Herbal Garden Bhatoli (Talwara) for a Healthy Tomorrow

Herbal Garden Bhatoli (Talwara) For a Healthy Tomorrow

ndia is known to be the treasure house of hundreds of Ithousands of medicinal plants having myriad curing Approach to Herbal Garden abilities of many dreaded ailments with hardly any side Area : 25 Acres effects. The ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine is based Location : Village Bhatoli on Kandi Canal mainly on medicinal herbs found in the forest. The ‘triphala’ and ‘ chayvanprash’ are well known formulations used in Nearest Town : Talwara, 10 km every Indian household. Nearest Railway Station : Dasuya, 25 km Best time to take away plants : July - September Fortunately, sub-mountainous Shiwalik belt popularly known as ‘kandi’ area being a transition zone between plains and hills has a rich biodiversity including many

1 useful species of medicinal trees and herbs. However, due to intensive cultivation practices, reckless exploitation of natural reserves and rapid urbanisation, the wealth of medicinal plants has been found to be declining. On the other hand, the demand of plant based therapeutics has been increasing manifold in both the developed and developing countries. This is due to the recognition that they are natural organic products, and being non-narcotic have no side-effects, and most of them are easily available at affordable prices. Further due to rising demand of plant- based crude drugs, there is an urgent need to evolve in- situ conservation practices. It is also felt that due to lack of systematic information on the cultivation practices and utilization of medicinal herbs, people are generally reluctant to initiate cultivation of herbs. Here was a challenge for the Forest Department to step in and develop a model medicinal plants nursery and a garden. The same was established at Bhatoli (near Talwara) on a Panchayat land during 2014 where people could learn the methods and techniques of cultivation and utilization of medicinal herbs both for domestic as well as commercial ends. The herbal garden is a repository of more than one hundred medicinal trees, shrubs and herbs commonly found in the Shiwalik area. The interpretation centre in the garden displays pictorial glimpses of the medicinal plants and their uses. The centre is used to train farmers and students interested in herbal medicine. The herbal garden is a new step to bring awareness about the importance of the hidden wealth in the Shiwalik area and its conservation. It will also popularize the use of local medicinal plants for common ailments and encourage the small and marginal farmers to cultivate them for raising their income resources.

2 Common Medicinal Plants for distribution to Public Ratti Arbus precatorius Mehendi Lawsonia inermis Dum Booti Adhatoda vasica Peppermint Mentha arvensis Sarpagandha Rawolfia serpentina Chitrak Plumbago zeylanica Shikakai Acacia concinna Brahmi Buti Centella asiatica Malkangni Celastrus paniculatus Sohanjana Moringa oleifera Tulsi Ocimum sanctum Juhi Jasminum auriculata Akarkara Anacyclus pyrethrum Harshingar Nyctanthes arboretristis Ashwagandha Withania somnifera Nirgundi Vitex negundo Isbagol Plantago ovata Pila Datura Datura stramonium Safed Musli Asparagus adscendens Kapur Cinnamomum camphora Lasoora Cordia myxa Kuchhla Strychnose nuxvomica Stevia Stevia rebaudiana Senna Cassia angustifolia Shatavari Asparagus racemosus Bael Aegle marmetos Holorrhena Holarrhena antidysentrica Giloe Tinospara cordifolia Patharchat Coleus barbatus Kantakari Solanum xanthocarpum Din Ka raja Cestrum diurnum Aloe Alobar badensis Amla Embica officinalis Aloe Vera Aloe vera Bahera Terminalia bellerica Jal brahmi Becopa manniera

3 State of the Art Clonal Eucalyptus Plants Nursery

unjab being predominantly an agricultural state, its About Clonal Nursery Parea under forests is only 4.85 per cent.Whereas, the area under forests is decreasing steadily due to diversion Area : 6.00 ha for developmental purposes, the cultivated area under Location : Kadian Reserve Forest, Ludhiana - wheat- rice cropping system has been increasing causing Jalandhar Road, 5km from Ludhiana Bye Pass irreparable environmental degradation. This has prompted the government to diversify the area from agriculture to Covered Area by Green Houses : 4480 sq m. other land uses. Annual Production Capacity : 50 lakh Clonal Plants Agro forestry is the sustainable land use with multiple benefits. In fact, Punjab Forest Department has been the pioneer in introducing agro forestry models in the state and has been supplying seedlings to the public since 1970s. As

4 a result of this effort, the state has 6.01 crore trees growing outside the forests. Introduction of clonal eucalyptus has given a further impetus to agro forestry in the state. Clonal eucalyptus being 2-3 times faster than the seed-grown eucalyptus provides additional income to the farmers and therefore, has become popular with farmers. In the growing economy, as the demand for wood-based industrial products increases,growing of trees outside the forests becomes essential to meet the demand. Growing of trees in agroforests has the additional environmental benefits besides providing opportunity for crop diversification. In this endeavour, Punjab Forest Department has established a state-of-the-art clonal Eucalyptus plants nursery during 2014-15 at Kadian, Ludhiana having an annual production capacity of 50 lakh plants through the established protocols of clonal technology. The facility has a chain of mist chambers, green shade houses and hardening area all caliberated with automated sprinkler system. The complex has the vegetative multiplication garden with germplasm of fast growing clones of eucalyptus viz. 2070, 413, 288, 526,407, 10 and 3. This is so far the biggest clonal eucalyptus propagation facility in the public sector in India. The facility will meet the requirement of quality clonal plants for the decades to come in the state and the adjoining areas. The benefits due to agricultural economy and the environment are likely to be substantial. As the farmers are to get the quality clonal plants at the subsidized rates near to their places, it will be a great respite for them from the monopoly of the private nurseries.

Eucalyptus clones for different soils For balanced soils - 2070, 413, 288, 526, 407, 3. For saline soils - 413, 526, 288, 407, 130. For waterlogged soils - 492, 498,27, 10, 469.

5 Common Facility Centre Creating Income Generating Activity

erhaps, a few know that Punjab has a rich resource About the Centre Pof bamboos. We have exclusive bamboo forests in Karanpur, Bindraban and Nandbir forests spread over 3392.5 Location : Village Bhatoli Panchayat land on ha in Talwara tehsil of Hoshiarpur district. Throughout the Kandi Canal. Shiwalik foothills, bamboos are also grown by farmers and Nearest Town : Talwara, 10 km other households. However, except for domestic use and Nearest Railway Station : Dasuya, 28 km occasional supply to the paper mills, they do not find major Trainings Imparted : Bamboo handicrafts and artefacts. local cottage use for sustaining livelihoods. The traditional use of bamboos for making handicrafts, baskets and mats have been lost due to arrival of competitive industrial

6 products in the market. However, due to abundance of bamboo resource at the door steps, there exists a vast potential for utilizing this resource for developing livelihood means and employment opportunities and thus promoting economic development of the underdeveloped ‘kandi’ tract. Bamboos can be put to use to manufacture a hundred of industrial products at competitive prices like mats, tool handles, brushes, toys, sports goods, musical instruments, boats and rafts, fishing rods, caps,chicks,kites etc. As the quality of bamboo products depends upon the training and experience of the artisans, and use of improvised machines to maintain uniformity of the products; a Common Facility Centre was established at Bhatoli in 2014 to improve infrastructure facilities. The Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, Bangalore was involved to establish the machinery for primary processing of bamboos, supervise the installation and commissioning of machinery and organize training for operating machines, their maintenance and making modifications for manufacturing a number of products. Initially, two groups of local artisans have been trained at the Centre who will act as trainers to provide entrepreneurial skills and competencies that will enable the local unemployed youth to become self-employed and generate capital through sale of bamboo products. The Centre is set to promote greater and efficient utilization of bamboos in the state by scientific management and integrated processing techniques for the benefit of the local community. In fact, the trained artisans have already established their cottage units and started production of bamboo mats. The capacity of the artisans has increased considerably because of the efficient use of machines and the products are catching demand because of maintenance of quality. Thus, a new era of efficient use of natural resource has started with the establishment of Bamboo Centre.

7 Chhatbir Zoo Eco-friendly drive

ho will not like to visit M C Zoological Park popularly Wcalled Chhatbir Zoo, a show case for wild animals in the northern India. Children, men and women of all ages are all fascinated to see the roaring tigers, daring leopards and the majestic Asiatic lions in the natural surroundings of the zoo. The zoo houses a wide variety of 1200 animals belonging to more than 100 species. There is a small herd How to approach of Asian elephants, a variety of primates, dreadful bears, Location: Chandigarh-Patiala Road, 18 Km from a diversity of elegant deer and holy antelopes. In the Chandigarh, 10 Km from Zirakpur. exclusive deer safari, one can easily see the freely roaming Nearest Railway Station: Chandigarh, 15 Km. black bucks, spotted deer and sambars. Different hues of Nearest Airport: Chandigarh, 12 Km avifauna comprising peacocks and pheasants, parrots and Timings for Visit: Daily 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM except doves, storks and cranes and cockatoos and budgerigars Mondays can be watched always chirping in the fly-ease bird houses.

8 Two little lakes add glory to the zoo, attracting migratory birds in the winter. Animal houses, safaris, and lakes being spread over 505 acres of natural forest; it has not been easy for the visitors peaking 2000 per day to stroll over the entire landscape. To make the visit memorable and comfortable, a group of fifteen battery- operated vehicles were introduced for the convenience of the visitors in 2012. These noiseless and smokeless electric vehicles have totally replaced the system of plying private cars, buses and motor cycles/scooters inside the zoo thus making it free from the vehicular exhausts that cost the health of wild animals and the visitors alike. In the present system, the children and women are able to approach the main houses of animals along the 3 km long road system of the zoo very easily. To ensure that visitors avail sufficient time to enjoy observing wild animals and their habitat, hopp-on- hopp-off system of ferrying has been developed which is working very well. The tourists can board on and board off at any of the 13 designated stations in the zoo as per their convenience within the once prepaid fare. The visitors availing this facility are given a wrist band to enable the Diversity of animals driver of the vehicle to identify them among others. The Mammals: Indian Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger, leopard, jackal, system of ferrying the visitors has not only increased the striped hyaena, civet cat, Leopard cat, Asiatic elephant, flow of tourists but also enabled the visitors to spendas Hippopotamus, Himalayan black bear, Sloth bear, Bison, much time as they want at any section of the zoo. Ghoral, Barking deer, Swamp deer, Hog deer, Mouse Deer, Chausingha, Chinkara, Black Buck, Zebra, Capped langur, After the successful launch of this system, even the Common langur, Assamese macaque, Bonnet macaque, distribution of feed to the zoo animals is now being carried Rhesus macaque, Pig-tailed macaque. out through a custom-designed battery-operated vehicle. Reptiles: Crocodile, Gharial, Tortoise, Indian Rock python, Further inspired by this experiment, the entire field and Cobra, Monitor lizard. executive staff are either using bicycles or battery-operated Birds: Emu, Kalij pheasant, Red jungle fowl, Partridges, Ostrich, Peafowls, Painted storks, Sarus crane, Common carts for maintenance and supervision of works inside the crane, Shikra, Owls, parakeets, pigeons, doves, swans, zoo. The practice equally inspires the visitors, young and ducks, Rosy pelicans, Cockatoos, cock teals, Budrigers and old to adapt to safer and sustainable ways of management Finches. of natural resources.

9 Keshopur Chhamb Restoration of Ecology

eshopur Chhamb, a composite of marshes owned About the Community Reserve Kby five village Panchayats in Gurdaspur district isa Area: 850 Acres renowned wetland on the international map of migratory Status: Community Reserve birds. Before Green Revolution, the marshy lands spread Location: Gurdaspur - Behrampur Road over 19 sq km were covered with thick growth of elephant Nearest Airport: Amritsar grass, Nari, sarkanda, panni, Kahi and dhab grasses. The Nearest Rly Station: Gurdaspur submerged areas were the reservoirs for a variety of fishes Best time to visit: Mid November to Mid March and nelumbium that earned revenue to the Panchayats and Diversity: 434 bird species recorded, 45 migratory provided employment to the locals. The people merrily species. grazed their cattle and harvested fodder. However, after the Average number of birds in migratory season : Green Revolution, reclamation of the area brought intensive 20,000 cultivation. Due to loss of tall grasses and hideouts, wild 10 animals like Indian civet, hog deer and barking deer shifted elsewhere. The migratory and resident birds too lost their habitat and abandoned the wetland. It was only during 1996, a thought was generated to rehabilitate the wetland. With the establishment of a separate district wildlife cadre at Pathankot, efforts were initiated to communicate with the stakeholders following PRA approach by holding meetings, group discussions and social mapping. A great accomplishment was made when Keshopur Chhamb was notified as a Community Reserve under section 36(c) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 by the Government of Punjab. It also earned the distinction of being the first Community Reserve of the country. The next step was to ecologically develop the area through participative planning. The Wildlife Institute of India was invited to develop a comprehensive management plan which they prepared after consultations with the community stakeholders. To implement the management plan, dialogue with community continued and also international funding was explored. Fortunately, a restoration project based on the principles of sustainable development was approved for Rs. 5.89 crore by the Asian Development Bank for Keshopur Chhamb. Various interventions were taken to restore the ecology of the area and improve the habitat for birds and wildlife during 2013-17. Restorative measures included planting of indigenous trees and shrubs in and around the wetland area that provide roosting and shelter. Desilting of the part of the area and construction of check dams was done with the aim to prolong the water in the wetland. Removal of water hyacinth was done employing local labour. For resting and sunning of the birds, three uplands were prepared. All these measures have given spectacular results in a short period. The number of migratory birds has started steadily

11 rising. Whereas only 8571 birds were counted in 2013 winter, they were 18499, 20497, and 25302 during 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively. Corresponding to number of arrival of birds, the number of visitors has also risen. The successful restoration of Keshopur Chhamb is largely due to the involvement of community at every step of planning and execution. The Panchayat stakeholders have actively participated in the eco-development activities undertaken by the Forest Department be it the building of rain shelters, or renovation of crematorium or the

Diversity of Birds Resident Birds: Little and Large Cormorants, Egrets, Common Woodpecker, Common snipe, Red wattled lapwing, Partridges, Common King fisher, Common Hoopoe, tawny owl, Indian Robin , Black Drongo. Migratory Birds: Gadwall, Pintail, Common teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Black headed gull, Ruddy shelduck, Red shank, Little ringed plover, Black headed ibis, spoonbill, Bar headed geese, Common Snipe, white wagtail, white necked stork, spotted sandpiper, common redshank, spot billed duck, Red crested pochard. construction of pucca path around the village. In the process of restoration, the Department never forgot its responsibility of socio-economic development of the people. Trainings to women and unemployed persons for making handicrafts out of water hyacinth, mushroom cultivation,dairy farming, bee keeping and food processing have helped them to upgrade their skills and generate additional income. As a result, fifteen self-help groups have started functioning in the area. This is a real time story of conservation of nature with the participation of community.

12 Fencing of Wildlife Sanctuaries Solving the man-animal conflict

fter the implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) AAct, 1972 there has been a substantial increase in the population of wild animals in the state especially of nilgai, wild boar and sambhar. Though, this is considered a big achievement from the wildlife conservation point of view, but not without stepping up the man-animal conflict. The farmers suffered heavy losses when their standing crops were destroyed by animal raids. To save their crops, the farmers of villages around the wildlife sanctuaries were constrained to keep a constant vigil of their fields during

13 day and nights. Though thousands of farmers were spending their nights in all weathers, even then there was no guarantee of protection as wild animals particularly nilgai and wild boars could damage the crops extensively even during a single day raid. The problem was significantly high in Patiala district as six wildlife sanctuaries are spread over the district. The Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court while deciding a writ petition of farmers has also given orders for fencing these wildlife sanctuaries. Punjab Government while acting on this problem has on one hand sanctioned a scheme for providing compensation vide its notification No. 1/7/2000-for- 5/4022 dated 17-06-2013 and on the other hand settled for chain link fencing of the wildlife sanctuaries as a permanent solution of the problem. In the past two years, after obtaining budget under the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, fencing of all sanctuaries situated in Patiala district has been completed. As a result of this, not only agricultural crops of thousands of farmers have been protected against damage of wild animals, but the farmers have also got relief as now they no longer have to spend their nights watching their fields. As a further corollary to this, a great change has been witnessed in the lives of the farmers. Judging the success of this scheme, the farmers adjoining the forests other than wildlife sanctuaries have also been demanding fencing of forests. The Department has also raised solar fencing over a perimeter of 1.347 km of Takhni Rehmapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Hoshiarpur on an experimental basis.

Details of fencing in Patiala district (2014-15 to 2015-16)

S.No. Wildlife Sanctuary Area (ha) Length of fencing (Km) 1 Bir Bhadson 1022.63 11.475 2 Bir Bhunerheri 650.00 11.220 3 Bir Motibagh 654.00 11.500 4 Bir Gurdialpura 620.53 10.611 5 Bir Dosanjh 517.59 12.500

14 Self-Help Group Ramgarh Sikri Empowering Women

eena Kumari had no hopes when she came after About the Self Help Group Vmarriage to a non-descript village Ramgarh Sikri situated on the Talwara-Una Road in 2000. She like many Location : Village Ramgarh Sikri, Talwara - Una Road, other women of the village had no work to boost her income. 20 km from Talwara. Though, the forests surrounding the village had a plenty of medicinal plants, fruits and bamboos, they were of little Total Members : 35 women use to them as they provided neither monetary benefits nor Main Activity : Production of pickles, juices, candies, useful employment. In 2005, when the Forest Department honey products, Medicinal herbs. approached Veena Kumari and many other women of the Total Capital : Rs. 10.00 lakh (2015-16) village suggesting them to constitute a self-help group, they were wary and hesitant hardly knowing the importance of the new proposal. After regular reproachment and

15 involvement of women in the various initiatives of income- generating activities, the general reluctance was shed away. A group of women started preparing saleable products from the local resources of Amla, galgal, Sohanjana, Arjun and bamboos during a training camp. Soon after, a self-help group was constituted with the seed money pouring in from the Forest Department. The training of the members of the self-help group continued to enhance their skills in collection, storage and processing of a variety of food products and their marketing. The publicity of the products was self generated through participation in the various district and state level events. The income of the self-help group multiplied when the processed products found ready market in the nearby townships. Encouraged by the response, the group not only expanded its activities, but also enlarged its list of products now numbering 30-35. The list includes pickles, juices, churna and honey products. The joy of the SHG knew no bounds when they won the national award in an event at New Delhi in 2013. Being impressed with self sustaining activities of the SHG, the Chief Minister of Punjab, gave a grant of Rs 1.50 crore to the Group for installation of a small scale food-processing unit. The unit now employs 30-35 women of the adjoining villages on a daily basis. The raw material for processing is collected from the neighboring villages through the active participation of women, which is primarily processed and graded in their houses, thus generating income. Due to expansion of activities, the SHG has increased its capital from a mere Rs. 70,000 in 2005 to a whopping sum of Rs. 10.00 lakh during 2015. Veena Kumari is now a happy woman proudly selling products on a roadside outlet. During the course of ten years, she has been able to provide education to her children and build a new house at Ramgarh Sikri. SHG Ramgarh Sikri has given a new identity to the village as its products are sold throughout Punjab and the adjoining states.

16 Bir Dyalpura Preserving Biodiversity here are never two opinions that intensive cultivation About the Biodiversity Park Tcoupled with mechanisation of agriculture has been Area: 202 acres largely responsible for decline of biodiversity in Punjab. Location : Barnala - Bajakhana Road, 20 km from This is particularly evident in the semi-arid tract where the Bajakhana, 45 km from Bathinda. sand dunes have been flattened and the trees like pilu, van Main Trees: Shisham, kikar, Mesquite, Drek, Burma (Salvadora oleoides), jand (Prosopis spicigera), Beri (Ziziphus Drek, Arjun,Van, Jand, Ber, Karir, Karonda mauritiana), Karonda (Carissa spinarum) and karir (Capparis Mammals: Blue bull, Jackal, Hedgehog, common aphylla) have been lost extensively and only a few patches mongoose, Common hare, Jungle cat, porcupine, are left here and there. Same applies to many wildlife monkeys. species like Black Buck, jungle cat and jackals which used to Birds to watch: Peafowl, Bulbul, Bayaweaver,wood move freely not in the distant past are rarely seen now. The pecker, common bee eater, common teal, blue jay, magnificent black partridges, baya weavers, wood peckers Hoopoe, Indian Cuckoo, Common Koel, Grey hornbill, and orioles are all facing struggle to survive due to land use Rose ringed Parakeet, Crow pheasant, Black partridge changes and agricultural practices. Biodiversity being the

17 basis of agriculture, there is an urgent need to preserve the remnants of local flora and fauna of the semi-arid areas. Perhaps, the best remaining representative of biodiversity of Malwa belt could be found in a 202 acre Dyalpura protected forest of Bathinda district. The erstwhile grazing and hunting ground of the princely state Patiala, it was transferred to Forest Department in 1960. The vegetation of the forest still has typical elements of Dry Deciduous Scrub forests with shisham, kikar and neem dominating. Fortunately, few trees of Jand, van, karir and karonda shrubs are preserved in the forest. Blue bull, jackals, common mongoose, common hare, jungle cat, porcupines, monkeys and common langur make its abode. About 35 bird species mainly Peafowls, bulbuls, baya weavers, wood peckers, common bee eaters, orioles,blue jays, hoopoe, Indian cuckoo,grey hornbill, tree pie, crow pheasant , robin and partridges are found in fairly good numbers. To preserve the rich heritage and to prevent its further loss, Bir Dyalpura was first designated as a biodiversity park in 2015. The objective was to take appropriate in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures to enrich its biodiversity in consultation with research bodies and demonstrate the importance and value of biodiversity to the public so as they emulate in the larger interest of conservation at the landscape level. The in-situ conservation measures include complete ban on felling of trees, complete closure to grazing, construction of water holes for sufficient supply of water for the animals and provision of fodder in the times of scarcity. The ex-situ measures include enrichment of biodiversity by planting more trees and adding more wildlife species after research and evaluation. For educating and creating awareness amongst the students and the farmers, a public park has been added in the Biodiversity Park where interpretation of ecology and nature can be made. The Biodiversity Park will act as a reference point for judging the diversity of flora and fauna in the times to come. The central theme behind the establishment of biodiversity park of ultimately involving the people in the conservation of biodiversity of the area has started yielding results as the park is attracting a large number of students, farmers and local residents who are learning the importance of biodiversity for the survival of humanity.

18 Habitat Restoration of Bir Forests of Patiala The story of Bir Kullemajra

About Bir Kullemajra atiala district has the distinction of having eleven Pblock forests locally called ‘birs’ scattered all over Total Area: 238 ha its jurisdiction. Ranging from 123.43 ha to 1022.63 ha in Area treated : 20 ha area, these forests inhabit rich wildlife and biodiversity Location : Chika Road, Patiala representing the plains of Punjab. Earlier managed as Main Vegetation: Mesquite hunting and grazing grounds by the erstwhile princely state, Wild Animals: Nilgai, Wild Boar and Sambar the compaction of soil has given prolific growth of hardy Vegetation Introduced : Shisham, Jand, Black Siris, alien species of Mesquite ( Prosopis juliflora). Bir Kullemajra Kachnar, Ficus species, Lasura, Bel, Ber, Arjun and is one such block forest where mesquite has infested to Amaltas. disproportionate levels adversely affecting the growth

19 and natural regeneration of native, palatable and biologically important tree species. In fact, spread of mesquite is leading to habitat degradation by reducing the space for movement of wild animals, and affecting fodder quantity and quality for the herbivores. As a result, the herbivores are in constant conflict with farmers, raiding the adjoining agricultural fields and causing damage to their crops. Past attempts to confine the wildlife within the bir forests by erecting chain link fencing have proved a costly affair without remedying the root cause. The permanent solution lies in restoration of habitat by eradication of mesquite and replacement with local tree, shrub and grass species yielding fruits and fodder. This is required to build up the palatable grass and fodder resource inside the forest and improve the overall productivity of the forest land. To begin with, a sizeable area of 20 ha was taken up for treatment in 2015-16. Mesquite of all age and sizes was removed using machinery and manual labour. Deep ploughing was followed by planting in the pits pre- treated with addition of gypsum and farm yard manure. The area was planted with Neem, shisham, kikar, Ficus species, Amaltas, Jand, Bel, Black siris, White siris, kachnar, Lasura and Arjun. The planted area was fenced with barbed wire. Evaluation of plantation site after one year gave nearly hundred per cent survival rate of plants. Emergence of grasses in the planted area shows the quick pace of succession that is taking place which otherwise could have taken a couple of years. The restoration of vegetative cover with indigenous species will not only enhance the forest productivity of the site but also bring back the biodiversity of the area. According to preliminary estimates, benefit : cost ratio is calculated to be 1:29, which means 29 per cent return on investment in terms of cost of eradication of mesquite and planting component. However, the environmental benefits are expected to be much more. The technology developed and the experience gained from this project will be of immense use for restoration of habitat of other bir forests of Patiala. The future forests of Patiala are likely to be more climate resilient and rich in biodiversity than the present.

20 Transformation of Village Ponds The Story of Village Kaljharani

he village ponds play an important role in the socio- About the Kaljharani Park cultural environment of the villages. They used to be Location: Kaljharani village Panchayat land, district T Bathinda. the centers of cultural activities in the recent past. While the women performed religious rites in the pond waters, the Area: 7.00 Acre. Features: Solar lights, walking trail, toilets, canteen and children enjoyed bathing along with cattle. In the times of parking for vehicles. drought, ponds were the source of water for irrigation and Cost of Project: Rs. 114.00 lakh in the times of floods, they acted as buffer areas and brought Biodiversity: Century old trees of Jand, Kareer and Ban. up fish and birds. However, with the rise of population and intensification of agriculture, most of the ponds are ina state of utter neglect, silted up, encroached upon, or used as disposal pits for village waste. The sewage dumped in ponds

21 has aggravated the problem of pollution of groundwater in the surrounding aquifers In the districts of Bathinda and Fazilka, the villagers have been raising concern over the deteriorating conditions of their village ponds and urging the district administaraion to work for their revival. on one such request received from the village Panchayat Kaljharani through the district administration Bathinda, a collaborative approach was adopted by the Punjab Mandi Board and the Forest Department to rehabilitate the village pond and transform it into an Environment and Biodiversity Park. The objective was to develop the pond and its surrounding area into a recreational green space for the local residents. A detailed project plan was prepared by the Punjab Mandi Board for Rs. 114.00 Lakh and funds were provided by the Forest Department from the Greening Punjab Mission. The area was fenced all around with grills to prevent the entry of stray animals as well as to stop encroachment. A retaining wall was constructed to prevent soil erosion and increase the aesthetics of the area. The century old trees of Jhand (Prosopis cineraria), Kareer (Capparis decidua) and Ban (Salvadora oleoides) were preserved. To provide a soothing experience within the rural setting, the surrounding area was landscaped into a green park interlaced with ornamental trees and shrubs. The park was added with a walking trail and benches were provided at suitable points. Public amenities such as toilets, dust bins, parking place and signboards were provided for the convenience of the public and for creating environmental awareness. The Pond which was earlier surrounded by litter and stray animals was now transformed into a recreational attraction for the people of the area. The project was so well received by the local people, that in fact, it has become an envy point for the surrounding villages who are demanding similar interventions in their villages.

22 Raising Plantation along Rajasthan Canal Promoting bee-keeping in the state enerally, the intended objectives of afforestation in About the Rajasthan Canal GPunjab had been to increase the area under forests, to meet the demand of timber and fuel wood or to ameliorate Total length: 649 Km the environment. But raising plantation along the Rajasthan Portion in Punjab: 100 Km approx. Canal has a different purpose of promotion of bee-keeping in the state. The state is known to produce export quality Area available for planting: 400 ha. honey valued in countries like U.S.A., the U.K. and other Eco-friendly Trees for bee-keeping: Drek, Kachnar, countries of Europe and the Middle East. Punjab produces Kikar, shisham, Sohajana, Jacranda, siris, amaltas, about 40 per cent of the country’s apiary honey production, jamun, Neem, Arjun, Beri and Eucalyptus. making it a leader in bee-keeping in the country. About 35,000 bee-keepers are engaged in producing about 15,000 metric tonnes of honey. To remain leader in organic honey production, there was a consistent demand from the honey

23 bee-keepers to raise a contiguous forest where they could propagate their honey bee colonies throughout the year. To the Forest Department, possibility looked into the strip around the Rajasthan Canal. Rajasthan Canal or Indira Gandhi Canal is one of the largest canal projects in India originating from Harike barrage. The Rajasthan Feeder Canal with its first 167 km runs through Punjab and Haryana before terminating into the Thar desert of Rajasthan. At the time of construction, a wider strip of land was acquired, out of which the water way was constructed 220 feet to 320 feet wide at various RDs of the canal. A stretch of 239000 feet of canal passes through Ferozepur Forest Division and from 239000 to 363000 feet distance falls in Shri Muktsar Sahib Forest Division. After construction of canal, a wide strip was lying vacant along the canal in both Forest Divisions. A project was therefore, formulated during 2016-17 to utilize the vacant land and bring it under eco friendly plantation suitable for bee-keeping. The Project was prepared after consultation with beekeepers and the Director of Horticulture, Punjab. The species to be planted were selected keeping in view the site conditions as well as the criteria of flowering of trees. Due to sandy and sandy loam soil, encroachments and harsh climatic conditions, the survival of plantation was a formidable challenge. However, with the determined objective to afforest the long lying vacant land, 343.00 ha area was planted in the 2016-17 itself and the remaining 87.7 ha planned for 2017- 18. The plantaion consists of a variety of species of Burma neem, Kachnar, Kikar, Shisham, Sohajana, Jacranda, Siris, Amaltas, Jamun, Neem, Arjun, Beri and Eucalyptus. The diversity of flora of trees will certainly help to nourish the honey bees for pollen and nectar for the honey bee colonies of bee keepers of Punjab and boost their income.