Trees for Tribals®

Why Trees?

 

The Irula tribe is believed to be one of the earliest inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent, with a history that dates back to prehistoric times. Today, they are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India. They rank among the most significant indigenous communities in Tamil Nadu due to their contributions to the area’s environment, history, culture, and heritage. Although the Irula tribe is primarily found in the southern region, it is semi-nomadic and established there as a silent and landless group.

 

The Irula people are renowned for their distinctive culture and customs, especially their language, which belongs to the Dravidian language family. They have a long history of folklore, dancing, and song, and some of their traditional jobs included capturing snakes, harvesting honey and catching rats.

 

Since it is now forbidden to capture snakes in India due to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the bulk of this community now works as labourers.^[1] Due to their lack of education and limited access to resources, the Irulas are a socioeconomically poor community. Irulas who live in the plains are more vulnerable to weather-related disasters including hurricanes, storms, and droughts.

 

This project is an initiative to uplift the Irulas through the activity of planting trees. The community members will participate in all plantation processes, providing them with work while also enhancing the region’s biodiversity and green cover, which will benefit the Irula tribal group’s quality of life.

 

Planting trees can offer substantial benefits to the Irula tribe in Tamil Nadu, particularly for those inhabiting vulnerable areas prone to weather-related disasters. Research by Persha et al. addresses how the Irula community has been grappling with socio-economic challenges due to restricted access to resources and education.^[2] Engaging in plantation initiatives not only allows the Irulas to contribute to environmental conservation but also holds the potential to uplift their community economically.

 

A study by Forest Policy and Economics talks about the crucial role played by forests in supporting the livelihoods of tribal and rural populations, providing essential resources such as fuelwood, fodder, and small timber. However, the degradation and depletion of forest resources, exacerbated by factors like unplanned urbanisation and deforestation, are resulting in heightened poverty and hardships among rural communities. This underscores the urgent need for the rehabilitation of degraded forest resources to ensure the sustainability of rural livelihoods.^[3]

 

In the paper, Reflections on Marginalisation of Tribes in South India, Ritambhara Hebbar mentions, “Biodiversity is integral to the livelihood strategies of tribes in South India. Their dependence on forests have contributed to the vast knowledge of the local biodiversity, which is critical to their survival and also of the ecosystem.”^[4]

 

Echoing these sentiments, the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine emphasises the significance of biodiversity, noting that, “a substantial portion of the population's reliance on non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for nutritional and health needs underscores the importance of preserving natural diversity.”

 

Research by World Development suggests that while forest-related income is often underestimated, it forms a substantial part of household economies and rural livelihoods. This emphasises the importance of recognising the value of forest goods and services for sustainable livelihoods.^[5]

 

An article by The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations highlights that  “In India, it has been observed that wherever there is a large concentration of forest, there is also high concentration of tribal people in particular, and of the rural population in general. Rural people are dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods. For many of them, not only do the resources provide economic sustenance, but the forest is also a way of life socially and culturally. It further highlights how forests cater to the needs of rural and tribal communities in a holistic manner. “It meets basic needs like fuelwood, fodder and small timber that are important for them and their livestock. Degradation and depletion of the forest resources are increasing poverty and suffering among the rural people. Therefore, it is imperative to rehabilitate degraded forest resources in order to sustain rural livelihoods.”^[6]

 

Tree Species

 

We support the planting of local tree species at our planting sites since they are compatible with the local ecosystem and have a higher likelihood of surviving due to their non-invasive character.

 

As a part of this project, we have planted Guava (Psidium guajava), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heteroplyllus), Spanish Cherry (Mimusops elengi), Pongame tree (Pongamia pinnata), Indian tulip (Thespesia populnea), Teak (Tectona grandis),Kumzhi/ Gamhar (Gmelina arborea), Neem (Melia dubia), Naval (Syzygium cumini), Tamarind (Tamarindus indica),  Africa Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulate),  Shower (Cassia fistula) Coral Bean Tree (Adenartheri pavonnia) and Rain Tree (Samanea saman). Guava, Amla, and Jackfruit can be utilized by the communities for their nutritional value as well as for market sale as a source of income. Neem and Gamhar have been planted for their medicinal properties. The whole Gamhar plant is used in medicine. The roots act as a tonic and laxative, flowers are used in treating leprosy and skin diseases, fruits are edible and also used for promoting hair growth and in treating anaemia, and leaves make for good fodder.

 

Social Impact

 

Planting of trees offers numerous benefits that span across multiple aspects.*

 

For the Irula tribe, our project generates employment opportunities for the Irula tribal group since we are committed to working closely with them at our planting sites. They are involved in preparing the saplings in the nursery, transportation of the saplings, plantation and maintenance. They can also earn additional income from the plantation produce, in this case, they can supplement their income from timber and fruits once the tree matures. Tree plantation activities provide employment for women as many women workers participate in our projects.

 

Planting trees will help in improving the water table, check topsoil erosion, and increase carbon sequestration potential, thereby creating a healthier environment for biodiversity and communities to flourish. A healthy ecosystem will ensure that this forest-dependent community can fulfil its needs and supplement its income with forest produce and other NTFPs.

 

Tree plantation can help regulate the natural water cycle and improve water quality. This will greatly benefit the local communities.

 

*The environmental benefits of the trees reach their full potential as they mature.

 

Adoption Summary

 

Name of the Company	Number of Trees Planted	Fiscal Year
TREE-NATION	1,50,000	2023-24