In a concerted effort to enhance the ecological richness of forest land behind Ruby Hall Clinic in Wanowrie, the Pune Forest Department is set to embark on a transformative journey. The department plans to replace the aging non-native Gliricidia trees, which have been recently felled, with 1,000 fresh Indian native trees, fostering biodiversity and promoting sustainability.
Suresh Warak, the Range Forest Officer in Wanowrie, Pune, explained, “The current 100 trees at the site are of Gliricidia type, which have become very old and are non-native trees. So, by felling those, 1000 fresh Indian native trees will be planted at the same place.”
Bhupesh Sharma, a member of the Anandvan Foundation, shared insights into the collaborative effort, stating, “Gliricidia trees have been removed by the forest department. We have been invited by them to plant some fresh native trees in the same place. So, our major role in this is to plant the fresh native trees, which will be done next month.”
The reserve forest land in Wanowrie, spanning 4 acres, is undergoing development into an ecotourism park by the Maharashtra Eco-tourism Development Board. Despite the positive initiative, some locals have expressed concerns about the maintenance of the park, pointing out the presence of rocks and other materials on the property.
The park, set to be completed by March this year, is envisioned to showcase over 1,000 native species of trees, including iconic varieties like Jamun and Peepal. The Pune Forest Department aims to replicate this eco-friendly model by constructing similar parks in Lohegaon, Pisoli, and Wadki.
