https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Lost and Found, The Tale of Nashik’s Critical Grassland

Mamdapur Conservation Reserve has developed a critical grassland Spread over more than 5000 hectare, Mamdapur had lost its eco-system during 2018-19 The forest department has now developed local species and is supplying these to the entire state
Indian Masterminds Stories

Grasslands are common to any forest area, but the one in Nashik district of Maharashtra is a critical one. Why? Because it is located in an area which had seen a gradual decline in its eco-system, to losing it completely in 2018-19. Devoid of shrubs, plants and trees, the area became an arid land shunned by living species.

So it fell upon the shoulders of the Nashik Forest Department to take up the mammoth responsibility of restoring this land and turning it green once again. Accordingly, a grassland was developed in more than 300 hectare of area under the Mamdapur Conservation Reserve, for restoration of forest land, which is critical for bringing back herbivores.

Along with it, a grassland nursery is also being nurtured, the first in Maharashtra. The results are there for all to see, as not just herbivores but many new species are being noticed regularly in the area.

Indian Masterminds interacted with 2016 batch IFS officer Umesh Waware, the Deputy Conservator of Forest, and Dr. Sujit Nevase, ACF, to get more details about this green project.

GRASSLAND DEVELOPMENT

The grassland development programme was started under Maha-CAMPA scheme in 2018-19. In an initial study of the area, the forest department found out that due to forest fire and overgrazing, the grassland species had decreased and the species that have less importance for the eco-system had increased.

In no time, the over-grazing and the forest fires were controlled and local species like Anjan, Dhaman, Dongari, Marvel, Pawanya, etc., were planted. Side by side, V-shaped trenches were dug on the ground where various species of grasses were planted while in the surrounding areas, Dongari and other similar grass species were scattered in the form of seed balls, which resulted in tremendous growth.

The hard work bore fruit as a more than 300 hectare grassland has come up in the once arid land. However, the work has not stopped and this year, the expansion of the grassland to more than 150 hectares has already commenced.

One of the persons behind this green initiative is Dr. Sujit Nevase, who worked on developing the grassland during his tenure as the ACF of the Reserve. He said, “To develop the grasslands, the department first started a nursery in Mamdapur Conservation Reserve, which has now become the first grassland nursery in the state.”

THE NURSERY

The grassland nursery was developed under the Maha-CAMPA scheme, and it nurtures primarily 6 local species. Spread over two and a half hectares, it can produce 50 lakhs seedlings at a time and supply these to all over the state.

The importance of this nursery can be understood from the fact that now the state government has passed an order to develop it as a centre of excellence. After this, a research centre will also be established here and research work will commence on the varieties of the species available here.

Mr. Waware said, “Grassland seedlings are being supplied from this nursery to the entire state. This nursery is now playing the biggest role in grassland development by the state forest department.”

THE BENEFITS

The benefits of an improved grassland are many. First and foremost, it will hasten soil generation. Secondly, due to the lack of a grassland earlier, the eco-system was severely affected and only black bucks were left. But, now, many other species have started appearing.

Mr. Waware said, “Grassland is the basis of an ecosystem. It also improves the soil and its moisture condition.”

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Maharashtra, IFS Shomita Biswas lauded the efforts of Mamdapur Conservation Reserve.

She said, “This grassland has helped the eco-system a lot. The number of herbivores has increased phenomenally. It has further improved the soil and its moisture content. One should also see the way the roots of the grass are holding the soil and, thereby, arresting soil erosion. I would call it a successful experiment in developing propagules under controlled conditions.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
Solar Panels
CERC Proposes Buyout Price Mechanism to Ensure Compliance with Renewable Consumption Obligations
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy MNRE
MNRE Invites Creative Minds to Design Official Logo for National Green Hydrogen Mission
RBI
RBI Proposes Mandatory Unique Transaction Identifier for OTC Derivative Trades from April 2026
INS Trikand
Indian Navy’s INS Trikand Executes Heroic Firefighting and Rescue Operation on MT Falcon in Gulf of Aden
gghghghg
Defence Acquisition Council Approves Rs 79,000 Crore for Advanced Military Systems to Boost India’s Defence Capabilities
Bank_of_Baroda_signed_agreement_
Bank of Baroda Enhances Maharashtra Vital Statistics Operations with Advanced Agency Banking Integration
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Yogi Adityanath Ayodhya visit in Diwali
UP: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Fire Stations Every 100 Km on Expressways, Approves 1,020 New Posts in Fire Services
SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma
Who Is SDM Chhotu Lal Sharma? The 2015-Batch RAS Officer Caught in Yet Another Scandal After Slapping Petrol Pump Employee
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT