IAHV has delivered one of the biggest urban afforestation projects in Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. The plantation site is spread across 33 acres at Tetvali, Navi Mumbai.

‍

Hundreds of people have found this site a way to connect with nature amidst the concrete jungle of Mumbai and a way to revive the city’s lost lands. Under an agreement with the Government of Maharashtra, we plant and maintain 17,500 trees and shall hand over the land to the Maharashtra Forest department in 2024. This project was initiated in August 2017 with contributions from multiple CSR partners. Around 50 indigenous varieties of trees have been planted and geo tagged, with a surprising survival rate of 90%. We have also built 3 check-dams that store rainwater, 17 bandharas, 2 borewells, and have set-up a drip-irrigation system over 60% of the land. The site is also maintained by full-time workers who help in activities like weeding and maintain the high survival rate of the plants. The site has attracted a lot of biodiversity and a butterfly park has been created. Pathway for nature trek and an in-house nursery have also been started.

‍

This project has positively impacted the environment in various spheres. The tree plantation site temperature is 2-degree Celsius lower than the surrounding areas. There has been an increase in green cover of the site, conservation of water and soil, preservation of biodiversity, reduction in carbon footprint, reduction in soil erosion and desertification, creation of a good habitat for the surrounding wildlife species, improvement in micro-climate of the area, enhancement in social, and cultural well-being of the site and local communities.

‍

This is a place city-dwellers can trek to and connect with nature.

Climate change, poor water management, industrial pollution and indiscriminate abuse of resources, means more cities are reaching their limits of usable water drawn from an area.

‍

We provide solutions in replenishing water sources, reconfiguring farming and improve collective action by involving and training rural communities. We work in many Indian states, reviving 40 rivers and tributaries, including five in Karnataka, using the mix of technology, building recharge structures, desilting, agroforestry, introducing natural farming practices and community empowerment.

‍

Our agroforestry project practices involve outreach to farmers through one-on-one conversations or focused group discussions to sensitize them on water crisis and agroforestry as a possible solution. Training is conducted and sapling demand is determined during these meetings. Peer-to-Peer learning and mentorship is promoted followed by land planning. Technical coordinators visit individual farmer lands to discuss land development plans, area available with the farmers, irrigation sources, number of saplings required and land preparation methods. Once farmers confirm that they have undertaken land preparation, a technical coordinator visits to verify the number of pits prepared and finalize the right kind of saplings to be distributed from a mini-nursery set up for plantation.

‍

With agroforestry practices, the wells which were dry for years are again filled with water, giving villagers easy access to water for drinking and farming.