By Jayant Sarnaik | Project Leader
Greetings!
In the last quarter, the AERF field team chartered into an unknown territory for saving giant trees- insurance.
Our experience and interactions with local communities have made one thing clear- a very convincing arugment behind felling a giant tree is that it will cause serious damage to the owner's property and potential harm to his life.
The fact that such incidences are very uncommon is often overlooked. In order to deal with this formidable challenge, AERF team discussed the idea of insuring the house of the giant tree owner against damage to his property from the tree. This was additional support offered by us in addition to the incentive for his decision to keep the tree standing. That seem to have worked wonders!
The owner didn't anticipate that we would go that far to save a tree . It all happened in village Vanzole in Sangameshwar block in Ratnagiri district where a marginal farmer and a giant tree owner- was all set to chop down his tree for it would cause damage to his house and harm to his family.
AERF team has thus not only saved a giant tree of Terminalia bellirica but also pilot tested the use market based mechanism- insurance for biodiversity conservation through this initiative. This could be first of its kind of an effort where an insurance scheme is directly contributing to conservation. This approach needs to be further explored and more evidence needs to be created for its promotion on larger scale.
In addition, a group of students from Earth Expeditions India program of Miami University, Ohio visited the Key biodiversity Area from village Kirbet in Sangameshwar block to see a population of giant trees currently being saved through GlobalGiving project. Some 6 participants of Earth Expedition India program 2016 have supported the Giant tree campaign. Thus it was reassuring for the Earth Expedition students and instructors to see the work that is being done to save the giant trees on the ground in the Northern Western Ghats.
While we are making slow but steady progress on the ground for saving the giant trees, we would truly appreciate your further support to this high impact initiative. As the initial enthusiam in the campaign in terms of support wears out, we want you to make your commitment stronger.
Best regards
Jayant Sarnaik
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