Volunteers help revive Borivli nat’l park …….Simit Bhagat
Mumbai: Corroded forest land at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivli will soon sustain a unique ecosystem and turn itself into a haven for wildlife. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has taken up the task of regenerating the land by planting more than 20 species of local trees with the help of volunteers.
The degraded forest land in Malad that was earlier occupied by encroaches has been taken up for the eco-restoration project. On Saturday, around 40-odd volunteers with the help of the BNHS team, planted around 100-native species in the forest area.
The monsoon is the best time to carry out a plantation drive in the forest. “The aim of the project is to plant around 20,000 trees over three years, which will help restore the ecology,’’ said Krishna Tiwari who is handling the City Forest Project of BNHS.
The forest department has allowed BNHS to carry out the project in about 25 acres of corroded land in the park. Earlier, the area was encroached upon and the forest department had carried out a demolition drive, after which it was lying barren. “We decided to restore the forest land by involving corporates and volunteers from schools as well as colleges,’’ added Tiwari.
By restoring shrinking local forests, the department aims to boost the wildlife population, prevent soil erosion and reduce carbon emissions. One of the major challenges facing those implementing the project is to ensure the trees’ survival. “But since we are seeking local support and would also be monitoring the site on a regular basis, we hope that the mortality rate is reduced to a minimal,’’ said Tiwari.
* The BNHS aims to plant around 20,000 trees in 3 years