ATREE organizes site visits for trainees

Centre for Policy Design (CPD) at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), supported by WestBridge Capital, in collaboration with The Grasslands Trust (TGT) and the Forest Department, Maharashtra organised a visit to grassland restorations sites for 42 trainee officers from the Central Academy for State Forest Services (CASFOS), Coimbatore.

The delegation, led by Shri. Anisha Kalkoor, Conservator of Forests and Faculty Member, CASFOS, was oriented to on-ground initiatives in grassland ecology, wildlife monitoring, and ecosystem restoration. The visit began at Supe, Maharashtra, where the teams from TGT and ATREE, along with the Supe Range Office and Smt. Jayashree Pawar (Assistant Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Pune Division)shared insights into ongoing restoration work and collaborative approaches to grassland management.

Dr. Abi Tamim Vanak, Director, ATREE–Centre for Policy Design, added,“India’s semi-arid grasslands are among our most threatened ecosystems. Training future forest officers to understand their ecological importance and the nuances of restoration is critical for informed management. This field visit reflects the collaborative spirit neededwhere science, policy, and practice come together for conservation.”

At the Supe nursery, the field team demonstrated grass propagation techniques and nursery operations, followed by a presentation on the restoration projects implemented across the region. Post-lunch, the group proceeded to Gulunche, where they observed the positive results of site protection and natural regeneration achieved over the past year. The day concluded with a vote of thanks by the CASFOS delegation, commending the field teams for their commitment to ecological restoration.

Expressing appreciation, Shri. Anisha Kalkoor said,“We have gained valuable learnings and insights from these unique joint initiatives of civil society organisations, the Forest Department, and local communities. On behalf of the 30th SFS Batch of CASFOS Coimbatore, I thank NCBS, ATREE, and The Grasslands Trust for providing this enriching learning opportunity.”

The visit provided the trainee officers with first-hand exposure to science-based and community-led restoration models, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can revive vital, but degraded ecosystems like grasslands while supporting local livelihoods.