It is well known that even dead trees and twigs sustain the micro-eco-system of the area. In this unique eco-system of Tarakeshwar if dead trees are cut the eco-system will get affected adversely. Man must be sensitive towards unique-micro-eco-systems. It was therefore not advisable to cut or remove the dead trees. Since man does not have any experience of dealing or creating such unique eco-systems he should not intervene with the role of nature. Let nature takes its own course without human intervention.

Because of climatic changes and human intervention the damage to the deodar grove is visible. For example a water drain was built to remove water clogging. While water at the surface now gets drained off faster, the underground water capillaries have been disturbed due to the construction of the drain and underground water retention takes place which has resulted to the roots of eight majestic 25 metre high deodar trees getting water logged which resulted to the falling of the trees. Because of this reason the villagers wanted that even the ‘dead’ trees of the deodar grove should not be disturbed. Moreover, the people of the nearby villages consider the Deodar trees as Parvati Putras i.e. the sons of Goddess Parvati. They revere the trees to such an extent that no one is allowed to climb the deodar trees in Tarakeshwar. It is a matter of religious sentiments of the people towards these trees. In Tarakeshwar no sweets or flowers are given as ‘prasad’. Only the leaves of the deodar trees are given as Prasad there.

The Himalayan Chipko Foundation in association with the people undertook a signature campaign to save the trees and filed it along with a PIL in the ‘Forest Bench’ of Supreme Court of India (reference no. Interlocutory Application 1270 of 2004 in Writ Petition (Civil) of 202 of 1995). The matter was referred to the Central Empowerment Committee of Supreme Court. After the hearing the Forest Department has agreed that they would not reply to the rejoinder submitted by the Himalayan Chipko Foundation to the report of the Central Empowered Committee in the PIL and would not cut any of the Deodar trees even if they have dried. The final order of the Supreme Court is awaited but since the Forest Department is not going to contest the case its decision is a forgone conclusion.

Another initiative of the Himalayan Chipko Foundation in Tarakeshwar was the expose of the Rs.15 lakh which the Forest Department officials claimed was spent on barbed wire fencing, improvement of the parking area and construction of check dams and gully dams. Our society through RTI application and persistent follow-up of the matter has been able to stop part of the payment which was to be given to the contractors who had done a shoddy job. We are still pursuing the matter and want an FIR to be filed against the corrupt officials and contractors who have embezzled from the public exchequer by paying the contractors before we could intervene and approving the poor quality of the work.

Tarakeshwar is a secluded forest area away from habitation. The nearest village is about two and a half kilometers away.

We would now like to plant in a 10 meter ring along the current periphery line about 400 deodar trees. Another 400 trees will be planted in the current grove where there is space to do so. Another 2000 trees will be planted in other higher altitudes which will become suitable for Deodar trees after our intervention to improve the environment are completed. As a buffer we would also like to plant 2000 oaks trees and 500 rhododendron trees around the new periphery of the deodar trees so that they act as a water absorbing buffer zone which will help the deodar to survive longer. Even if there is global warming we will be able to give the Tarakeshwar Deodar Grove a better chance of survival. We also intend to make 10 percolation tanks by constructing about 200 meters of 5 feet high dams and 1000 meters of trenches so that the rain run-off is channeled to these tanks and trenches and the precipitation gradually gets absorbed in the soil. This will make the micro-ecology of the Tarakeshwar region more conducive for the growth and survival of the deodar trees.

The local community including the villagers, school students, soldiers of Garhwal Rifles and devotees who come to the temple will be associated in the tree planting exercise. Since the tree planting would be done in the rainy season when the villagers have the maximum work in their rain fed fields full time contribution by them would not be possible.

The budget for the above environmental initiative is Rs, 6,360,000. The detailed budget can be provided to potential donors/sponsors.