Set amidst the bucolic countryside of Thiradi Village in Tamil Nadu, lies Vanantara - a thriving green sanctuary that serves as a living testament to one man's vision of nurturing nature. Vanantara, a portmanteau of "vana" and "antara" isn't just a forest; but living proof that when human beings work with nature to restore balance, she responds wholeheartedly.
The man behind Vanantara, Varun Ravindra, began in 2009, fueled by a deep-seated concern for the environment. The burgeoning discourse on climate change ignited a spark within him, urging him to actively participate in the solution. He quit his corporate job to pursue afforestation, recognizing tree planting as one of the most impactful ways to combat climate change.
He established Vanantara on formerly barren land, embarking on an odyssey to cultivate a self-sustaining forest ecosystem through indigenous tree species. In the initial years, it was an uphill task simply keeping the saplings alive in the infertile soil. Undaunted, Varun worked tirelessly towards enriching the soil with compost and mulching, while developing an intricate drip irrigation network to quench the thirst of the young trees.
At the heart of Vanantara's reforestation efforts lies the Miyawaki method - a unique afforestation technique that mimics the structure and density of natural forests. Named after the Japanese botanist who pioneered it, the Miyawaki approach involves planting diverse native species close together at ten times the normal density. This creates ideal conditions for rapid cross-pollination and growth, allowing forests to be established 30 times faster and 30 times denser than conventional methods.
At Vanantara, Miyawaki plantings have resulted in mini-forests that are lush, green oases teeming with biodiversity within a fraction of the time it takes to establish a forest in nature. 40,000 trees across 250 species later, Vanantara is now a thriving mini-forest teeming with diverse plant and animal life. The ecosystem is close to achieving a state of balance and homeostasis and fulfilling Varun's vision.
Beyond being a verdant sanctuary for nature, Vanantara also serves as an example of the transformative impact individuals can have. It also reminds us that environmental stewardship, through initiatives like afforestation, holds the key to securing a greener future for generations to come. Today, Vanantara employs 40 villagers as full-time and seasonal hires, totally engaging over 100 people from nearby villages
To honour stories like Varun and Vanantara, AU Small Finance Bank presents Badlaav Humse Hai Season 2, in association with Network18. Just like the first season, Season 2 celebrates 25 stories that showcase changemakers whose unsung work has helped carve out cultural identities for communities, lifted them out of poverty; created access where only barriers existed; shown communities how to work with nature to create true sustainability; changed hearts and minds about othered communities; changed the lives of many through economic, social or educational empowerment, and much, much more.
Watch Season 2 of Badlaav Humse Hai for more stories like this one. You may also catch up on all the wonderful stories from Season 1.
Moneycontrol Journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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