arunachala kattu siva plantation, arunachala, lord siva, siva, parvati, social ecology, reforestation, thiruvannamalai, tamil nadu, forest, indigenous retoration, ecological restoration, apeetha arunagiri, john seed, rainforest information centre lismore

As you may know, Arunachala is a sacred mountain in Tamil Nadu, denuded by the fuel/fodder needs of a backward community. The official description of the surrounding plain's underground water now stands as 'gray, approaching black'. Black designates desert.

The Arunachala Kadu Siva Plantation has taken responsibility for denuded Reserve Forest on the lower slopes of the mountain. The thrust of this project is social ecology. Fourteen rural persons - almost all illiterate - are engaged in water conservation strategies, bunding and check dams, seed collection, nursery work and plantation, maintenance and protection of saplings on the slopes. The entire area is heading into a sustainable future and we have a significant part to play.

The primary objective of the Greening of Arunachala is the rejuvenation of our artesian system. However the Arunachala Kadu Siva Plantation has a wider social ecological import:

to undertake responsibility for solutions to civic needs
to participate in the making of decisions about these solutions
to utilize and regenerate indigenous knowledge
to follow through the work beyond the call of duty and
communicate about its meaning on a very opportunity with members of their own villages and in the wider community.

DONATIONS:

Contributions to the project will be appreciatively received by direct cheque to Rainforest Information Centre.

Tax deductable payment can be made by Direct Debit through this account:

Please click for Donation details here:

http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/aboutthe.htm#Donations

where you will see account details as follows:

Direct Deposit (please email us for a tax-deductible receipt if applicable):
Commonwealth Bank, Lismore 2480, RIC Public Fund, #2565 10112562

John Seed:

Rainforest Information Centre,

POB # 368, Lismore, 2480, Australia; Telephone: 61.2.66213294

email: <johnseed1@ozemail.com.au>

Apeetha Arunagiri:

89 Queen Street, Coburg, 3058, Australia; Telephone: 61.3.93864718

email: <apeetha@hotkey.net.au>

Since 2003 we have planted 46,013 saplings and 32,000 cuttings and have broadcast 1,200 kg of seeds of more than twenty varieties on the lower slopes during the past three years. During the five years in operation we have improved the water retention capacity of our slopes appreciably.

Archeologists report that since time immemorial the mysterious wilderness on Arunachala conducive to asceticism, meditation and contemplation, has always been juxtaposed with the cultivated terrain of Thiruvannamalai town. The prognosis for the future of Thiruvannamalai is a city with a mountain in the middle; the urban spread that will accomplish this is flourishing mightily right before our eyes. Yet Arunachala provides sufficient area designated as wilderness to support a flourishing botanical variety and habitat for many species of wildlife. The forest essential to enable this wilderness to be healthy will naturally replenish and regenerate the water table and eventually change our seasonalweather patterns. Such a forest therefore will ensure that the cultivated terrain presented in opposition to the wild mountain becomes truly synonymous with prosperity, as it potentially is, since the only sound economics lie inco-operation with natural processes.

Plantation on Arunachala is essentiallyoffering: offering to the body of Lord Arunachalaeswara in order to enhance the place he honours as his resting place. In the noble manner of humble rural people, our members make a beautiful puja at Navararthri each year in the ancient shrine area on our site dedicated to the god of wilderness. As is appropriate we dedicate this particular puja to Durga, in thanksgiving for all the encouragement and support we received throughout the past year, without which we could not grow the forest. Prasadam is then sent to all donors and friends as a gesture of respect and gratitude.

We invite you to join us.