Nestled in the western ghats near Nashik, efforts by conser-vationists and local tribes ensured borgad's forests retains its shade of green. Today, the area is thriving with Flora and Fauna and is a must-visit for the wildlife and conservation buff
Nestled in the western ghats near Nashik, efforts by conser-vationists and local tribes ensured borgad's forests retains its shade of green. Today, the area is thriving with Flora and Fauna and is a must-visit for the wildlife and conservation buff
As you are reading this, a young brigade of tribal kids is being made aware of the importance of our forests of the Tryambak Range in the Western Ghats in Maharashtra, 25kms away from Nashik.u00a0 In fact, on every weekend, from September to May, batches of kids from the surrounding villages are brought to Borgad Conservation Reserve for a field trip, where an open classroom session is conducted by a few like-minded conservationists.
Found in the Borgad Reserve, the Plumbago is a plant that eats insects.
Pic/ C Gangadharan Menon
Some of us who decided to tag along for one such classroom came in a day early and set camp at Borgad. We spent the night in the comfort of an igloo-like tent pitched in the complex of the Nature Conservation Society of Nashik (NSCN), near Borgad. By morning, the intensity of the winter had hit us -- the overnight dew had made the lawns look as if a nocturnal gardener had worked overtime.
The yellow school bus loaded with bubbly kids came at the appointed hour. We were given the option of going to the Reserve by ourselves. But we chose to tag along with the kids. After all, we were curious to figure how the seeds of conservation were being sown in these young minds. We shared breakfast with these kids en route to the Reserve. The piping-hot batata poha melted in the mouth as we soaked in the rays of the wintry morning sun. After a second generous helping, we followed the bus to Borgad Reserve.
Why borgad?
Borgad Conservation Reserve is the first of its kind in the state, and was established in 2007. It has three stakeholders: the villagers, the State Forest Department and the Nature Conservation Society of Nashik. When Bishwarup Raha of NCSN first discovered the area, Borgad was a forest denuded by the villagers for firewood, and for the commercial use of timber.
Taking a pledge to restore this once-beautiful forest, Raha and his like-minded friends started talking to the villagers. Over time, their innate sense of conservation was sparked off. Soon, it began spreading like a wild forest fire into the nearby villages.
At the start, a modest 5,000 saplings were planted. Over the next three years, another 75,000 were added to the forest cover. The figure for the next couple of years is an ambitious 1,00,000. Care was taken not to introduce any foreign trees. When indigenous forest trees including Mahua, Beheda, Saag, Seesam, Amla and Jambhul reappeared in the forest, the fauna also returned. For birds, butterflies, reptiles and mammals, it was their second homecoming.
Reserved for the eco-friendly
The bus halted at the foothills of Borgad. On the right was a flat grassland, with bare hillocks looming in the distance. And on the left was a beautiful mountain with terraced tracks, grassy slopes and wooded patches decked in its green finery.
The moment we stepped into the forest, Raha's team of experts took over. Using the simplest of terms in Marathi, they introduced the tribal kids to the treasure trove that is Borgad. First, they were introduced to some truly amazing botanical specimens. First up was the Salai, the only forest tree that does not get burnt in a forest fire. Next, the group spotted the Tantani; incidentally, its juice is consumed by circus artists to heal internal wounds caused by broken glass pieces that they swallow as part of their performance. The seeds of the Safed Kuda when crushed and dropped in milk convert milk into edible curd while the Plumbago is a plant that eats insects.
When a curious kid asked why a pot filled with water is kept next to a sapling, Raha explained how the water slowly seeps into the soil and quenches the thirst of the newborn. He also explained to them how living organisms are born from the same mother -- Mother Earth. He went on to elaborate how this mother is now millions of years old, and urgently needs our love and care. For these wide-eyed tribal kids, it was the joy of learning about the mysteries of nature.
That day at Borgad was more than just a lesson in conservation. The queries and interest in protecting their forests was heartwarming. For the tribal elders, it was a lesson in discovering the practical benefits of afforestation that increases the water levels in their wells by dramatic levels.
As we gazed at the gloomy sun setting behind a heavy cloud, we realised that every dark cloud has the proverbial silver lining. In this case, it emerged in the form of a young, green brigade, who were ready to protect their treasure -- the forest.
Green graph
The Western Ghats is a stretch that runs nearly 1,450km along Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. This stretch has humid forests, home to nearly 4,000 species of flowering plants of which about 1,700 are endemic (species not found anywhere else in the world). The hill chain has been recognised as one of the world's 34 biodiversity hotspots threatened with destruction.
Sindhudurg district has the highest green cover in Maharashtra (49%) and was declared the first eco-tourism district in the country in 1997. According to a report in 2009, the forest cover in Maharashtra is 50,650 sq km, which is 16.46 per cent of the total geographical area of the state.
How to reach
Take the Expressway to Nashik. Turn left at Garware Junction before reaching Nashik. Pass Gangapur Dam and Fravashi International Academy on the left. The NSCN complex is 300m from there, on the left.
Stay
>> Comfortable tents at the complex. Call Bishwarup Raha on 09422272059 for bookings.
>> 2 nights and 3 days is ideal, if you wish to explore all the wetlands, grasslands and forests in a 50km radius around Nashik.
Best time
>> If you want to spot migratory birds, winter is the best time. Otherwise, Borgad is accessible throughout the year.
Waht to carry
>> Camera and batteries
>> Comfortable walking shoes
>> Shades, cap, bandana
>> Drinking water
>> Camera and batteries
>> Packed lunch
>> Bird watchers guidebook
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