Project Period: 2010-2011
Project Location: Chattisgarh
Direct Impact: over 50000 tree saplings planted
Led a reforestation programme in Arasmeta, Chhattisgarh in 2010. In order to preserve the environment around its Sonadih and Arasmeta sites in a sustainable and responsible way, Lafarge in India took part in a governmental reforestation programme.
Summary
The State of Chhattisgarh has 40% of its area covered in forests. The local authorities have made a commitment to preserve this unique natural heritage through a large-scale tree-planting programme: the “Green Chhattisgarh” project. Lafarge India’s 2 cement plants in the State supported the project by buying saplings, supervising the planting and maintaining the plots of land.
Lafarge took advice from the Institute of Forest Management (an agency of the Ministry of Environment and Forests) for the choice of species and from several specialized NGOs for the cultivation of the saplings. The species chosen are robust with a long expected life span (e.g. teak and tamarind), along with fruit trees (e.g. mango and jackfruit).
Results:
- Over 25,000 plants have already been put in the ground thanks to the Indian cement plants and 45,000 will soon be planted:
- 20,000 plants in the area surrounding the Sonadih plant on each side of the road leading to the plant,
- 25,000 plants in the villages neighboring the Arasmeta plant. The survival rate of the saplings is estimated at 85%.
