How the Himalayas are being restored through participatory forest management

The Surya-Kunj project in Almora, India, has transformed 71 acres of degraded land into a biodiverse hub through a combination of afforestation, community stewardship, and educational outreach. The initiative has increased local biodiversity, including over 160 bird species, while improving socio-economic conditions for local residents, particularly women, by increasing resource availability and creating green jobs.

• The Surya-Kunj project, established in 1992 at the Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment in Almora, India, converted 71 acres of degraded grazing land and pine shrubs into a biodiverse landscape using a comprehensive approach that balances ecological restoration with community needs.
• Ecological gains at Surya-Kunj include the establishment of an arboretum with over 100 woody plant species, a medicinal garden with 90 species, and the recording of more than 160 bird species and 80 butterfly species, which contributes to carbon sequestration.
• The project has generated social and economic benefits by reducing the time women spend collecting fodder and fuel wood, providing access to non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and creating income through ecotourism and the distribution of seedlings.
• Educational outreach via the Nature Interpretation and Learning Centre (NILC) has sensitized over 10,000 school students and provided green skills training to more than 150 young individuals to improve their employability.

APA

Bhatt, I. D. (2024). How the Himalayas are being restored through participatory forest management. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/how-the-himalayas-are-being-restored-through-participatory-forest-management/

Chicago

Bhatt, Indra Datt. How the Himalayas are being restored through participatory forest management. World Economic Forum, 2024. https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/how-the-himalayas-are-being-restored-through-participatory-forest-management/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bhatt |first1=Indra Datt |title=How the Himalayas are being restored through participatory forest management |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=31 October 2024 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/how-the-himalayas-are-being-restored-through-participatory-forest-management/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bhatt2024how, author = {Bhatt, Indra Datt}, title = {{How the Himalayas are being restored through participatory forest management}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/nature-and-biodiversity/how-the-himalayas-are-being-restored-through-participatory-forest-management/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }