At a time when ambitious climate goals loom large on the horizon, one of the most potent methods to combat climate change and protect our ecosystems is the simple act of large-scale tree planting, which forms crucial carbon sinks. Carbon sinks absorb excessive CO2. In their absence, we are jeopardising habitat stability and the migration of wildlife, both of which can disrupt the ecological equilibrium.

While India’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries contribute significantly towards safeguarding our wildlife and capturing carbon, it is clear that there is still a considerable amount of work that needs to be done. Currently, India boasts approximately 567 wildlife sanctuaries, yet they occupy only 3-4% of the country’s total geographical area.

“At Grow-Trees.com, our Greet with Trees program enables companies and employees to plant trees in public lands and greet friends/employees/customers/dignitaries via eTreeCertificates to do social good while achieving a private purpose of greeting friends and associates,” says Pradip Shah, Co-Founder, Grow-Trees.com.

From Crisis to Crossroads: India’s Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks

Driven by the dedication of concerned citizens and activists, significant strides were made in the development of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. However, the initial progress gave way to a period of stagnation as relentless development took precedence in the 1990s and the fervour of the wildlife conservation movement began to wane.

Shah’s tree-planting initiatives are a vital move to reignite conservation efforts that unites ecological, social, and climate objectives through the creation of carbon sinks.

Securing Big Cat Territory

Our flagship endeavour, Trees for Tigers, stands as the cornerstone of our efforts, with a primary focus on reforestation along the peripheries of Sundarbans National Park, Pench Tiger Reserve and Simlipal National Park, creating vital buffer zones that reduce human-animal conflict. Tigers, being ambush predators, rely heavily on the presence of trees and vegetation for their hunting. Furthermore, as keystone species, the protection of tigers is paramount – their absence would leave an enduring wound on the environment, one that can never truly heal.

“It is important to note that Similipal is the only known habitat for black tigers, unique pseudo-melanistic tigers resulting from genetic mutations due to inbreeding triggered by habitat fragmentation. Our project, ‘Trees for Black Tigers’, is dedicated to reducing habitat fragmentation and ensuring the safety of these extraordinary creatures,” opines Shah.

Among the big cats, leopards stand out as true tree-dwellers given their agile bodies. With diminishing green cover impacting their prey, our ‘Trees for Leopards’ initiative was developed to revitalise green cover; this will benefit the prey population and indirectly aid leopards.

Protecting the rare Kashmir Red Deer

Over the past three to four decades, the Hangul population has steadily declined due to hunting, habitat fragmentation, and human activities. “Today, only around 260 Hanguls remain. ‘Trees for Hanguls’ in the periphery of the Dachigam National Park was developed in response to this dire situation. The project aims to expand their habitat and support local communities dependent on forest resources,” explains Shah.

Enhancing Elephant Habitats

The ‘Trees for Elephants’ project is a significant effort in the outskirts and foothills of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand. This ambitious initiative aims to facilitate uninterrupted elephant movement between forest patches. The carefully selected tree species planted in this corridor not only address their nutritional needs but also offer shade for thermal regulation that contributes to their overall wellbeing.

“As we continue our work on developing tree planting initiatives, we are not only making strides towards fulfilling environmental benchmarks but also reinforcing the importance of our sanctuaries as a lifeline for our precious wildlife and extending support to rural communities,” signs off Shah.