Restoration of the Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest of Peninsular India

by Paul Blanchflower
Auroville Botanical Gardens
Tamil Nadu, India 605 101
botanical@auroville.org.in

Abstract. The Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF) of
India is only found on the south eastern seaboard of the
peninsular. It has a very limited range, and extends only 60
km inland. The TDEF occurs in an area of high population
density and consequently it is the rarest type of forest
ecosystem found in the subcontinent.

The establishment of the Auroville International Township in
1968 initiated a major work of eco-restoration which has turned
a highly eroded lateritic plateau into a re-emerging ecosystem
of the TDEF.

The work now spreads out beyond the boundaries of the
international township and involves working with local people,
especially women and children. Many lessons have been
learnt and the work continues to reintegrate the forest in the
social fabric of a rapidly changing rural environment.

The full article was published in the international journal Biodiversity (issue 6 (3) 2005)

Please contact the author for copies.