Project Plant trees and Save trees
Planting a tree is an act of faith in the future. Protecting a sapling is an act of commitment to the present. Both matter equally.
Overview
The Challenge
Tree plantation drives are common in India — but the survival rate of planted saplings is often dismally low. Trees are planted at events and inaugurations, photographs are taken, and then the saplings are left to fend for themselves. Without protection from grazing animals, from people picking or breaking branches, and without basic aftercare, most do not survive their first year.
In Kheel Jasli, this pattern was familiar. Previous planting efforts had left little trace. The challenge was not just to plant trees, but to keep them alive — and to build community ownership around their survival.
What' We did
Earth Healers Foundation took a different approach. Every sapling planted by our team was given a protective guard — sturdy frames installed around the young trees to shield them from grazing, trampling, and careless damage.
Alongside each guard, we installed awareness boards in both Hindi and English carrying the message: “Paudhe Lagao, Churao Nahi” — Plant Trees, Don’t Uproot Them.The boards served a dual purpose: they named and claimed the saplings as part of our programme, and they made the act of damaging them a visible social transgression rather than an invisible one.
We also trained local volunteers and youth to monitor the saplings, water them regularly, and report any damage.
Impact & Current status
The survival rate of our protected saplings has been significantly higher than unprotected plantations in the area.
The combination of physical protection, public awareness signage, and community monitoring has created a genuine culture of tree guardianship in parts of Kheel Jasli.
What's next
We plan to significantly scale up our plantation drive, with a particular focus on native tree species suited to the local climate and soil. We are also working to establish a small community nursery where saplings can be grown locally, reducing dependence on external suppliers and creating local green jobs in the process.