Ecological Restoration in Northern Western Ghats

The Northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra are geologically and ecologically distinct from the central and southern regions of the Western Ghats. Unlike other areas, the Protected Areas in this region are restricted to the hilltops, with the low-elevation forests predominantly privately owned. Our research demonstrates that these low-elevation forests harbor endangered wildlife. Unfortunately, these forests are being converted to agroforestry plantations at an alarming rate. Additionally, existing forests are periodically cleared for fuelwood, causing these evergreen forests to become deciduous. This situation necessitates partnering with local community members to restore degraded forest patches, creating habitat islands for endangered biodiversity in the long term. To this end, we are partnering with small private landowners who have a deep commitment to biodiversity conservation to restore their degraded forests. We are also working with agroforestry landowners to plant native trees in monoculture agroforests, making them more biodiversity-friendly.