Social Forestry

An ever expanding city marked with its towering apartments, sprawling official complexes and imposing malls is what comes to my mind when I think of Pune. Named so after the confluence of Mula and Mutha rivers called as Punya, Pune was once referred to as “Pensioner’s Paradise” as many government officers, civil engineers and Army personnel preferred to settle down in Pune given to the green valleys and hillocks of the Sahyadri range and easy laid back life style.

Today very few remnants of those times are left in this once green city. The grey landscape of Pune is dotted with hillocks which have escaped the ever devouring monster of ‘development’, but not for long.

FORREST took up the responsibility to reforest these denuded hills by planting them with different species of trees with the help of the residents of Pune city. Among these is ‘Kirti Garden Tekri’, named so after the soon to be built residential apartment complex on top of this hill. FORREST decided to salvage the remaining hillock by reforesting it. Social forestry approach is being used for this purpose so as to develop a sense of belongingness and responsibility among the citizens of Pune towards these hills and towards the urban forests.

  The first phase of plantation took place on the dew laden morning of 30^th July 2016 on Kirti Garden Tekri, through the enthusiastic hands of young ITians from Talentica. A group of 40 young people showed up at Kirti Garden Tekri, situated on Pashan-Sus road at the given time of 8 am. Their enthusiasm for plantation reflected in their punctuality. Although many of them were not habitual of outdoor activities, they strived to walk up the hill to the site of plantation. Many were panting from the strenuous walk but their eyes gleamed with wonder as they saw the green landscape. Today nothing would keep them from contributing this small token of gratitude to Mother Nature.

The group huddled with childlike eagerness around Neha and Nivedita as they demonstrated how the trees are to be planted. The group was divided into ten teams of four members each. Each team was supposed plant at least four plants in the pre dug holes. Soon the group members formed their teams and volunteered for different tasks. A human chain was formed to get the plants from the top of the hill to the plantation site. This day the usually impeccably groomed ITians, did not mind their cloths getting soiled. Laughter and mirth was written wide on each face as the heavy plants were passed down from one pair of hands to another. With fingers which work computer keys and palms habitual of handling the slick smooth computer mouse, they dextrously dug the shallow holes, lined them with compost and filled them back after gently placing the plants in the pits. Even, little Amodita who accompanied her mother for the activity, worked her little hands and tiny feet with the same enthusiasm as exhibited by her adult counterparts in all the activities from planting to watering the plants. She later said, she had a lot of fun planting trees and she would like to come and do it again.

After the activity got over, the group relaxed while having their breakfast at the Kirti Hill restaurant. Their eyes gleamed with a sense of satisfaction and happiness for having given their time and labour for something worthwhile and precious in the long run. Many members of the group took responsibility of visiting again to take care of the plants and water them at regular intervals.

The whole activity took place in a span of 3 hours. Around noon the young men and women walked down the hill to depart for their respective abodes with determination in their minds to keep these plants alive and see them thriving and their hearts filled with a sense of pride and oneness with the nature.