Forests & Biodiversity
When Auroville was founded in 1968, the area was a mix of dry canyons and farmland cultivated by Tamil people who had endured centuries of colonialism and resource extraction. European powers had decimated the local indigenous forests, which caused excessive topsoil erosion during the annual monsoons. Early Aurovilians set about working with the local people to reverse the course of ecological degradation.
Over time and through intensive experimentation, they have developed a profound and unique understanding of how to rebuild an ecosystem. They learned how to prevent erosion and topsoil loss, planted hardy deep-rooting trees to begin, and eventually started seeking out and integrating species native to the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest, a rare forest type native to the coastal belt of Tamil Nadu. Today, millions of trees have been planted and the ecosystem has rebounded to an incredible extent.
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Tropical Dry Evergreen Forests
Auroville initiated a major work of eco-restoration which has turned a highly eroded latritic plateau into a re-emerging ecosystem of the TDEF -
Medicinal Plant Conservation
Conservation of indigenous plant species with a particular focus on medicinal plants and the people who use them. -
Rich Wildlife
As the Auroville forests regenerated birds, animals, butterflies, snakes continue to increase in numbers
- Acres of Forests
- 2000+
- Trees Growing
- 2 million
- Forested Areas
- 43
- Species of Birds
- 100+
- Species of Animals
- 35+
- Species of Butterflies
- 200+
Biodiversity of Auroville
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Forested Areas in Auroville
Auroville forests are divided into about 43 different groups each with its own stewards. The responsibilities of each steward include planting and maintaining the forested areas, restoring and upholding biodiversity, conserving soil and water, and taking a lead in environmental education and innovation.
See Also
