradation and economic hardships. With this project, Hasten is reviving the native species amongst the existing pine forests and its working! Van panchayats or village commons offer an exciting opportunity to revive the native species, address climate and biodiversity goals and create employment opportunities and secure livelihoods for the local community. However, just planting new trees is not enough. Integrating reforestation with fire risk solutions and clean energy from waste, this project aims to demonstrate that native forests can be revived in the Himalayas while improving the lives of the families who depend on these very forests. The project also aims to build a viable case for integrated regenerative solutions in the Himalayas.

Repopulates forests with native species suitable to local conditions

Reduce incidents of forest fires

Recruits local communities for an inclusive approach

Around 21,000 hectares of this land was destroyed due to mining, hydropower plants, road construction, power distribution lines, water pipelines and irrigation. This is increasing at an alarming rate in a State where over 2/3 of lands are covered by forests. This degradation weakens our first line of defence against a rapidly changing climate. Uttarakhand's Van Panchayats or Community Forests are an important part of its social fabric. Hasten Ventures works with local communities to reforest these lands with native species.

Uttarakhand's Van Panchayats or Community Forests are an important part of its social fabric. From the days of the Chipko movement, rural communities have protected these commons as an essential part of their rural lives. Over 70% of Community 'forests' in Uttarakhand are pine 'plantations', i.e. hectares of land that are invaded by pine trees, not allowing any native forests (like oak forests) to survive. Pine needles are highly inflammable and are the main cause of annual fires. By reforesting native trees in the midst of pine plantations, we can reduce the risk of fires. The work undertaken by Hasten Ventures ensures:

How does the project tackle this?

The purple area represents the community lands where reforestation activities are currently being undertaken.

Projects

Abundance of the Commons: Reviving community forests in Uttarakhand

From 2000 to 2020, Uttarakhand lost nearly 50,000 hectares of forest lands from commercial activities

Impact on people, communities and planet

3,000 saplings

27

14 people

Supported by 21 brands and enterprises

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