Three lakh trees planted in last 3-years between Kanha-Pench

Nagpur: In India's first private initiative to improve the green cover, a total of three lakh trees have been planted on approximately 300 hectares of forest and community land between Kanha and Pench wildlife sanctuaries. The project was initiated in August 2014, and is a joint project of Vodafone India and Grow-Trees.com. The Kanha-Pench afforestation project involved planting 100,000 saplings over 100 hectares of forest land between Kanha Tiger Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Pench in Maharashtra every year for three years.

In the first two phases 2 lakh saplings were planted near Rata and Dhodhara village (near Kanha) along the corridor. Similarly, in the just concluded last phase, 1 lakh saplings were planted near Karwahi village with the active involvement of villages along the corridor creating livelihood opportunities to them. The successful completion of the green corridor project was announced by Ashish Chandra, Business Head-Maharashtra & Goa, Vodafone India and Bikram Tiwary, CEO, Grow-Trees.com at a press meet in Nagpur.

"This unique project has enabled Vodafone to offset 33 million kg of carbon footprint generated by our offices. More importantly, we have been able to create livelihood opportunities, enable reforestation and facilitate habitat connectivity in tiger breeding areas between Kanha and Pench reserves," said Chandra. "This is a win-win proposition for all -- the organisation, the community and the environment, exemplifying the true spirit of sustainability.

"The local villagers have got an employment opportunity through this project," said Chandra. Speaking on the occasion, Tiwary said the project has created direct jobs for villagers and tribal communities inhabiting the areas. The trees are planted by the villagers and also maintained by them, he said. "The survival rate of the plantations is about 80 percent. The plantations are done in the periphery of the wild zone and not in core zone of the forest," said Tiwary.