Restoring habitats for migratory species

The Greater Flamingo travelling from Flamingo City, the Asian Koel from Singapore and the Blue-cheeked Bee-eater from Africa and Europe, to India’s peninsular regions are just a few examples of migratory birds India welcomes annually. Unfortunately, alongside the global decline in migratory bird populations, India has seen a major decrease in the number of species visiting annually, primarily due to habitat loss.
For instance, the wetlands of Chilakapalem village in Andhra Pradesh, which once served as a crucial feeding and stopover site for passage migrants heading further south, have faced significant threats. Deforestation, wetland drainage and intensive agriculture have all contributed to this decline.
However, recent efforts at Chilakapalem have sparked a positive change, providing a model that can be adopted by other wetland regions in India. A large-scale afforestation initiative has rejuvenated the area and offered hope for these remarkable birds. Social enterprise Grow-Trees.com has initiated the Trees for Migratory Birds™? project, under which 15,000 trees are set to be planted around the waterbody in Chilakapalem. Of this total target, nearly 7,000 trees have already been planted.
“International agencies like the UN have enforced several treaties to conserve migratory birds. India plays a key role in these efforts through nationwide programmes under the government. As a social enterprise, our focus is to support regions facing severe habitat loss by planting trees. At Chilakapalem, the emphasis was on migratory bird populations and wetland preservation,” says Mr Pradip Shah, co-founder of Grow-Trees.com.
Accordingly, the tree species for the initiative were carefully selected to achieve the desired benefits. These include local species such as Neem and Jamun, whose fruits are consumed by frugivorous birds, as well as Pongam (Karanj) and Indian Tulip.
The project also provides meaningful employment opportunities for local communities by engaging them in every stage of the plantation process.
“This project has been truly beneficial to our community. It has helped restore important habitats for various bird species and created job opportunities for local families to earn a living. Seeing our community, especially the women, actively involved in planting and caring for the trees is very inspiring. It’s wonderful to know that this initiative will continue to benefit us for many years,” says Donka Adilaxmi, Sarpanch of Chilakapalyem Gram Panchayat.
Even after the plantation, the community remains actively involved in maintaining and nurturing the saplings, ensuring their growth and survival over time.
“Being part of this initiative has allowed me to support my family, and it feels good knowing I’m also helping to restore our environment. I’m hopeful that these efforts will continue to benefit our community. This project has been a truly wonderful opportunity for our village, and I’m very grateful to be a part of it,” says 45-year-old Chilaka Gannemma, an agricultural laborer in the village.