Biodiversity restoration at Dehu Road Cantt.

Project Brief

Indian Army, FORREST and Kirloskar Brothers Limited collaborated for a unique forest and biodiversity restoration in the Indian Army lands. The first phase of this forest restoration was carried out in 2022. Forest areas were restored with 12500 ecologically suitable native forest trees in the first phase of the project. Approximately 3 acres of area was restored in the project.

Two parcels of lands were selected for restoration which were barren but with few trees and shrubs. Forest restoration was carried out with the Miyawaki forest restoration technique.

For restoration 150 species of native, ecologically suitable trees and shrubs were selected.

Project Vision

Ecological restoration to restore the biodiversity and ecosystem services such as climate regulation, nutrient cycling, soil building, water regulation & purification, pollination, and carbon sequestration.

Selection of Trees Species

Selection of the trees is critical in restoration. Native, local, forest species were selected for forest restoration. Native forest trees are strong and are adapted to natural conditions. The direct benefits of forest trees on the land are forest products such as fruits and other food products, fodder, medicinal products, shade, and increased moisture in the area. Indirect benefit includes environmental and ecological benefits such as-

1. Increase in water holding capacity of soil
2. Increase in water table
3. Cooler microclimatic conditions
4. Absorption of pollutants
5. Maintained soil nutrition
6. Soil reclamation
7. Carbon sequestration
8. Increased biodiversity
9. Prevents flooding

All these native trees have been carefully selected with properties of-

1. Grow locally at the project site
2. Have soil reclamation properties
3. Have Medicinal value
4. Have fruits, flowers, and other non-timber tree products
5. Will support wildlife

Features of Restored Forest species-

1. 12 speces of fics were restored
2. 23 species of edible fruit plants
3. 14 species of trees which specifically help in soil reclamation
4. 16 species are larval host plant for butterflies
5. 6 species of nitrogen fixing trees were restored
6. 26 species are drought tolerant
7. Planted species Chota Ajan Vruksha (Ehretia aspera) is endemic to Pune.
8. Guggal (Commiphora wightii) species is Critically Endangered
9. The three Endangered species are Rohitak (Tecomella undulata), Saag (Tectona grandis), Ramdan Champa (Ochna obtusata)
10. Bel (Aegle marmelos) and Bija (Pterocarpus marsupium) are Near Threatened species.
11. Vulnerable species include Kala Umbar (Ficus hispida), Kalarukh (Dalbergia latifolia), Cher (Erinocarpus nimmoni) and Chandan (Santalum album).

Restoration Process

Biodiversity Observations