Guardians of Biodiversity: Afforestation Drives Safeguard Hangul and Sun Bear

The IUCN has listed Sun Bears as vulnerable as their population is decreasing alarmingly. These animals are poached for their body parts and are often killed during conflict with humans.

Article 51-A (g) of the Indian Constitution says, “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.” Wildlife habitats and biodiverse regions constitute the nation’s natural wealth; their plunder debilitates biodiversity and causes severe ecological imbalance. It was for these very reasons that the Indian Parliament passed the Wild Life (Protection) Act in the year 1972. Diminishing biodiversity is also a global concern and every year on the third Friday in May, people and organisations around the world observe Endangered Species Day. Since 2010, the Indian social organisation ‘Grow-Trees.com’, too has been busy protecting the country’s biodiversity with various tree plantation initiatives that repair fragmented animal corridors and increase the sheltering green cover across wildlife habitats.

Here is an overview of some of the projects that are doing their bit to protect many endangered species.

Trees for Hanguls

Hangul deer, also known as the Kashmir stag, is one of the only surviving subspecies of the European red deer in Asia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has declared hangul as one of the three endangered species in Jammu and Kashmir. Their numbers have fallen below 200 in the country, due to various factors such as poaching, fragmentation of habitat, urbanisation, mass tourism and predation. To combat this, Grow-Trees.com has initiated the ‘Trees for Hanguls’ project in the Pampore region, the periphery of Dachigam National Park in Kashmir. This initiative aims at restoring the green cover in the region and will also revive biodiversity, promote eco-tourism, and recharge groundwater.

Trees for Indian Giant Flying Squirrels

The Indian Giant Squirrels have been listed as a threatened species in the IUCN Red List. These animals which usually live in tree canopies are losing their habitat owing to heedless cultivation, forest fires, poaching and expanding human settlements. ‘The ‘Trees for Indian Giant Flying Squirrels’ project in the Sitama Wildlife Sanctuary involves the plantation of the Mahua tree, which is the primary source of food for squirrels.’ These trees also provide flowers, fruit, and fodder to rural communities and improve water catchment while the plantation activities provide livelihood opportunities and also improve local ecology.

Trees for Sloth Bears

The IUCN Red List has listed sloth bears as a vulnerable species and Wildlife SOS states that there are only 6000 to 11000 sloth bears left in the wild. The ‘Trees for Sloth Bears’ project entails planting on community lands in the villages of Kumbhalgarh Sanctuary in Rajasthan to create a robust buffer zone that can contribute to reducing human-animal conflict. It will also generate employment for the villagers during the nurturing and plantation of saplings and after maturity, these trees will provide forest products as well as fodder for cattle and improve the quality of soil and water for agricultural needs.

Trees for Slender Loris

Slender Loris is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, while the IUCN has listed them as endangered. They are extensively poached as they are believed to have medicinal powers. These animals found in tropical rainforests, open woodland, swampy coastal forest, semi-deciduous forest, scrub forest, casuarinas groves and bamboo clumps often spend their time on trees feeding on leaves, flowers and sometimes on bird eggs. Through the plantation project in Kudagipatti Gram Panchayat, Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, Grow-Trees.com aims to sensitise the villagers to the value of these animals. The profusion of ‘local tree species’ will also increase their population and the planting initiative will provide the villagers with a forest-based livelihood.

Trees for Sun Bears

The IUCN has listed Sun Bears as vulnerable as their population is decreasing alarmingly. These animals are poached for their body parts and are often killed during conflict with humans. Wildlife SOS has noted that the Sun Bear population has reduced by 30% in the last three decades. Grow-Trees.com’s planting initiative in the community land in Disi village, West Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh will not only improve the habitat of Sun Bears but also strengthen the income opportunities for locals and facilitate ecotourism.