Mohammad Dilawar, a Maharashtra based sparrow conservationist and his team have restored 400 species of native plants to restore the ecological balance of the place.
Mohammed Dilawar is the Founder and President of Nature Forever Society. He has been working for over thirteen years in the conservation field. Starting out as a volunteer at the grassroot level conducting surveys and creating awareness about conservation, he headed projects for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also serves as a member of the International Working Group on Urban Sparrows and represents the Afro Asian Region.
He initiated the first World Sparrow Day in 2009. Today it is celebrated in more than 30 countries across the World.
Over the years he realized how the deterioration of sparrows and plants went hand-in-hand and how difficult it was to locate indigenous species of plant in his native area.
He was quick to realize the importance of native species for overall ecological balance and hence with the help of Nature India Native Plant Research restored 400 desi plant species which they have planted across 20,000 acres of land.
“We have created 25 city forests with a large species index of native plant species which will become a refuge for biodiversity having a large ecological spillover effect. The beauty of these plants is that all of them are indigenous alternatives to non-native ones.”
– Mohammed Dilawar
The team studied the species, soil structure, habitats, geographical conditions, characteristics and nature of species. Procuring the species was a major task as many nursery owners didn’t even recognize the species. The organisation tied up with various government departments, NGOs and private companies in Mumbai, Pune, Palghar and Nasik to build 25 high-density forests of plant native species.
The experience is sometimes harrowing for the team as it involves an extensive process of research, collaboration and incessant efforts but in the end, it all seems worth it to our green warriors when they see the blooming forests.
Also read, how and why Preservation of Biodiversity is important in Developing Countries.
Research and Written by Garima Mangla, Team ulaunch.
A much needed initiative…