By Sigrid Lindemann | Project Leader
We report back after an intense months of monsoon times:
We got several bouts of torrential rainfalls - usual for coastal Tamil Nadu in October and November. But at the end of november cyclone Fengal crossed over and stayed stationary over Aurovilles bioregion: Our Villupuram district received 49.29cm of rain in 24 hours, the maximum in the entire state. This is as much water as an entire year’s cumulative rainfall - but within 1 day. The winds brought down many trees. All roads were blocked every few meters by fallen trees, electric poles damaged, roads eroded as they became streams... but nobody got hurt . Electricitiy got restored after 10 days. The damage to the trees was majorly with the "Work Trees", an Acacia, and mature Kaya Senegalensis - both are imported species. The indigenous evergreen species are very storm resistant and have deeper roots!
It will still take some time to have everything back in order - but the fruits of decades of work to restore this barren plateau are mature: Aurovilles water conservation has been quite effective in having most of the rain water percolate into the aquifiers. The soil stayed, the water stayed, and the non indigenous trees gave way for the original flora to develop: We will see how this natural catastrophe will show its transformative power in the next 5- 10 years. By now the natural regeneration is very high and we will see the new forest sprout.
We saw how cyclone Thane, 2011, which brought down 80% of the nonindigenous trees, proved to enhance the harmony of Coastal Tamil Nadus Nature.
We thank you all for supporting us, and will keep you updated very soon of our next steps!
For now, we wish you a Year of fulfilling your green aspirations,
Greetings from Auroville,
Sigrid
PS You see Auroville`s TreeCare - young Aurovilian professionals in all what is tree care, in full action in saving buildings and roofs.
By Sigrid Lindemann | Project Leader
By Sigrid Lindemann | Project Leader
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