Crime Today News
India’s forests, long considered the lungs of the nation, are under increasing pressure. Between 2001 and 2023, the country lost a staggering 2.33 million hectares of forest cover due to deforestation. Adding to this ecological strain, over 345,989 forest fires were reported across the country between 2020 and 2021 alone, as per various reports. The crisis is even more pronounced in mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, where mining activities have led to significant forest degradation (WRM, 2019).
With decades of grassroots experience, PRADAN, a 43-year-old organization continues to play a catalytic role in building sustainable development through community participation. Amidst this growing environmental concern, innovative and community-driven solutions are beginning to take root. Seed ball plantation is one such initiative which has led to visible results in re-growth of forests.
What is seed ball plantation?
Seed ball plantation involves encasing native forest seeds in a mixture of soil and natural compost, which protects them from birds, pests, and harsh weather. These seed balls can be scattered across degraded or inaccessible areas where traditional plantation methods are challenging. Once the rains arrive, the outer layer of the seed ball dissolves, allowing the seed to germinate and grow. This technique is low-cost, scalable, and ideal for both small community projects and large-scale environmental campaigns.
A People-Powered Movement
At the heart of this initiative is the active participation of local communities. PRADAN facilitated the mobilization of villagers, especially women and youth, to take ownership of the assisted forest restoration mission. Through hands-on training and knowledge-sharing sessions, individuals are taught how to prepare and sow seed balls effectively. This approach not only boosts the success rate of germination but also instils a sense of stewardship towards nature.
Dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials has further helped raise awareness about the importance of forest restoration and the role communities can play. Posters, videos, and forest dialogues have educated thousands on how seed ball plantation works and its environmental benefits.
Scaling up impact
The initiative has shown promising growth. In 2023, around 1.3 million seed balls were sown. This number rose to 1.6 million in 2024, marking a significant increase in participation and reach. These efforts are already contributing not just to forest regeneration but also to improved soil health, increased biodiversity, and better agricultural outcomes for nearby communities.
As India continues to battle climate change and biodiversity loss, initiatives like community led seed ball plantations offer a glimmer of hope. They combine traditional ecological wisdom with modern community mobilization techniques, paving the way for a greener, more resilient future.
In a world grappling with environmental crises, the humble seed ball is proving to be a powerful tool planting not just trees, but the seeds of transformation.
This initiative has been taken by Centre of Excellence -Forest, PRADAN in collaboration with local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Forest Departments, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). This effort is not just about planting trees it’s about restoring ecosystems, empowering communities, and creating a sustainable model for forest restoration.
The author is Integrator | Lead, Centre of Excellence, PRADAN
Published on June 9, 2025
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