Chulachuli, Nepal, On the occasion of Chure Day, BRCRN (Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal) and Kamal Community Forest have planted trees in the Kamal Community Forest of Ilam. A thousand saplings of indigenous species such as bamboo, guava, gooseberry, jamun (sizizium cumini) etc. have been planted. Saplings now fill the riverbank of Kamal river at Chure foothills.
The tree plantation was organized in coordination with Subdivision Forest Office Chulachuli, Subdivision Forest Office Belbari, and Division Forest Office Triveni, Udaipur, while BRCRN provided the saplings.
“Half of Nepal's population lives in the Tarai, which produces food for all of Nepal. If Chure is not conserved, all these people's lives and livelihoods will be at risk. That's why, today, we express a commitment to protect Chure," says Nabaraj Pudasaini, the chief guest and National Director of BRCRN.
In recent years, the environment of Chure has deteriorated due to human activities such as deforestation and mining of river products. Local residents complain that the problems of floods, landslides, drying up of water sources, have increased, while rivers in flood often destroy houses and turn fields barren area. In this context, the local residents are excited that tree plantation will improve local ecology. “Earlier, there was lots of water in Chure area. Now, you cannot find
water even after boring wells as deep as 100 feet. We should try to rejuvenate this area by planting trees. Since imported species reduce soil quality, we should select local species," says Lal Bahadur Chamling, acting president of ward-1, Chulachuli, Ilam.
Conservation of this area has been a priority for Nepal government in recent years. 10 years ago, Asar 2 was declared Chure Day. The then President Ram Varan Yadav led the President Churia Tarai Madhes Conservation and Development Committee, which has been conducting various conservation works. "The soil of Chure area is very delicate. When it’s dry, it’s hard like a stone, but when it rains, it melts away. If we cannot protect this soil, we will lose fertile soil. That's why
we have to work together to protect Chure," says Raj Kumar Gupta, provincial coordinator of the project.
BRCRN has been carrying out various activities in 26 river systems of the Chure region with the aim of increasing climate resilience. Tree planting is a part of BRCRN’s ongoing work of increasing environmental protection and climate resilience in the Chure region. BRCRN has been establishing nurseries and planting trees in its working areas. At present, it has established 7 nurseries in Koshi province, which have a total of more than 4 lakh plants. Indigenous species have been given priority, and these saplings will be distributed free of cost to those who want to plant them.
Kamal Community Forest has said that they plan to increase forest cover by planting more trees. "We want to revive the forest by planting trees. Our plan is to grow these trees and plant more trees in the future," said Sangeeta Thalang, President of Kamal Community Forest.
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