About 15 years ago, a small hillock in Anuganalu village, Hassan district, was only a rocky patch of land with sparse vegetation and an almost non-existent groundwater table. But today, a mini forest of trees, shrubs, and bushes threatens to spill over to the surrounding farmlands, thanks to Malali Gowda and his army of family and local people. Today, this green miracle is the recognition stamp of the village.
A native of Anuganalu, Malali witnessed nature's wrath first-hand during the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001. In a moment of sudden realisation, he resolved to do his bit for the environment and started with a 'green' blueprint for this rocky landmass. The plan was simple: to vegetate the hillock, recharge groundwater level and boost biodiversity.
Water first
In 2001, Malali gave a physical structure to his vision by setting up Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust (BCRT) with his PhD scholarship money.
Krishnamurthy, Malali's brother and the secretary of BCRT, travels back in time to the beginnings of this initiative. "We bought around 5,000 saplings of silver oak, tamarind, jackfruit and neem from the Forest Department and planted them all over the hillock. Water was a big problem as the land had dried up. So, we irrigated the plants using water from the borewell in our farm land (in the vicinity)."
In the beginning, the hillock took in water like a sponge. It was only after four years that the ground started showing signs of recovering while the groundwater table began to rise. Over the years, while Malali was away working abroad, his family members and the villagers worked hard on his sustainability plan.
For someone whose farmer-father emphasised on agroforestry, it was only a matter of time before Malali took to the same path. "My father had planted many trees all around the edges of our farmlands as a fence. He taught me how to dibble forest seeds in the soil when I was a kid. All I did was to come up with a plan; it was my family, friends and the villagers who worked hard to implement my plan. Not to forget the fact that many state departments including that of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, watershed etc, also supported us," explains Malali.
Over time, the seeds sown became plants and then trees, inviting birds, insects and animals. Soon, the BCRT team started their own nursery. The team built trenches all around the hill to conserve rainwater. These trenches directed the rainwater to the public well in the village, which had gone completely dry. This water is the
reason for the brimming well today.
A humble Krishnamurthy believes that simple planting techniques were all that were needed for regenerating this hill. "All we did was to dig small pits, plant locally available plants, water them regularly, and ban grazing. It goes to show that you don't need fancy and complicated techniques to conserve nature," he says. In 2008, when peacocks, the signs of a healthy ecosystem, started to appear, the BCRT members were a happy lot. Today, you can find these creatures flitting around the forest along with rabbits, snakes and jackals.
Hard numbers prove how meticulous and smart Malali's plan was. For instance, before 2000, the vegetation in the forest was less than 10%. But now, it is more than 30%. Also, more than 50% of the village has taken to tree-based farming as
opposed to the mere 10% before 2000.
While educating farmers about eco-based agricultural practices is a major portion of its work, BCRT also conducts tours for children to sensitise them towards nature. What is more, they also encourage farmer groups from other villages and towns to visit their place and replicate the same green plan in their parched lands.
Going a step beyond conventional afforestation plans, BCRT also conducted eco-friendly marriages within this green space, giving a new dimension to celebrations. No matter what the occasion is, villagers come to this place and plant a sapling commemorating the special occasion in a green way.
When the hillock started to show signs of recuperation, BCRT shifted its focus to other aspects such as desilting lakes in the village. The desilting drive gave a new lease of life to 14 lakes in and around the village. One of their newest ventures is the preservation of traditional system of medicines and healing. And to do this, they went straight to the local healers. The team brought 20 local healers under one committee, called Nati Vaidya, to help grow medicinal herbs and plants.
Recently, on Independence Day (August 15, 2016), they adopted Kannamangala village on the outskirts of Bengaluru and planted over 2,000 saplings. The journey of a rocky land to a green forest is inspiring enough to make one pick a shovel up and start planting trees. As Malali states, "Afforestation is simple and does not require complicated processes. All you need is an initiative."
Looks like Anuganalu is all set for a green future. For more details, log on to www.dnalife.org.![]( "Villagers planting trees in Anuganalu's hillock. photo by author and bcrt")
About 15 years ago, a small hillock in Anuganalu village, Hassan district, was only a rocky patch of land with sparse vegetation and an almost non-existent groundwater table. But today, a mini forest of trees, shrubs, and bushes threatens to spill over to the surrounding farmlands, thanks to Malali Gowda and his army of family and local people. Today, this green miracle is the recognition stamp of the village.
A native of Anuganalu, Malali witnessed nature’s wrath first-hand during the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001. In a moment of sudden realisation, he resolved to do his bit for the environment and started with a 'green’ blueprint for this rocky landmass. The plan was simple: to vegetate the hillock, recharge groundwater level and boost biodiversity.
Water first
In 2001, Malali gave a physical structure to his vision by setting up Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust (BCRT) with his PhD scholarship money.
Krishnamurthy, Malali’s brother and the secretary of BCRT, travels back in time to the beginnings of this initiative. "We bought around 5,000 saplings of silver oak, tamarind, jackfruit and neem from the Forest Department and planted them all over the hillock. Water was a big problem as the land had dried up. So, we irrigated the plants using water from the borewell in our farm land (in the vicinity).”
In the beginning, the hillock took in water like a sponge. It was only after four years that the ground started showing signs of recovering while the groundwater table began to rise. Over the years, while Malali was away working abroad, his family members and the villagers worked hard on his sustainability plan.
For someone whose farmer-father emphasised on agroforestry, it was only a matter of time before Malali took to the same path. "My father had planted many trees all around the edges of our farmlands as a fence. He taught me how to dibble forest seeds in the soil when I was a kid. All I did was to come up with a plan; it was my family, friends and the villagers who worked hard to implement my plan. Not to forget the fact that many state departments including that of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, watershed etc, also supported us,” explains Malali.
Over time, the seeds sown became plants and then trees, inviting birds, insects and animals. Soon, the BCRT team started their own nursery. The team built trenches all around the hill to conserve rainwater. These trenches directed the rainwater to the public well in the village, which had gone completely dry. This water is the
reason for the brimming well today.
A humble Krishnamurthy believes that simple planting techniques were all that were needed for regenerating this hill. "All we did was to dig small pits, plant locally available plants, water them regularly, and ban grazing. It goes to show that you don’t need fancy and complicated techniques to conserve nature,” he says. In 2008, when peacocks, the signs of a healthy ecosystem, started to appear, the BCRT members were a happy lot. Today, you can find these creatures flitting around the forest along with rabbits, snakes and jackals.
Hard numbers prove how meticulous and smart Malali’s plan was. For instance, before 2000, the vegetation in the forest was less than 10%. But now, it is more than 30%. Also, more than 50% of the village has taken to tree-based farming as
opposed to the mere 10% before 2000.
While educating farmers about eco-based agricultural practices is a major portion of its work, BCRT also conducts tours for children to sensitise them towards nature. What is more, they also encourage farmer groups from other villages and towns to visit their place and replicate the same green plan in their parched lands.
Going a step beyond conventional afforestation plans, BCRT also conducted eco-friendly marriages within this green space, giving a new dimension to celebrations. No matter what the occasion is, villagers come to this place and plant a sapling commemorating the special occasion in a green way.
When the hillock started to show signs of recuperation, BCRT shifted its focus to other aspects such as desilting lakes in the village. The desilting drive gave a new lease of life to 14 lakes in and around the village. One of their newest ventures is the preservation of traditional system of medicines and healing. And to do this, they went straight to the local healers. The team brought 20 local healers under one committee, called Nati Vaidya, to help grow medicinal herbs and plants.
Recently, on Independence Day (August 15, 2016), they adopted Kannamangala village on the outskirts of Bengaluru and planted over 2,000 saplings. The journey of a rocky land to a green forest is inspiring enough to make one pick a shovel up and start planting trees. As Malali states, "Afforestation is simple and does not require complicated processes. All you need is an initiative.”
Looks like Anuganalu is all set for a green future. For more details, log on to www.dnalife.org.
A native of Anuganalu, Malali witnessed nature's wrath first-hand during the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001. In a moment of sudden realisation, he resolved to do his bit for the environment and started with a 'green' blueprint for this rocky landmass. The plan was simple: to vegetate the hillock, recharge groundwater level and boost biodiversity.
Water first
In 2001, Malali gave a physical structure to his vision by setting up Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust (BCRT) with his PhD scholarship money.
Krishnamurthy, Malali's brother and the secretary of BCRT, travels back in time to the beginnings of this initiative. "We bought around 5,000 saplings of silver oak, tamarind, jackfruit and neem from the Forest Department and planted them all over the hillock. Water was a big problem as the land had dried up. So, we irrigated the plants using water from the borewell in our farm land (in the vicinity)."
In the beginning, the hillock took in water like a sponge. It was only after four years that the ground started showing signs of recovering while the groundwater table began to rise. Over the years, while Malali was away working abroad, his family members and the villagers worked hard on his sustainability plan.
For someone whose farmer-father emphasised on agroforestry, it was only a matter of time before Malali took to the same path. "My father had planted many trees all around the edges of our farmlands as a fence. He taught me how to dibble forest seeds in the soil when I was a kid. All I did was to come up with a plan; it was my family, friends and the villagers who worked hard to implement my plan. Not to forget the fact that many state departments including that of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, watershed etc, also supported us," explains Malali.
Over time, the seeds sown became plants and then trees, inviting birds, insects and animals. Soon, the BCRT team started their own nursery. The team built trenches all around the hill to conserve rainwater. These trenches directed the rainwater to the public well in the village, which had gone completely dry. This water is the
reason for the brimming well today.
A humble Krishnamurthy believes that simple planting techniques were all that were needed for regenerating this hill. "All we did was to dig small pits, plant locally available plants, water them regularly, and ban grazing. It goes to show that you don't need fancy and complicated techniques to conserve nature," he says. In 2008, when peacocks, the signs of a healthy ecosystem, started to appear, the BCRT members were a happy lot. Today, you can find these creatures flitting around the forest along with rabbits, snakes and jackals.
Hard numbers prove how meticulous and smart Malali's plan was. For instance, before 2000, the vegetation in the forest was less than 10%. But now, it is more than 30%. Also, more than 50% of the village has taken to tree-based farming as
opposed to the mere 10% before 2000.
While educating farmers about eco-based agricultural practices is a major portion of its work, BCRT also conducts tours for children to sensitise them towards nature. What is more, they also encourage farmer groups from other villages and towns to visit their place and replicate the same green plan in their parched lands.
Going a step beyond conventional afforestation plans, BCRT also conducted eco-friendly marriages within this green space, giving a new dimension to celebrations. No matter what the occasion is, villagers come to this place and plant a sapling commemorating the special occasion in a green way.
When the hillock started to show signs of recuperation, BCRT shifted its focus to other aspects such as desilting lakes in the village. The desilting drive gave a new lease of life to 14 lakes in and around the village. One of their newest ventures is the preservation of traditional system of medicines and healing. And to do this, they went straight to the local healers. The team brought 20 local healers under one committee, called Nati Vaidya, to help grow medicinal herbs and plants.
Recently, on Independence Day (August 15, 2016), they adopted Kannamangala village on the outskirts of Bengaluru and planted over 2,000 saplings. The journey of a rocky land to a green forest is inspiring enough to make one pick a shovel up and start planting trees. As Malali states, "Afforestation is simple and does not require complicated processes. All you need is an initiative."
Looks like Anuganalu is all set for a green future. For more details, log on to www.dnalife.org.
About 15 years ago, a small hillock in Anuganalu village, Hassan district, was only a rocky patch of land with sparse vegetation and an almost non-existent groundwater table. But today, a mini forest of trees, shrubs, and bushes threatens to spill over to the surrounding farmlands, thanks to Malali Gowda and his army of family and local people. Today, this green miracle is the recognition stamp of the village. A native of Anuganalu, Malali witnessed nature’s wrath first-hand during the devastating Bhuj earthquake in 2001. In a moment of sudden realisation, he resolved to do his bit for the environment and started with a 'green’ blueprint for this rocky landmass. The plan was simple: to vegetate the hillock, recharge groundwater level and boost biodiversity.
Water first
In 2001, Malali gave a physical structure to his vision by setting up Biodiversity Conservation & Research Trust (BCRT) with his PhD scholarship money.
Krishnamurthy, Malali’s brother and the secretary of BCRT, travels back in time to the beginnings of this initiative. "We bought around 5,000 saplings of silver oak, tamarind, jackfruit and neem from the Forest Department and planted them all over the hillock. Water was a big problem as the land had dried up. So, we irrigated the plants using water from the borewell in our farm land (in the vicinity).”
In the beginning, the hillock took in water like a sponge. It was only after four years that the ground started showing signs of recovering while the groundwater table began to rise. Over the years, while Malali was away working abroad, his family members and the villagers worked hard on his sustainability plan.
For someone whose farmer-father emphasised on agroforestry, it was only a matter of time before Malali took to the same path. "My father had planted many trees all around the edges of our farmlands as a fence. He taught me how to dibble forest seeds in the soil when I was a kid. All I did was to come up with a plan; it was my family, friends and the villagers who worked hard to implement my plan. Not to forget the fact that many state departments including that of agriculture, forestry, horticulture, watershed etc, also supported us,” explains Malali.
Over time, the seeds sown became plants and then trees, inviting birds, insects and animals. Soon, the BCRT team started their own nursery. The team built trenches all around the hill to conserve rainwater. These trenches directed the rainwater to the public well in the village, which had gone completely dry. This water is the
reason for the brimming well today.
A humble Krishnamurthy believes that simple planting techniques were all that were needed for regenerating this hill. "All we did was to dig small pits, plant locally available plants, water them regularly, and ban grazing. It goes to show that you don’t need fancy and complicated techniques to conserve nature,” he says. In 2008, when peacocks, the signs of a healthy ecosystem, started to appear, the BCRT members were a happy lot. Today, you can find these creatures flitting around the forest along with rabbits, snakes and jackals.
Hard numbers prove how meticulous and smart Malali’s plan was. For instance, before 2000, the vegetation in the forest was less than 10%. But now, it is more than 30%. Also, more than 50% of the village has taken to tree-based farming as
opposed to the mere 10% before 2000.
While educating farmers about eco-based agricultural practices is a major portion of its work, BCRT also conducts tours for children to sensitise them towards nature. What is more, they also encourage farmer groups from other villages and towns to visit their place and replicate the same green plan in their parched lands.
Going a step beyond conventional afforestation plans, BCRT also conducted eco-friendly marriages within this green space, giving a new dimension to celebrations. No matter what the occasion is, villagers come to this place and plant a sapling commemorating the special occasion in a green way.
When the hillock started to show signs of recuperation, BCRT shifted its focus to other aspects such as desilting lakes in the village. The desilting drive gave a new lease of life to 14 lakes in and around the village. One of their newest ventures is the preservation of traditional system of medicines and healing. And to do this, they went straight to the local healers. The team brought 20 local healers under one committee, called Nati Vaidya, to help grow medicinal herbs and plants.
Recently, on Independence Day (August 15, 2016), they adopted Kannamangala village on the outskirts of Bengaluru and planted over 2,000 saplings. The journey of a rocky land to a green forest is inspiring enough to make one pick a shovel up and start planting trees. As Malali states, "Afforestation is simple and does not require complicated processes. All you need is an initiative.”
Looks like Anuganalu is all set for a green future. For more details, log on to www.dnalife.org.