Tree planting in open ecosystems has few benefits
Hindustan TimesThe idea of restoration and protection of the earth’s environment instantly elicits mental images of tree planting. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN in their report on Pastoralism and Variability in 2021 describes pastoralism as ‘a dryland protein production system which has learnt to overcome environmental variability which otherwise does not support large scale farming naturally.’ So then, if both people and wildlife depend on areas which are naturally devoid of tree cover, why plant trees there? Not only this, plantations have also changed vegetation assemblages because they made way for Lantana, one of the most prolifically growing introduced plant species which is now established in many protected areas in India. On the other hand, indigenous pastoralism requires almost no industrial input of fodder and water and native breeds can survive in ONEs so long as they get access to agricultural harvests seasonally. Samvedana’s work in central India with the Phaase Pardhi community is an inspiring example of how decentralised management of grasslands can be favourable for people as well as the Lesser florican Sypheotides indicus.
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Restoration of ecosystem: Have tree planting efforts borne fruit?
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