Aarey foundation works with Adivasi communities on forest livelihoods

Sanjiv Valsan began planting trees in Aarey Forest during the Covid-19 lockdown. That work grew into Waghoba Habitat Foundation, which now works with Adivasi communities on biodiversity and livelihoods linked to forest resources.

Valsan said Aarey is home to an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Adivasi residents. He said the foundation consulted residents on what to plant, pairing grafted fruit trees, which can bear fruit sooner, with native species that are important to the forest.

Trees for today and later

Mahua is one focus. Valsan said the tree has become scarce in Aarey and has long been important to Warli Adivasis. Its flowers, seeds and oil have traditional uses, and he said it once made up nearly 30 per cent of their diet.

A Mahua tree takes about 12 to 13 years to begin producing flowers and seeds, Valsan said. The foundation pairs it with fruit trees that may offer earlier returns.

Valsan said the group has used a similar approach in Chinchwadi near Karjat, where it worked with local residents to designate an area as Tatachi Vanrai, or a sacred grove. The foundation also works on biodiversity around Elephanta Island.

A lab for forest produce

At its wild foods lab in Aarey, the group is developing products based on local forest produce and community knowledge. These include Mahua butter, mosquito repellent, skin and hair oil, and pickles. Bamboo shoots, tubers, wild greens and karvand are also used in pickles and preserves.

Waghoba runs forest walks and workshops in Aarey led by Adivasi knowledge keepers, including women. Participants learn about edible and medicinal plants and can taste some of the produce found on the walks.

Valsan said the aim is to keep this knowledge in use rather than only document it. “You can either put it into a PDF and lock it up on the internet, or you can actually do something with it and make it a living thing.”