Guardians of forest

Communities across Maharashtra take on the mantle of biodiversity conservation; replicate sacred groves on common land

- HIMANSHU NITNAWARE

SOME 20 KM from Nashik city of Maharashtra is a patch of forest, known as Phaashicha Dongar. As the story goes, this was where the British colonial rulers executed freedom fighters by hanging, and hence the name. As if bearing the burden of the past, the forest patch for decades resembled a barren landscape with a few gliricidia trees here and there. Not anymore. “Today, Phaashicha Dongar hosts more than 33,000 trees belonging to 275 native species. It has also become home to over 70 species of butterflies, 100 species of birds and animals, from peacock to porcupine to monitor lizard, hyena and leopard,” says Shekhar Gaikwad, a resident of Nashik. This transformation has been made possible by nature enthusiasts, citizens groups and students of the city, says Gaikwad, who is at the helm of the initiative.

The 57-year-old has been working for the conservation of trees and landscape restoration for over three decades. From time to time in and around the city, he organises drives to plant trees and water them by roping in volunteers, students and residents' associations. Inspired by his work, the Nashik forest division in 2015 permitted Gaikwad to carry out regeneration activities on a 28 hectare (ha) forest patch at Phaashicha Dongar. That year, on World Environment Day, people from across Nashik joined Gaikwad in restoring the barren forest land, each carrying a native tree sapling and a bottle of water. “About 11,000 native trees of multiple species were planted that day. People also volunteered for regular upkeep of the area,” Gaikwad says, adding that within three years, the number of trees increased threefold and the forest floor was teeming with a thick layer of grass, shrubs and creepers. Birds and wildlife had also returned.

Managed and maintained by local communities, Phaashicha Dongar is now referred to as