Growing Forests: How Native Tree Plantation Revives Latur’s Ecology
Latur is one of the regions most affected by drought, shrinking green cover, and rising temperatures. For years, villages have suffered from soil degradation, water scarcity, and falling biodiversity. These changes impact not just the environment, but the health, livelihoods, and future of rural communities.
Shivshree Foundation launched the Vanrai Prakalp with a mission to restore ecological balance through native tree plantation, sacred groves, and community led environmental action. The aim is simple: rebuild the natural systems that protect and nourish our people.Tree plantation is not just an activity it is an investment in the next generation’s survival.
WHY NATIVE SPECIES MATTER FOR RURAL ECOSYSTEMS
Most plantation drives fail because they focus on fast growing, non native species that don’t survive long-term.
Our approach is different. We plant medicinal, fruit-bearing, rare, and culturally significant native trees that support biodiversity and withstand the region’s climate. These species improve soil health, attract birds, support pollinators, and create resilient micro-ecosystems.
KEY BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY-LED TREE PLANTATION
- Long survival rate through continuous care
- Improved soil fertility and groundwater recharge
- Revival of local biodiversity and bird population
- Reduced heat impact and better air quality
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ECO RESTORATION
We collaborate with the Forest Department, local NGOs, environmental experts, and village panchayats to ensure scientific planning. Species selection, plantation spacing, soil preparation, and watering systems are all designed for long-term success.
Community committees are formed to care for plantations, ensuring transparency and participation. Solar-powered watering systems and mulching techniques reduce maintenance costs.
A GREENER Latur IS POSSIBLE — ONE TREE AT A TIME
Every sapling planted is a promise a promise of cleaner air, healthier soil, cooler summers, and a more hopeful future for rural Maharashtra. The Vanrai Prakalp is more than environmental work; it is a movement to reconnect people with the earth that sustains them. Our mission continues acre by acre, village by village, forest by forest.