Forest restoration
EBTL, primarily is focused on the native flora of the dry decidious forests of the South Deccan plateau.
Over decades, the dry deciduous forests of our country have been stripped and exploited for commercial use. As native forests receded to only higher elevations of hills, creatures of the forests have also lost their footing in the valley. EBTL lies in one of those valleys. In the foothills of a degraded forest.
These 70 acres now 'belong' to us. How wonderful would it be if the other creatures also echoed the same thought? Our goal is to help the forest regain its rich biodiversity.
The year we began work, a few elephants came to the land, something that had never happened in the last many decades. We decided to call this project.
Elephants By The Lake!
The map of EBTL
Once you step into the hills around EBTL there are remnants of a once thriving forest; bird calls, fresh bear tracks, the jumping away of a troupe of langurs, trees in bloom or seed, spiders waiting for a catch, the scuffling across of a monitor lizard, a bird of prey gliding above.
Unfortunately this biodiverse ecosystem of the Eastern Ghats has been almost eradicated in terms of its area, but for a few hilly pockets where the tough terrain has made it too difficult for people to interfere.
Hopefully in time, the land will begin a cycle of regeneration where at a point, this space can become a safe corner for some of the rarer and threatened flora of the Eastern Ghats to flourish and wildlife can reinhabit the land.
What happens at EBTL
Centre for Eastern Ghats Studies
We have established a dedicated in-house field research initiative at our campus in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, to address critical gaps in knowledge about Eastern Ghats biodiversity, ecology, and conservation priorities.
Organic farming
A small percentage of land we own is allotted for farming where we grow paddy, pulses, millets and vegetables.
Farmer's Collective
We work very closely with the nearby village of Chinnathamandrapalli. The villagers play a vital role in all the work we undertake. We have enabled a collective of women working towards value added products. They also manage our farm lands and campus.
Farmer's Collective
We promote land stewardship and sustainable farming by employing the local community and supporting a farmers collective to create value-added products. Our goal is to provide eco-friendly job opportunities to counter urban migration among the younger generation.