ಕೊರಟಗೆರೆಯ ಪರಿಸರವನ್ನು ಪುನಃಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಲು ಸಮುದಾಯ ಆಧಾರಿತ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳು
Hulikunte, Koratagere
Small houses, a cool breeze, calm people, grazing cattle, haystacks, rolling hillocks and farmlands set the tone of everyday life in Hulikunte Village. Villagers are often seen tending to their cattle and working in the fields, while cow dung is collected in mounds to be used as fertilizer. Swallows chirp overhead, and the rustle of reptiles moving through the fields adds to the village’s rural charm.
Located on the outskirts of Koratagere town, Hulikunte is an agrarian village surrounded by farmland, water bodies, and hills. The Suvarnamukhi River, also known as the Jayamangali River, flows to the west of the village. The village also relies heavily on Hulikunte Kere, its primary water source. Despite its importance, this water body was once neglected and degraded, but it was successfully restored in 2023.
Read the link below to learn more about the restoration effort.
This year, under the #BlueGreenTumakur Mission, E.F.I in collaboration with the district administration and Kennametal India, took on the task of creating a forest by the lake on a degraded land parcel.
This land parcel, once part of the lake ecosystem, had fallen into neglect. Encroachers had been using it for personal gain, while others dumped garbage there, turning it into a wasteland. Being slightly elevated compared to the lake, water could not be stored in this section, further adding to its degradation. Through our efforts, this neglected stretch of land is now being transformed into a thriving green space by the lake.
The restoration journey began with clearing the land of encroachments, giving it back to the lake it once belonged to. Years of neglect had left the parcel uneven and scarred, but the excess silt removed from the lake was put to good use, carefully spread to level the ground and prepare it for new life.
Once the land was ready, protective fencing was set up to guard the space from cattle and human interference. A solar-powered borewell was installed, bringing in clean energy to draw water for the saplings. Pipes were laid across the plot, ensuring that every corner would be nourished with care.
Over 2,000 native saplings, belonging to 22 diverse species, were chosen from local nurseries. Fruit-bearing, berry-bearing, and nectar-rich trees were picked thoughtfully to support birds, insects, and other organisms that once thrived here. Using the Miyawaki technique, the saplings were planted close together, their roots tucked into 1.5–2 ft deep pits, and anchoring support sticks to guide the young saplings skyward setting the stage for a dense forest to rise beside the lake.
Today, what was once a barren, neglected stretch of land is on its way to becoming a living forest, buzzing with life, standing tall by the lake, and telling the #BlueGreen story of how people and nature can heal together.
We thank the Tumkur District Administration for their administrative support
and Kennametal India for funding this project.
Volunteer for India and her Environment with E.F.I