A garbage dump that metamorphosed into a lush mini-forest

In a complete transformative example, a dead plot in the chengannur in Alappuzha district of Kerala was converted into a mini forest.

• The region had a garbage dump of nearly 0.15 acres of land. Presently, it resembles a teeming forest ecosystem with trees, plants, small mammals, snakes and chirping birds. 
• The mini-forest on 15 cents of land is now home to 176 trees and plants of 116 species, including several rare, endangered and threatened ones.
• It has been now completely transformed into a microhabitat.

Afforestation measures in India:

• The conservation and development of forest primarily involves three strategies – afforestation through natural/artificial regeneration, protection and management.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is implementing three major schemes for development of forest areas i.e. 
  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP) scheme: NAP is being implemented for afforestation of degraded forest lands.
  • National Mission for a Green India (GIM): GIM aims at improving the quality of forest and an increase in forest cover besides cross-sectoral activities on a landscape basis.
  • Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme (FFPM): The FFPM takes care of forest fire prevention and management measures.