City-based NGO launches ‘Sponsor a forest scheme’ to conserve forest
Sakaaltimes.com: Now, sponsor a forest and get forest areas in your name. With only 0.6 per cent of the forest area in Ratnagiri district under the State wildlife department, city-based NGO Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), which works in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts, announced the launch of the ‘Sponsor a forest scheme.’
Under the scheme, the AERF invites city-based sponsors to donate money for conserving forest areas and in return enjoy benefits of personalisation of the particular area in their name although without ownership of the area. A sponsor could be an individual or a corporate house.
“A sponsor can visit his/her area of the forest, enjoy the landscape and enjoy three days stays to the site once a year and experience the forest management and can live in a village setting,” said AREF director Dr Archana Godbole. “We are in talks with Suzlon and Eaton limited for the sponsorship,” said conservationist and programme coordinator of the scheme Sameer Punde.
The AERF also signs 5-10 year agreements with landowners to not cut the forest in that particular area and in return a cash incentive will be provided to the landowner. The management of the forest will be the sole responsibility of the AERF.
Punde said, “The unique programme, first of its kind in India, provides an opportunity to people living in the cities to take part in conserving our forests and takes conservation beyond the popular short duration campaigns like grow a tree and slogans.”
Godbole said, “The scheme envisages partnership of forest communities, conservationists and corporate houses to collectively help retard the process of deforestation especially in the Konkan region.”
She also mentioned that the AERF had already entered into agreements with local farmers in Sangameshwar and Chiplun blocks of Ratnagiri district and 60 acres of land were presently under the AREF maintenance.
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