Latest news with #ATREE
New Indian Express
23-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Chhattisgarh's Tiriya gram sabha recognised globally for community-led forest governance
RAIPUR: Tucked deep inside south Chhattisgarh's Bastar division, Tiriya village has been recognised among the top 15 mentions, out of the 190+ nominated communities, for the 2025 Collective Action Awards by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). Tiriya's model stands as a resilient example on how tribal (Adivasi) communities can lead inclusive, sustainable development rooted in traditional knowledge and collective action in Bastar region. The RRI is a global coalition of grassroots organisations aimed at improving coordination and support for the recognition of land rights for indigenous people across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The global efforts intended to safeguard nature and preserve traditional knowledge for future generations are much appreciated. The achievement of Tiriya has been supported by the Bastar-based team of ATREE, which has facilitated key steps in the community forest rights (CFR) claim-making and community planning processes. The global recognition celebrates Tiriya's exemplary grassroots efforts in securing community forest rights, strengthening collective governance and pioneering a self-sustaining eco-tourism model.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
First native grass nursery in western Maharashtra yields encouraging results
The first-ever dedicated native grass nursery in Western Maharashtra is now flourishing in Gulunche village, located in Purandar tehsil of Pune district. What began as a modest ecological restoration initiative one and a half years ago has blossomed into a thriving hub of native flora, offering new hope for the revival of degraded grassland ecosystems in the semi-arid regions of the state. It is spearheaded by The Grasslands Trust in collaboration with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Pune district administration. (HT) Established in January 2024, the nursery was envisioned as a critical component of a long-term, science-driven grassland management program. It is spearheaded by The Grasslands Trust in collaboration with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Pune district administration. The project, rooted in the heart of Purandar's semi-arid agro-climatic zone, is already showcasing tangible results. The nursery currently houses over 28,000 grass saplings across two structured enclosures and maintains a seedbank of 8,000 mature saplings, which serve as both a genetic reservoir and planting stock for restoration efforts. Plans are already underway to expand this seedbank to accommodate an additional 24,000 saplings in the coming months. Native grasses such as Cenchrus ciliaris (Anjan), Dicanthium annulatum (Marvel), and Sehima sulcatum (Pavanya), once common across the Deccan plateau, are now reclaiming soil where fertility had been eroded by decades of overgrazing and land degradation. Other species nurtured in the nursery include Chrysopogon fulvus (Dongri), Sehima nervosum (Sheda), Dichanthium foveolatum (Lohkhandi), as well as native tree species like Senegalia catechu (Khair) and Vachellia leucophloea (Hivar). Each of these plays a specific ecological role, ranging from enhancing soil fertility and controlling erosion to providing critical forage for herbivores like chinkara and blackbuck. What sets the Gulunche nursery apart is its community-driven model. Locals, including women and landless farmers, are deeply involved in every stage of the restoration process, right from seed collection and nursery maintenance to transplanting and post-plantation care. This participatory approach not only brings ecological benefits but also promotes socio-economic inclusion, offering livelihoods and skill-building opportunities to communities who have historically been marginalised in conservation dialogues. 'Restoring native grasslands is not just about growing grass—it is about restoring entire ecosystems,' says Mihir Godbole, founder and trustee of The Grasslands Trust. 'These landscapes support rural economies, provide habitats for endangered wildlife, and act as natural infrastructure to combat climate change. The success we are seeing in Gulunche is proof that ecological restoration can be both science-led and community-anchored,' he said. One of the project's major milestones came last year, when the team—backed by the Suzlon Foundation—successfully transplanted 45,000 grass saplings across a 5-hectare pilot plot. This year, they plan to scale up further by planting another 33,000 saplings and seedballs in an adjoining 5-hectare tract. The increase in scale reflects not only the confidence the team has built through data and field results but also the rising interest from environmental organisations and policy stakeholders. The nursery's work is reinforced by quarterly monitoring surveys to assess parameters like vegetation density, root development, soil moisture content, and biodiversity indices. Preliminary findings from these assessments indicate that plots restored with native grasses show improved soil structure, enhanced water retention, and signs of returning biodiversity—a clear indication that native species are better adapted to the local environment and more resilient to climate fluctuations than exotic alternatives. Despite their immense ecological and economic value, grasslands remain one of India's most overlooked ecosystems, often dismissed as wastelands in both land-use planning and conservation policy. Yet, these ecosystems serve as critical carbon sinks, support high biodiversity, regulate hydrology, and provide sustainable fodder that supports traditional pastoral livelihoods.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Heat shelter design for the city's vulnerable takes centre-stage in exhibition
A working prototype of 'Neralu heat shelter' — a roadside shelter designed keeping in mind outdoor workers — was unveiled at Sweat & Concrete 2025, an exhibition aimed to highlight the lived realities of communities most affected by the rising heat stress. The light, collapsible, and easily scalable shelter, conceptualised by architects and urban planners Ankrtiya Diggavi and Sagar Kandal, was the winning entry in a heat shelter design contest conducted by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment (ATREE). Designed for informal workers, such as pourakarmikas, haulers, waste pickers, street vendors, gig workers and coolies, the shelter has been prototyped for the first time for the exhibition. A scalable model 'We wanted to do a shelter design that is scalable across India. That's how we thought of a chassis and frame system,' said Mr. Kandal. The shelter, which consists of a metal frame, canopy, bench, and curtain, has been designed in such a way that it can be hinged onto a compound wall without touching the ground. This way it doesn't encroach the space on the footpaths, the architects pointed out. The curtain made of jute bags not only insulates it from heat, but also doubles up as a fan. 'A lot of industrial equipment go to waste. A thought behind designing the shelter with such material was whether we could salvage them and directly use them thus bypassing the recycling process which in itself is energy consuming,' said Mr. Kandal. Nudging to take ownership Mr. Diggavi added to it: 'We designed it in such a way that it does not touch the ground, folds up onto itself, and we are proposing that a private compound wall owner can lend his wall for this to be set up. This way it does not interfere with public space and we are nudging even citizens to take the ownership and onus of providing these things to the vulnerable.' Noting that the shelter would cost around ₹20,000, the architects hope that government officials would come on board to scale the model. A bottom-up approach The two-day exhibition, organised by People First Cities, an initiative bysocial movement incubator Purpose, also features the runner-up designs from the competition and panel discussions that include voices from the vulnerable communities. 'The focus is on thinking about how cities can be designed in a more participatory, inclusive manner from the bottom up,' said Kanishk Kabiraj from People First Cities. 'In the garden city of Bengaluru, heat is often a blind spot. But it's not going to stay the same way. Last year was the hottest year on record globally and heat impacts different people differently. Planning and decision-making need to include communities who are the most impacted by the rapid expansion of the city,' he added. Sonali Bhasin from People First Cities noted that heat action plans in Indian cities often lack vulnerability assessment and action policies that impact informal sector workers. 'We wanted to bring that to the attention of regular citizens as well as decision makers of Bengaluru and try for a more solution-oriented way,' she said. Admission to the exhibition is free and open to the public till May 30 at Sabha Space on Kamraj Road.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
ATREE researcher makes rare plant discoveries in Sikkim
A researcher from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) has recorded the discovery of Eulophia siamensis, a rare plant species, for the first time in India. Pramod Rai, a research associate at ATREE, found the wild orchid species along with Isodon neorensis, another rare plant species, in Sikkim. Eulophia siamensis is previously known only to China, Myanmar and Thailand. Isodon neorensis, which belongs to the mint family, is newly noted for Sikkim, having previously been recorded only in West Bengal's Neora Valley and Bhutan. Mr. Rai chanced upon the rare plants during a field survey in the state. These findings underscore Sikkim's ecological richness and emphasise the critical need for ongoing conservation efforts, said a release from ATREE. A chance discovery Eulophia siamensis, belonging to the genus Eulophia R. Br. ex Lindl, was found in the Sirisay forest of Namchi district. A single plant was found in a rocky and pebbled area, while another was discovered in a shaded forest floor rich in humus. 'This suggests the plant can survive in different types of environments. The orchid's genus, Eulophia, is particularly noted for its remarkable morphological diversity,' said the release. The researchers from ATREE also documented Eulophia siamensis co-existing with native plants such as Cissus discolor, Aristolochia cathcartii, Aeginetia indica, Tephrosia candida, Clerodendrum infortunatum and Begonia picta, highlighting its integral role in the local ecosystem. The findings have been published in the journal 'Acta Phytotaxonomica et Geobotanica', co-authored by Santosh Kumar Rai from Sikkim University, Prakash Limboo from Sombarey Senior Secondary School and Sudhizong Lucksom, a retired Director from the Forest and Environment Department and orchid expert. Haven for unique flora The second discovery, Isodon neorensis, was found growing in a disturbed habitat on a highway roadside in the Daragaon area of Tadong. It is characterised by attractive red flowers on elongated inflorescences. The species found in the Daragaon area exhibits unique features, such as heart-shaped leaf bases and an extended flowering period into late October and November – traits previously unrecorded in this species. This discovery was documented in the 'Journal of Threatened Taxa.'
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Hesaraghatta grasslands will remain untouched
The large 5,678-acre grasslands in Hesaraghatta are finally under protection from encroachment and development. The Government of Karnataka issued the final notification of the Greater Hesaraghatta Grassland Conservation Reserve recently while conservationists and those who have been crying hoarse to save the city's remaining green areas heaved a sigh of relief. The grassland region in Hesaraghatta forms a unique ecosystem close to Bengaluru and supports numerous species of flora and fauna, many of which are endangered. This area is a large carbon sink for Bengaluru and can be a powerful tool to mitigate climate change and counter the rapid concretisation of the city. Conserving the grasslands helps to mitigate the impacts of global warming. The landscape surrounding the lakebed is the last remaining grassland habitat in the Bengaluru region and supports unique biodiversity. Hence, protecting the habitat by creating a conservation reserve for endangered wildlife species in surrounding areas was the need of the hour. 'A living lab' Dr. K.S. Seshadri, Fellow in Residence at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in the city, has been associated with the conservation efforts since 2012, when he wrote a report with his colleagues on the need to conserve the grasslands and its rich biodiversity. 'Though it took twenty years, the process has seen the willingness of government officials and citizens to work for the environment in a positive effort,' Dr. Seshadri said. 'Protecting this savanna grassland and wetland ecosystem will give us a lung space that plays a critical role in water security, sustain the rich biodiversity that it supports in the form of wildlife — animals, birds, insects, butterflies, birds and amphibians — and it can become a living lab for researchers to study larger issues of climate change.' The region that has been included under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 includes the Hesaraghatta Lake while the grasslands in the surrounding catchment area are an important reservoir of biodiversity. A survey by Subramanya S. of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board found in it a refuge for endangered wildlife species such as leopards, slender lorises, jackals, Indian foxes, smooth coated otters, wild pigs, common mongooses, black naped hares, Indian mole rats, and Indian field mice. In addition, seven different species of snakes have also been observed in the grasslands. The grasslands are also home to more than 285 species of birds, including the critically endangered lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus), 13 species of amphibians, and 111 species of butterflies, including the lilac silverline (Apharitis lilacinus) butterfly, which was sighted after a century in Bengaluru and that too only in the Hesaraghatta grasslands. Some 395 species of other insect species have been recorded as well. The Hesaraghatta landscape is a site for several wintering migrants from Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, including several species of raptors. One of these migratory birds is the greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga) and the globally threatened red-necked falcon (Falco chicquera), which the IUCN Red List has classified as being 'vulnerable to extinction'. Surmounting snags The grasslands are a catchment area for reviving groundwater levels, which benefit groundwater recharge and will improve the groundwater table, which would in turn benefit thousands of farmers in the surrounding villages. It also acts as a sponge to soak up monsoon runoff. This is a large catchment of the Arkavathy River and Thippagondanahalli reservoir and also for the nearby Hesaraghatta lake and reservoir. The area's ecosystem services in this regard will improve the water security of Bengaluru and help fulfill many sustainable development goals. The grasslands also provide freshwater in the region for migratory birds. The process of declaring the land as conserved had hit many snags, including opposition by local politicians and people vested in the area's development for real estate. N. Ravindra Kumar, the deputy conservator of forests, Bangalore Urban Division, said, 'The forest department always agreed to the proposal of declaring the grasslands as conserved. Thanks to the efforts of our Forest Minister Eshvar Khandre, many public citizens, and our chief minister, we have succeeded. The notification sets a precedent for such conservation efforts of almost 6,000 acres of government land so near the city, [and] the grasslands are the lungs and a much-needed open space amidst the concrete jungle.' Jagadish Krishnaswamy, Dean of the School of Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements, Bengaluru, said, 'The conservation and restoration of the Hesaraghatta grasslands is very important for the city of Bengaluru. It is the first mega-city in India with a protected grassland with many species of birds, mammals, and insects that need grassland. Grasslands are threatened and being converted to other land use all over India.' Papiya Bhattacharya is a freelance journalist.
