Sustained efforts and hard work of forest committees under Sendhwa forest division have transformed 25 thousand hectare denuded forest area. Sendhwa forest division is southern part of Barwani district, where first forest protection committee was formed at village Vadiyapani about 2 decades ago. At that time, the forests became degraded in the area due to fast shrinking green cover, dried up rivers and nullahs, lack of hard work to sustain forest produce, encroachments on forest lands etc. Villagers came forward through the committee. Now these denuded hillocks are not only covered by greenery, degraded forests are also turning into dense forests. Incomes through forest produce have increased. Ground water level is improving. Miraculous change in density of forest in degraded area can also be seen through Google Earth.
The initiative started from village Vadiyapani has also brought changes in other villages under Sendhwa forest division including Warla, Dhawli, Pansemal, Ambapani, Ajgariya, Khadikhan, Khapada, Mahaneem, Hingwa etc. Regeneration Survey for year 2014 in 9887 hectare forest in Dhawli and Warla circles was surprising since these areas once faced degradation. One decade ago, where the average of forests was 880 has risen 939 in year 2014. Upto 3 percent increase in forest regeneration in areas is good for not only Madhya Pradesh, but also the country.
The villagers have transformed their degraded forests to lush green through emphasis on Joint Forest Management Policy.
Chief Conservator of Forests Pankaj Shrivastava, who had chalked out action plan for this in year 2006-07 was divisional forest officer in the area in the 90s. Shrivastava gives its credit to forest officers, employees and late Mangilal Patel of Vadiyapani. Foundation of this campaign was laid by late Mangilal Patel. The initiative taken in Nimar region is turning out to be an excellent example for environment conscious institutions of country and abroad as well as environmentalists.