MOUNT ARUNACHALA, TAMIL NADU, SOUTHERN INDIA by Martin Oliver moliver@planet-save.com

The mountain of Arunachala is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus from all over India. The legend goes that at a meeting of the gods, Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva, who appeared as a brilliant column of light stretching from infinity to infinity, if He could moderate His appearance. He obliged and manifested as the sacred mountain.

A hundred years ago, the mountain had been covered in a jungle where tigers roamed, and streams ran down its sides. By the mid-80's, human pressures had resulted in the loss of nearly all the forest. The mountain was hot and dry; there were thorns and goats, but few animals and birds. However, fourteen years of replanting either side of the pilgrim track going up towards the peak has resulted in a wide swathe of lush forest visible from the summit.

An Australian nun called Apeetha Arunagiri had been living for many years at the foot of the mountain. In the late 1980's, she wrote to the Lismore-based Rainforest Information Centre (RIC) asking if something could be done to improve its condition. Although the nearest rainforest was a fair distance away, John Seed, the coordinator of RIC, felt unable to turn down the request. With his and Apeetha's help the Annamalai Reforestation Society was born.

One of the largest temples in India lies at the foot of the mountain, some parts of it dating from the 9th Century. Its outer 'corridor', which used to be filled with rubble and garbage, is now a huge tree nursery, employing about a dozen people to provide seedlings for mountain plantings, the government forestry department, and neighbouring villages. Several other temples around the mountain have been turned into beautiful gardens of flowering plants, fruit trees, and other sacred trees with medicinal and herbal properties.

The challenge of regenerating a semi-arid mountain required the adoption of special techniques. To prevent soil erosion, earth bunds (embankments) are created. As well as slowing the movement of water, these can also be used to direct it to a certain area. Clay pots with small holes can be filled with water and buried, resulting in a slow seepage.

Diverse drought-resistant species were selected. The planting strategy has been to start from the bottom of the mountain, working upwards; as the soil has been progressively washed from the top, it is easier to establish trees at lower levels. Tree planting typically involves hundreds of people and takes place at the start of the monsoon around June. At other times, maintenance is an ongoing job.

Population pressure, poverty, and the hot dry climate all create their own challenges. To prevent goats and cattle from eating the seedlings, these have to be surrounded with miniature rock walls. The trees are watched over to keep away woodcutters and animals, while firebreaks are needed because the local forests are prone to fires.

With the pilgrim track planting relatively complete, work is now focussing on complimenting it with understorey crops such as vines. Negotiations with the authorities recently opened up a further area of the mountain for regeneration, where work commenced in June this year.

To maximise the chances of success, the involvement and support of local people is considered vital. The Arunachala project has expanded its reach to also focus on environmental education, the establishment of nurseries, skills training and credit schemes in villages. A nearby twelve-acre plot of land donated to the project has been turned into a Permaculture Farm and Education Centre, a place where another small patch of desert has been turned to lush green.

While tourists and short-term visitors are unfortunately not encouraged, longer-term volunteers have the potential to make a substantial contribution.

Contact: Annamalai Reforestation Society, Post Bag No. 5, Sri Ramanasramam Post, Tiruvannamalai 606 603, Tamil Nadu, India
Ph/Fax: +91 4175 23645
Email: afforest@md4.vsnl.net.in

Internet resources:
http://home.t-online.de/home/kaischoe/whatis.htm
http://www.come.to/annamalai

The Rainforest Information Centre has played an important role in raising funds to help the project, which was also supported by the Australian aid agency AusAID from 1992 to 1997. RIC is happy to accept tax-deductible donations from people who would like to contribute to this important project; although it pays workers in excess of India's standard wage, financial contributions still stretch a long way.

RIC also has a 30-minute video for sale called 'Work in Progress'. This
looks at the reforestation of Arunachala and at the group's projects in
Papua New Guinea.

Contact: Rainforest Information Centre, PO Box 368, Lismore, NSW 2480
Ph: (02) 6621 3294
Email: johnseed1@ozemail.com.au
Website: www.rainforestinfo.org.au