Help Forest First Samithi restore forest land and empower local forest communities

Thank you for supporting our campaign last year! Over the last 2 years, with support from you, other like-minded people, and institutions (grant partners?), we have been able to do restoration work in 326 acres of forest land. We have 4 nurseries sprouting seeds and nurturing saplings of 80 different species, and we have planted 40k saplings. The most effort intensive work of uprooting invasive Senna has been done in 133 acres over 2 years. Most importantly, this restoration work has become a reliable source of livelihood for over 50 members of the local indigenous tribes.

WHO are we :

Forest First Samithi, set up in 2010, is committed to conserve native tree species and eco-restore degraded lands, while also empowering forest communities with livelihood opportunities through sustainable ecological conservation. “By engaging local communities for restoration and habitat conservation, and encouraging local stewardship in conservation this approach also helps foster strong synergies between local communities and forests. Forest First Samithi raises funds to support their monthly wages, to procure native and RET (rare, endangered and threatened) saplings, and to provide necessary technical and scientific guidance. We plant wild edible fruits, RETs, pollinator attracting and riverine species that are found in the local forest eco system ” says Meera Chandran, Co-founder of Forest First Samithi. We work in Wayanad, Kodagu and Anekkatti.

PROBLEMS in our focus:

The forest fringe communities of Wayanad are impacted by degraded forest lands because of alien invasive species like Senna spectabilis and Lantana camara. Alien invasive species do not let native floral species to regenerate thus depriving wild animals of their food availability and impacting forest fringe communities through human animal conflicts. Absence of native floral species reduces the water holding capacity of the landscape thus creating floods during peak rain and droughts during dry season.

Another issue is the lack of steady work for local labor. They end-up doing seasonable work like coffee picking, paddy work or have to travel long distances to find work during off season months.

Our SOLUTION:

Over the last decade, Forest First Samithi has restored 420+ acres of land while conserving 150+ tree species in the Western Ghats. “We are leveraging this experience on large scale forest land restoration jointly with the local community. This approach has helped strengthen livelihoods largely due to a 70% survival rate of planted saplings after uprooting prolific invasives like Senna spectabilis. Owing to the efficacy of this process, it is now being used as a case for Kerala and Karnataka Forest department,” shares Meera.

Our campaign REQUEST:

Help Forest First Samithi restore forest land and empower local forest communities

The 5 lakh funds raised will be used to -

1. Support in buying 3000 saplings from a local tribal nursery

2. Supporting livelihood for 15 restorers for 2 months to enable invasive management and maintenance of planted saplings

Every 12,000 we raise will enable one rural youth to restore degraded lands for one month which includes insurance costs. All wage payments are made directly to their bank accounts.

Let’s join hands with Forest First Samithi and help maximise their impact on forest land restoration, strengthening livelihoods across forest communities. Donate now

On the occasion of Daan Utsav (beginning October 2, 2023) all your contributions to Forest First Samithi will be boosted by Give. So the amount you donate is scaled up, and so is the impact. Please donate now.

Pledge your support, donate now!