Menu
The project emphasizes conserving natural forests and enrich it with more bio-diversity in springshed areas. In the pilot project site at Soi Village, 27 Ha of forest in spring-shed area is restored to medium dense forest and now conserved. More than 100 Ha has been conserved in totality under the project outside of the spring-shed area at various locations which includes some important sacred forests.
Bio-resource conservation and plantations was added in the project activities mainly due to increase in wild animal population. Â It was observed during 2013-14 that wildlife started to thrive back in the spring-shed area due to presence of water pits and re-growth of forests. Marks of barking deer, wild boar, wild dogs, Asiatic black bear, porcupines, civets, martins, squirrels and many others were found. Especially population of barking deer increased which was evident from eaten up barks of the trees.
The project has taken a special attention on conservation of Gymnocladus assamicus or Himalayan Soap Tree which is locally known as ” Dikaa”. This species is a highly endangered IUCN Red listed species endemic to northeast India which is very rare to find. Local people used the pod of the plant as soap during olden days and the plant is also an important food for wild animals like deer and wild boar.
The project started its conservation since 2015 and now it is grown in large number at spring-shed forests. Seed collections and plantation is still going on this particular species.
In order to secure food for wild animals, it was necessary to increase the number of food plants in the springshed. Hence, local hunters of the area were called and sensitized on need for conservation of wildlife. With their help, about 15 numbers of native plants eaten by wild animals were initially identified. Those plants turned out to be medicinal  plants which are rare and endangered. A small bio-resource mission was launched and seeds of all identified plants were collected in 2015 and nursery was raised. First plantation of the mini-mission was done on 5th June 2017. About 5000 numbers of seedlings of various species has been planted as food for birds and animals.
At present, there are 24 species conserved which are important as animal food and at the same time useful to human as herbal foods. Among the conserved multi-purpose native plants are Canarium strictus, Choerospondias axillaris, Mangifera sylvatica, Garcinia lancaefolia, Garcinia pedunculata, Castanopsis indica, Docynia indica, Actinidia callosa, Diospyrios kaki, Saurauia spp, Stixis suaveolens, Baccauria sapida , wild water apple, 5 species of wild banana, wild Rambutan etc.
Nursery development of native plants identified by local hunters as food for wild animals (2015):
Different fruit bearing native Plants and bio-resource plantation (2017):
a composite project on water, forest and bio-diversity conservation
