Grow-Trees.com, Vodafone India complete India’s first private initiative to improve Wildlife Corridor between Kanha and Pench

Initiated in August 2014, Kanha-Pench afforestation project involved planting 100,000 saplings over 100 hectares of forest land between Kanha Tiger Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh and Pench in Maharashtra every year for three years.

In the just concluded last phase, 100,000 saplings were planted near Karwahi village for the last 3 consecutive years. In the first two phases 200,000 saplings were planted near Rata and Dhodhara village (near Kanha) along the corridor.

The successful completion of the wildlife corridor was formally announced by Ashish Chandra, Business Head– Maharashtra & Goa, Vodafone India and Bikrant Tiwary, CEO, Grow-Trees.com, at a press meet organised in Nagpur today.

Sharing details about Vodafone’s support to the project, Ashish Chandra – Business Head, M&G, Vodafone India, said, “Vodafone India is committed to supporting sustainable initiatives that benefit all – the organisation, the community and the environment. This unique project has enabled Vodafone to offset 33 million kg of carbon footprint generated by our offices. More importantly, we have been able to create livelihood opportunities, enable reforestation and facilitate habitat connectivity in tiger breeding areas between Kanha and Pench reserves.  This is a win-win-win proposition for all - the organisation, the community and the environment, exemplifying the true spirit of sustainability.”

This project has created about 25,000 workdays of direct jobs mainly for women and tribal communities inhabiting the area in addition to supporting several allied livelihood generating activities such as farming, fruit and honey gathering etc. on a sustained basis.

Speaking on the occasion, Bikrant Tiwary, CEO, Grow-Trees.com, said, “Approximately 45% of India's land is degraded primarily due to deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, mining and excessive groundwater extraction. More than two thirds of this can be regenerated and our endeavour is to facilitate this by providing planting opportunities to individual and corporate customers. We are delighted to have Vodafone India as our corporate partner to support this novel project of wildlife corridors for enlarging wildlife habitats. The size and scale of this private corridor reforestation initiative is the biggest till date in the country.  The planting process on site has been taken care by our local planting partner.”