Dehradun- In the outskirts of Dehradun, the whistleblower Sanjiv Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service officer and recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award has charted a success story in the Kalsi forest. He has inspired hopes of others to eject the nasty Lantana weeds from the face of Himalayan valleys and river basins.
This forest, nurtured under the Miyawaki technique, stands as a shining example of power of dedicated individuals working to restore and preserve our natural ecosystems.
The officer has been courting controversies and was shifted from Haryana cadre to Uttarakhand carded in the recent past after he earned an epithet of a whitsleblowert for uncovering corruption in the forest department in Haryana.
But this success story of greening of forest and riding the Kalsi forest of the weedy lantana bushes has come as a harbinger of hope for the Himalayan region mainly Beas and Satluj river basins of Himachal Pradesh.
Lantana weeds have marched up to lower Kinnaur along the Satluj river basin, eliminating natives species like anything.
Sanjiv Chaturvedi, known for his unwavering commitment to fighting corruption, took on the challenge of transforming an area plagued by invasive species and ecological threats into a thriving native forest.
The Miyawaki technique, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, proved to be the key to this transformation.
By planting a diverse array of native species in close proximity, the forest achieved remarkable growth rates and density.
Over the course of three years, Chaturvedi and his team from the Research Wing of the Forest Department meticulously planned and executed the project.
More than 50 local plant species were identified, and a nursery was established to grow 10,000 plant saplings. The land, once dominated by invasive lantana bushes, was carefully prepared, with soil enriched by biomass to enhance its perforation capacity, water retention, and nutrient content.
The results of their efforts have been nothing short of phenomenal. Today, the Kalsi forest stands tall, boasting nearly 9,500 trees of various native species.
The once-degraded land has been transformed into a vibrant ecosystem, teeming with biodiversity. Not only has the forest successfully eradicated the invasive lantana, but it has also become a model of sustainable and maintenance-free growth.
Chaturvedi's vision and determination have not only revitalized this particular area but have also inspired similar initiatives across the country, observed Anoop Nautiyal, who made a detour of Kalsi forest and noticed the success story charted by Chaturvedi there.
As urbanization encroaches upon green spaces and our cities face the challenges of climate change, the Miyawaki technique offers a silver bullet solution to increase tree cover and restore natural habitats.
It is a beacon of hope for those striving to create greener, more sustainable environment, observed the NGO.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to Sanjiv Chaturvedi and his dedicated team for their tireless efforts”, Nautiyal said.
Their work in Kalsi serves as a testament to the transformative power of nature and the spirit of individuals who champion its cause.
Through their endeavours, they have not only created a forest but also sown the seeds of inspiration for a greener, healthier future in the hills and areas infested with Lantana weeds.
