The district of Sivaganga is situated in the eastern part of south Tamil Nadu. Upparu flows through the western part of the district, while Vaigai River flows through the southern part. The only hill area located in the region is Piranmalai.

The average annual rainfall of the district is approximately 904mm which is slightly lower than the state average of 996mm. A majority of the district is covered with red soil while paddy is the major crop grown. Other crops include groundnut, sugarcane, pulses, cotton, chillies, millet, etc.

The Sivaganga district is home to the near threatened Oriental Darter, Red Sand Boa and vulnerable Bonnet Macaque. The Chettiyan Kanmai and Vadakudipatti Kanmai are a few biodiversity hotspots in the region with more than 82 and 65 different species observed in the respective water bodies.

The Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary located in the Sivaganga district serves as a natural habitat for migratory birds. It is a breeding habitat for Asian Openbill Stork, Night Herons, Grey Herons, Darters, Spoonbills, Cattle Egret, Common Teal, Spot Bill Ducks and various other birds.

Dual Focus of E.F.I’s Blue-Green Mission

According to Global Forest Watch, “Sivaganga had 2.90 kha of tree cover, extending over 0.71% of its land area in 2010. In 2023, it lost < 1 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 3.89 kt of CO₂ emissions.” Such low tree density can be seen as a result of man-made disturbances such as encroachment, cattle grazing and lopping of small branches for fodder.

The district has also been facing issues in groundwater quality and quantity as the demand for water has been increasing day by day. This is mainly due to excessive extraction of surface and subsurface water. As a result, there has been a deterioration in terms of the water quality and depletion of water levels in the region.

E.F.I is on a Blue-Green mission to promote green cover and restore water bodies in the district of Sivaganga. Under this initiative, E.F.I aims to restore the degraded land area of Kanjirangal through an afforestation project and revive the Kanjirangal Lake.

Kanjirangal is a village located 3 kms north from the district of Sivaganga. Adjacent to the Kanjirangal Lake is a parched land area of 130 acres that has been degraded over the years. E.F.I aims to reforest this area in an attempt to revitalize the ecosystem, mitigate climate change and enhance biodiversity.

The main objective of the Kanjirangal Afforestation Project is to implement sustainable forest management practices and plant native tree species such as neem and banyan. The afforestation area would act as a natural catchment area that rejuvenates groundwater and prevents soil erosion. As a carbon sink, the area would reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and help combat climate change.

The dense patch of native trees would act as biodiversity hotspots for countless species of plants and animals. This would have a positive impact on wildlife population recovery and restoration of the local ecosystem in Sivaganga district. The project would also prevent illegal encroachments from occupying the land by erecting fences that clearly demarcate the boundaries.

Stay tuned in this space to witness Kanjirangal’s blue-green transformation and learn more about Kanjirangal Lake Restoration.

Volunteer for India and her environment with E.F.I