Junglescapes Charitable Trust targets 500 acres of forests in Gopalaswamy Betta, Kundakere zones

Invasive species such as Senna spectabilis and Lantana are wreaking havoc on the forest ecosystem and diminishing grazing opportunities for herbivores. In response, the Junglescapes Charitable Trust of Bengaluru is diligently uprooting these threats as part of a crucial forest restoration initiative.

The Bandipur Tiger Reserve, celebrated as the State’s inaugural Tiger Sanctuary under the Project Tiger, is grappling with a relentless surge of non-nutritive weeds like Senna spectabilis and Lantana across its 13 zones, presenting a formidable challenge for the Forest Department.

Over the past two to three decades, Lantana has become a curse to the forests, gradually swallowing up the native wildlife habitat. This invasion is causing scarcity of food for herbivorous wildlife that should be freely roaming the forests, sending a warning that this could develop into a monstrous problem in the future.

NGO joins hands

Despite various programmes developed by the Forest Department to clear invasive plants that are taking over the forest, the expected level of weed removal has not been achieved. Nevertheless, the Department continues its annual removal of invasive species like Lantana and Senna spectabilis in designated areas.

In this effort, the Junglescapes Charitable Trust from Bengaluru has taken on a social responsibility initiative to clear invasive plants from 500 acres of forest land in the Gopalaswamy Betta (G.S. Betta) and Kundakere zones of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

With permission from the Forest Department and an agreement with the Director of Bandipur Tiger Reserve, the Trust has implemented a five-year project from 2019-20, now achieving notable success as anticipated.

Local workforce utilisation

Junglescapes Charitable Trust employs local workers to uproot Senna spectabilis, Lantana and other invasive plants, ensuring that the weeds are completely removed along with their roots.

From the villages bordering Bandipur Forest, such as Lokkere, Guddekere, Kaniyanapura, Naguvanahalli, Anehejje Hundi and Burudarahundi, 75 workers have been organised into various teams for the task of removing invasive plants growing in the forest. Each worker is paid Rs. 450 per day for the task.

The workers involved in the weed removal operation are recruited through self-help groups. To support local employment, Junglescapes Charitable Trust helps register these groups as self-help associations, providing employment opportunities to locals.

Safety measures, insurance

During the weed removal operation in the Bandipur Forest, which is home to wildlife, measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of the workers. The Trust has provided each of the 75 workers with insurance coverage of Rs. 10 lakh.

This insurance has been arranged to protect against potential harm caused by wild animal encounters. Additionally, a Forest Department staff member is assigned to accompany the weed removal team for security. Workers are instructed to work in groups and follow all recommended safety precautions.

Forest restoration with cooperation

This initiative aims to preserve forests for future generations and promote the growth of local plant species in the area. We are receiving support from various organisations for the weed removal operation and are committed to forest restoration. By removing these invasive plants along with their roots, we hope to alleviate the food shortage faced by herbivorous wildlife.

Additionally, this will help prevent any disruption in the food chain for these animals. We are grateful to the Forest Department and supporting organisations for their assistance in our service activities.

– C.R. Hanumanth, Member of Project Governance Committee, Junglescapes Charitable Trust