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Watch my kanthari talk about my initiative WILD through this link from 2:54 (2 hours and 54 minutes):- Kanthari TALKS 2021
Forest is in fire
The Chhotanagpur plateau encompasses dry deciduous forests, a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion. But this forest faces man-made fire by local people before starting the season of mahua flowering every year. Simultala is situated in Chhotanagpur plateau in Jamui, Bihar. Bihar already has very less percentage of forest cover around 7.76%, whereas India has 21% forest cover which is already less than recommended forest cover. According to Green Mission, India and every state should have 34% forest and tree covered land.
Why do local people put fire in the forest?
Forest fires are intentionally done by the local people to collect Mahua flowers easily. Mahua, known as the butter tree of India and called Madhuca longifolia, is a source of livelihood for most of the local community nearby forest and tribal community. Mahua flower is used to be very small and soft which easily hides in layers of leaves on the ground when it falls at night. So, local people put the fire there to burn all the leaves and bushes. But unfortunately, most of the time this fire can spread easily up to kilometres, causing a devastating effect to the flora and fauna of the forest. We lose huge biodiversity of forest plant species and also many wild animals. This becomes another important cause of the distinction of Chhotanagpur forest and its diversity after mining and cutting.
We are already in a situation where the climate is changing drastically, According to IPCC 2021 report, our natural sink system right now is only capable of absorbing 50% of our emissions, on one hand, we have to plant more trees, on other hand we have to also focus on conserving what yet remain.
We are introducing and training an alternative system of collecting mahua flower without fire
After doing research, we found that if we can put the net around the tree during the fall season of mahua for 30 days to 45 days, then there will be no need to burn anything. But installing the net was not sustainable as the costs went high and using another net is not eco friendly. Then we came up with the idea of collecting old sarees from the women to make a big net by stitching it together and installing it all around the tree. As per our calculation, we need 40 old and used sarees to cover one tree, ropes, electric stitching machine to stitch rapidly, some bamboo in required spaces. We will introduce this system and will provide training to local and tribal communities.
.
There will be the following benefit to putting net under the tree-
1. It prevents putting fire under trees and saves forest biodiversity of flora and fauna.
2. While collecting flowers from land it contains so many dust particles, which is again hard work for villagers to clean it, most of the time they are just able to use it for making beverages and also fetch less amount while selling.
3. Collecting from the ground in a single time takes 5-6 hours a day, which is again a loss of time, burden on the women of the village as well this time can be utilized for other work to earn a better livelihood.
4. Through net villagers can collect a fresh flower from that they can also make other product like jam, candy and more, which will enhance their income, as well they can shift from only making beverage to other product, which further help in reducing domestic violence on women because of drunk husband and they can spend money on their child education.
Budget of the project
At the initial phase, we are targeting installing an old saree net on 20 mahua trees that are inside the forest.
Total cost for installing nets under 20 trees is 108,490 INR and 1,432.78$.
The per tree cost is 5,424 INR and 71$.
Contact details
Shivani Kumari
www.wild-india.org
+91-9334105347
kumarishivani2308@gmail.com
We will kindly request you to share this campaign in your family and friends groups.
The Chhotanagpur plateau encompasses dry deciduous forests, a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests ecoregion. But this forest faces man-made fire by local people before starting the season of mahua flowering every year. Simultala is situated in Chhotanagpur plateau in Jamui, Bihar. Bihar already has very less percentage of forest cover around 7.76%, whereas India has 21% forest cover which is already less than recommended forest cover. According to Green Mission, India and every state should have 34% forest and tree covered land.
Why do local people put fire in the forest?
Forest fires are intentionally done by the local people to collect Mahua flowers easily. Mahua, known as the butter tree of India and called Madhuca longifolia, is a source of livelihood for most of the local community nearby forest and tribal community. Mahua flower is used to be very small and soft which easily hides in layers of leaves on the ground when it falls at night. So, local people put the fire there to burn all the leaves and bushes. But unfortunately, most of the time this fire can spread easily up to kilometres, causing a devastating effect to the flora and fauna of the forest. We lose huge biodiversity of forest plant species and also many wild animals. This becomes another important cause of the distinction of Chhotanagpur forest and its diversity after mining and cutting.
We are already in a situation where the climate is changing drastically, According to IPCC 2021 report, our natural sink system right now is only capable of absorbing 50% of our emissions, on one hand, we have to plant more trees, on other hand we have to also focus on conserving what yet remain.
We are introducing and training an alternative system of collecting mahua flower without fire
After doing research, we found that if we can put the net around the tree during the fall season of mahua for 30 days to 45 days, then there will be no need to burn anything. But installing the net was not sustainable as the costs went high and using another net is not eco friendly. Then we came up with the idea of collecting old sarees from the women to make a big net by stitching it together and installing it all around the tree. As per our calculation, we need 40 old and used sarees to cover one tree, ropes, electric stitching machine to stitch rapidly, some bamboo in required spaces. We will introduce this system and will provide training to local and tribal communities.
.
There will be the following benefit to putting net under the tree-
1. It prevents putting fire under trees and saves forest biodiversity of flora and fauna.
2. While collecting flowers from land it contains so many dust particles, which is again hard work for villagers to clean it, most of the time they are just able to use it for making beverages and also fetch less amount while selling.
3. Collecting from the ground in a single time takes 5-6 hours a day, which is again a loss of time, burden on the women of the village as well this time can be utilized for other work to earn a better livelihood.
4. Through net villagers can collect a fresh flower from that they can also make other product like jam, candy and more, which will enhance their income, as well they can shift from only making beverage to other product, which further help in reducing domestic violence on women because of drunk husband and they can spend money on their child education.
Budget of the project
At the initial phase, we are targeting installing an old saree net on 20 mahua trees that are inside the forest.
Total cost for installing nets under 20 trees is 108,490 INR and 1,432.78$.
The per tree cost is 5,424 INR and 71$.
Contact details
Shivani Kumari
www.wild-india.org
+91-9334105347
kumarishivani2308@gmail.com
We will kindly request you to share this campaign in your family and friends groups.
