Increasing Green Cover through Native Species Plantation

Increasing green cover is essential for mitigating climate change, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term health and resilience of ecosystems. One effective way to achieve this is by promoting native species plantation through different methods, including terrestrial plantation, Miyawaki plantation, mangrove plantation, and other types of forestation. Native species are best adapted to the local climate and ecosystem, and their plantation can help restore degraded lands, promote ecosystem services, and support biodiversity conservation.

Key Principles of Native Species Plantation:

• Native Species Selection: Selecting plant species that are native to the local ecosystem and well-suited to the climate, soil, and topography.
• Terrestrial Plantation: Planting native species on degraded or barren lands, using techniques such as afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry.
• Miyawaki Plantation: Using the Miyawaki method, which involves planting multiple native species together to create a dense and diverse forest ecosystem.
• Mangrove Plantation: Planting mangrove species in coastal areas to restore mangrove forests and promote ecosystem services such as shoreline protection and fisheries.
• Other Types of Forestation: Planting native species in other forest types, such as urban forests, peri-urban forests, and forest corridors.

Benefits of Native Species Plantation:

Carbon Sequestration: Helps absorb carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Biodiversity Conservation: Helps restore biodiversity by providing habitat for native plants and animals.
Soil Erosion Prevention: Helps stabilize soil, reducing sedimentation and preventing soil erosion.
Water Cycle Regulation: Helps regulate the water cycle, ensuring better water availability for human and ecosystem processes.
Ecosystem Services: Provides air and water filtration, pollination, and pest control.

Our Methods of Native Species Plantation:

• Terrestrial Plantation: Planting native species on degraded or barren lands using techniques like afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry.
• Miyawaki Plantation: Using the Miyawaki method to create dense and diverse native forests.
• Mangrove Plantation: Restoring mangrove forests in coastal areas to protect shorelines and marine ecosystems.
• Urban Forestry: Enhancing urban green cover by planting native species in cities and towns.
• Peri-Urban Forestry: Promoting native species plantation in peri-urban areas for biodiversity conservation.
• Forest Corridors: Connecting fragmented forests to promote wildlife movement and biodiversity.
• Agroforestry: Integrating native species into farmlands to improve soil health and ecosystem services.
• Silvopasture: Incorporating native trees into grazing lands to support sustainable livestock farming.

Challenges to Native Species Plantation:

• Land Availability: Limited land due to competing demands like agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.
• Climate Change: Alters species suitability and affects plantation success rates.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species outcompeting native species, reducing their survival.
• Lack of Policy and Governance: Weak policies and governance hinder plantation and conservation efforts.
• Limited Community Engagement: Lack of local participation reduces the effectiveness of plantation initiatives.

Our Strategies for Promoting Native Species Plantation:

• Policy and Governance: Advocating for strong policies that support native species conservation.
• Community Engagement: Involving local communities in plantation planning and implementation.
• Capacity Building: Training communities, organizations, and governments in plantation techniques.
• Research and Development: Improving plantation success through scientific research.
• Partnerships and Collaborations: Working with stakeholders to promote native species plantation.

Global Alignment and Commitments

The Sahyog Foundation aligns with international environmental sustainability frameworks, including:

• SDG 13 (Climate Action)
• SDG 15 (Life on Land)
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

Additionally, we support:

The Paris Agreement, which promotes forest conservation to mitigate climate change.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), focusing on biodiversity conservation.
The Global Forest Restoration Initiative, which aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded forests by 2030.
The Trillion Tree Campaign, targeting the plantation, restoration, and conservation of 1 trillion trees by 2050.

Through these efforts, Sahyog Foundation is committed to creating a greener, more sustainable future for all.