How green is my city’s backyard

At a time when India’s forest cover is a topic of discussion, here are some examples of regeneration projects that are heading in the right direction

In the quiet of a forest, 12 pairs of eyes watch closely as a net-casting spider (genus Asianopis) prepares to trap an unsuspecting insect. “The spider weaves a web of silk, holds it between its forelimbs, and traps its prey,” explains Anubhav Agarwal of Spiderindia, an initiative that promotes awareness about arthropods through public outreach events. The naturalist has organised several workshops at three venues in the Auroville forests in Tamil Nadu.

“The Pitchandikulam forest, Aranya forest, and Auroville Botanical Garden are man-made habitats, yet they hold such a rich and interesting diversity,” Agarwal tells The Hindu Weekend. Before the regeneration projects began in the 1970s, the land was barren or had scanty, thorny scrub vegetation. Now the Auroville forests are home to more than 100 species of birds, reptiles, 100 species of butterflies, and at least three species of deer. (One of the reasons why locals were very vocal when trees were felled to make way for the Crown Road project; the court has since stayed it citing adverse impact on the environment.)

Ecologist and professor emeritus of Delhi University, CR Babu, calls such green spaces living museums. “They are demonstrations of how ecosystems work, nurture and regenerate the environment; they inform us about the indigenous flora and fauna,” says the professor, who heads the development of seven biodiversity parks in the national capital. “While we can wait for nature to take her course and regenerate a forest, it may take anywhere between 100 to 10,000 years. But with the right intervention, the process can be hastened. If we select the right species, an ecosystem can be restored in even as little as 10 years.”