Challenges
Tamil Nadu is a rainfall-deficient state with high temperatures and less than 6% forest cover. These conditions, further aggravated by climate change, are threatening to village populations who rely on agricultural practices for their livelihood. To restore the natural environment and its groundwater levels, as well as to increase community involvement in sustainability, Payir has undertaken several initiatives, one of which is to plant native trees.
Payir’s Intervention
- Since 2019, over 35,000 saplings have been planted in and around Thenur, and of those, 30,000 have survived.
- Payir has succeeded in planting ~60 varieties of native species, such as illupai, vembu, naval, pungai, poovarasu, neermaruthu, sivappu kondrai, and manjal kondrai, at mass scale in and around its villages. Within the 7 acre Payir campus, ~100 varieties of native species have been planted.
- To promote and celebrate natural farming and its benefits, Payir organized and hosted agri fest for over 60 villages and 1800 residents.
- Based on its past successes, Payir’s goal is to plant between 2000 and 5000 trees yearly, depending on the budget and other resources available.
Impact
- As part of Project Bandham, afforestation efforts have helped end a 17 year drought in 4 villages, for 5000+ families and 25,000+ people.
- 2500+ acres have been utilized for farming.
- A self-sustaining awareness and education program on afforestation has been set up for villagers in the area.
