Forests are a vital community resource – for fodder, fuel wood and leaf litter. The health of the forests also impact on soil and water conservation, water quality and the protection of bio-diversity. Healthy forests and sustainable management are crucial to maintain the ecological balance in the region.

At Chirag, we begin by protecting the forest area and the soil and water it provides. We plant fodder grasses and shrubs along the contour trenches and on terraces – this increase in fodder availability provides a very real incentive to the community to protect the site. The protection encourages the growth of rootstock, enabling the soil moisture levels to go up and ensuring the survival of sapling broadleaf trees.

The long term sustainability of a community forest depends on how the community maintains and protects it. Encouraging the community to understand the need to protect its forests and providing technical support and training members of the van panchayat (village committee responsible for local forestry) are important aspects of the work Chirag does on forestry.

Access to healthy forests also has significant impact on gender. Women in the region are responsible for gathering fuel, fodder and water. Healthy forests close to village communities mean that women have to travel shorter distances and this therefore frees up their time for other activities. Chirag engages women Self Help Groups in many of its forestry related efforts such as maintaining nurseries, preparing forest plots, and planting and protecting saplings.