Restoring 10 sacred groves in Rajasthan

Help stop deforestation in India

Summary

Using water conservation techniques and tree and grass planting we revive these forests and restore the sacred groves. This secures the livelihoods of the 8000 people who depend on the groves. progress reportread updates from the field

How You Can Help  Help

Make a donation

Received $6,977 from 74 donations from people like:

More Information About this Project

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

In rural Rajasthan, India, poverty and vulnerability to climatic changes (drought, famine) are common. Villagers depend on their sacred forests (orans) for wood for fuel and timber, fodder for their animals, water and medicinal plants. However, orans are in decline due to industrial development and changing government laws. We help villagers revive their orans and empower them to manage the forests sustainably. Healthy orans mean less poverty and more livelihood security.

Activities

For these 10 orans we are raising and planting 100,000 trees and renovating 10 key water harvesting structures. This means there is more food and water for 8,000 humans and 20,000 livestock.

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $6,977
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $68,022
Total Funding Goal: $75,000

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

Restore "orans" to their pristine, sustainable green environment; develop better management practices of the rural ecosystem; secure the rural livelihood of millions; preserve endemic/endangered species and variety of cultivars found within orans.

Project Message

Yadi hamara devbani thik to sab kuch hai; yadi yah thik nahi to chara, pani aur bhojan ke lale.” - “If our oran is intact we have everything; if not, we suffer from lack of fodder, water and wood.
- Bodan Gujjar, from Bera village, He is a 50 year old pastoralist beneficiary

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Aman Singh Singh
Project Leader
KRAPAVIS, 5 / 218 Kala Kua
Aravali Vihar
Alwar, Rajasthan 301001
India
144 – 2344863
Email:

Project Sponsor

Ashoka Innovators for the Public

Organization

Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan (KRAPAVIS)
KRAPAVIS, 5 / 218 Kala Kua Aravali Vihar
Alwar, Rajasthan 301001
India
+91-144-2344863

Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in IndiaIndia and can also be found under Climate Change (GG Green)Climate Change (GG Green).

For more information about India, read the Human Development Report on India or the Wikipedia entry for India.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on November 6, 2009.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on August 31, 2005

Latest Update from the Field

Tree Plantation on Orans; Sacred Community Land in Rajasthan

By Aman Singh - Chief, October 08, 2009 12:00 PM

During this monsoon, KRAPAVIS (Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan) has planted about 10000 tree saplings on the orans land, located in the Aravalli Hill Range of Rajsthan. The plantation has been done through women self help groups (SHGs). The most common tree species are planted which used for fodder by the pastoralists include Prosopis cineraria, Acacia sp., Zizyphus and Anogeissus pendula. Prosopis cineraria and the Accacia sp are propagated because of their drought tolerance and ability to fix nitrogen. Both species, during the time immediately before the monsoon or in times of severe drought, “provide fodder when other tree species become devoid in foliage.” On average, the semi-arid district of Alwar in the north-eastern end of the Aravalli Hill Range annually receives less than 600 mm of rainfall. The vegetative landscape consists of sparse dry land grass intermingled with thorny, desert shrub and small stands of dry, deciduous forest. Forest groves or Orans are most often located between hills where there is a spring or watering hole. The two major social groups living in this area that utilize as well as worship the sacred forest groves are the Meenas and the Gujars. The Meenas are settled agriculturalists and make up 40% of the population while the Gujars are nomadic pastoralists and constitute around 32% of the population. Both depend on the Orans for fuel, medicinal plants, fruits, and fodder for their livestock. According to the pastoralists, the Orans provide them with indispensable vegetation to feed their cattle. In addition to grazing grounds, shady Orans afford a resting spot and a refuge from the scorching Rajasthani sun to both livestock and the herders. Co-management and worship of the Orans by the villagers and pastoralists contributed to greater species diversity in cultivated and wild plants as well as guaranteed sustainable access to all members of the community.

Pictures:

Want to support this project's continued work? give now

Read 7 more "Updates from the Field" Subscribe to Email Update Subscribe to "Updates from the Field" by E-Mail Subscribe to RSS Subscribe to RSS Feed

Was this report valuable...
vote divider
Loading...
Tell us why (your comments may be shared publicly).
Rules for Comments 
Comments

How Else You Can Help

Spread the Word on your Profile, Blog, or Website

Put a widget for this project on your profile, blog or website to turn your friends into givers. Using our widget, it's quick and easy to add this widget to your profile or blog!

get this widget