Taloja Hill Ecorestoration through Community Participation

From July to September 2026, Butterfly Express gardens were maintained through monsoon with deweeding, pruning and clearing waterlogged areas and despite losing one garden in August to construction, the remaining gardens stayed healthy with encouraging breeding of Common Mormon and Tailed Jay supported by flowering of Pentas, Ixora and other nectar plants, while at Taloja Hill, 416 native saplings were planted, Fever Nut seeds dibbled for live fencing, 23 contour trenches and 12 bunds repaired, bamboo support given to 136 saplings, brush filling done at 6 sites, invasive American Mint removed, protection fencing installed at Morinda Hill and QR-coded information boards set up, with biodiversity surveys recording 118 flora, 40 bird, 14 herpetofauna and 32 insect species including the first sighting of Little Grebe at Taloja.In May, drone footage was captured to document the pre-plantation landscape, and a biodiversity survey was conducted to record the diversity present during the summer season. Regular watering was maintained until the rains became consistent in June. In the same month, we acquired plant saplings from various nurseries. Retention ponds were

created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Corporate employees volunteered for the plantation activity along with the local community members. 2000 tree saplings were planted in June.  

The drier months leading to the monsoon are very important for making arrangements for preventing soil erosion, as it is washed away in heavy rains. Thus, important maintenance works like building 27 trenches and 25 contour bunds, and removal of old and broken tree guards were taken up by our care takers. The forest nursery was also repaired and the trails were also levelled and cleaned up. As the invasive American mint plant started to grow again in the rains, 17 students of The College of Maritime Catering and Hospitality Studies helped in removing it in late June. 17 more students also helped in making 2 more contour bunds. The plantation review in May showed that the overall number of surviving saplings remained unchanged from the last review, at 2148, indicating 100% retention of surviving individuals across the two monitoring periods. This shows that our management techniques and interventions are proving to be very fruitful, significantly improving the health of the Taloja hills.

The project continued to make steady progress between January and March 2026 through the maintenance and habitat restoration activities taken out by our hardworking caretakers and enthusiastic volunteers. 983 students from SIES College volunteered for a couple of clean-up drives, regular watering of the trees, mulching, repairing the Check-Dam. Whereas the caretakers kept the nature trails accessible by removing weeds and installing signages. Chances of forest fires was reduced by cutting dry grass. They also dug 600 pits for planting new trees and adding manure to the soil. These regular restoration and maintenance activities significantly improved the health, growth, and survival of planted saplings while enhancing the overall condition of the site.In May, drone footage was captured to document the pre-plantation landscape, and a biodiversity survey was conducted to record the diversity present during the summer season. Regular watering was maintained until the rains became consistent in June. In the same month, we acquired plant saplings from various nurseries. Retention ponds were

created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Corporate employees volunteered for the plantation activity along with the local community members. 2000 tree saplings were planted in June.  

In the past three months, the caretakers have been actively engaged in various activities that played a vital role in maintaining the site. The plantation of 3,318 saplings under compensatory plantation has significantly contributed to the green cover. Bamboo supports were provided to ensure the young saplings grow upright and healthy. Regular removal of grasses from pathways has kept the site accessible for visitors, while ring de-weeding around the saplings has reduced competition for nutrients and water, helping them establish more effectively. Collectively, these efforts are strengthening the ecosystem and supporting the site’s long-term growth. created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and 

saplings collaboration.   

In the past three months, caretakers undertook key restoration activities at the Taloja Hill Watershed. These included gully plugging, contour bunding, trenching, pond desilting, mulching, and regular watering to enhance soil moisture and sapling survival. Native sapling plantation, invasive species removal, and seed collection further supported habitat enrichment. Community meetings were also held to strengthen local engagement. These efforts have enhanced the site's ecological resilience ahead of the monsoon season.

In the past three months, our eco-restoration work at Taloja Hill Forest focused on fire prevention, biodiversity monitoring, and soil conservation. To restore areas affected by recent fires, we watered stressed saplings and planted 200 new ones. Ring de-weeding was carried out and six bilingual fire safety signboards were installed. Our fire volunteers, Ms. Mrignka and Mr. Satish, conducted five awareness surveys at the base of the hill, engaging visitors on fire safety. In March, we built 14 brush fills and two loose boulder structures to reduce soil erosion, used rocks and grasses at eight erosion-prone spots, and conducted biodiversity surveys of test and control sites. These efforts are helping us build a more resilient forest ecosystem.In May, drone footage was captured to document the pre-plantation landscape, and a biodiversity survey was conducted to record the diversity present during the summer season. Regular watering was maintained until the rains became consistent in June. In the same month, we acquired plant saplings from various nurseries. Retention ponds were

created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Corporate employees volunteered for the plantation activity along with the local community members. 2000 tree saplings were planted in June.  

We’ve successfully wrapped up the first year of our project, and now we’re moving into the second year. With the initial plantation work complete, this phase will focus on nurturing these young plants and enhancing community involvement. Over the month  a series of surveys were conducted at Taloja Hill Forest to assess its rich biodiversity. On September 29th, Mr. Adesh Shivkar led a bird survey, identifying 46 species. On October 13th, Dr. Ketki Marthak guided a group of 8 participants in a birdwatching survey, spotting 41 species. On October 27th, Mr. Mohinish Reddy led a frog and lizard survey with Ms. Mrignaka, while Ms. Roshni conducted an insect survey, identifying 60 species. Additionally, caretakers completed grass cutting and invasive species removal to help manage the ecosystem and prevent forest fires.

Over the past three months, our dedicated caretakers have been hard at work planting over 3,000 shrubs and herb saplings at the site. In addition to the planting efforts, they have also carried out ring de-weeding, removed invasive species, and installed new tree guards to protect the newly planted saplings. As part of their ongoing efforts, they have also cleared soil from the check dams to ensure proper water flow and conservation at the site.In May, drone footage was captured to document the pre-plantation landscape, and a biodiversity survey was conducted to record the diversity present during the summer season. Regular watering was maintained until the rains became consistent in June. In the same month, we acquired plant saplings from various nurseries. Retention ponds were

created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Corporate employees volunteered for the plantation activity along with the local community members. 2000 tree saplings were planted in June.  

During the hot summer months of April and May, we diligently prepared the grounds for the upcoming monsoon plantation. In April, we dug 1,793 pits for tree saplings and shifted our focus to creating trenches for shrubs and herbs in May, ultimately completing 2,000 pits and 212 trenches. Despite the challenges posed by the summer heat, we successfully accomplished these tasks. Additionally, we constructed 23 contour bunds to prevent soil erosion.

In May, drone footage was captured to document the pre-plantation landscape, and a biodiversity survey was conducted to record the diversity present during the summer season. Regular watering was maintained until the rains became consistent in June. In the same month, we acquired plant saplings from various nurseries. Retention ponds were

created to recharge

ground water table.  We also actively involved local community members in sapling bag making and plantation activities, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration. Corporate employees volunteered for the plantation activity along with the local community members. 2000 tree saplings were planted in June.  

 Over the past three months, our project at Taloja Hills has seen significant progress in environmental conservation and community engagement efforts. Caretakers have implemented measures such as stream breakers to prevent erosion and promote watershed management, crucial for preserving the delicate ecosystem. Dr. Ketki's bird trail  attracted 12 enthusiastic participants, fostering awareness and appreciation for avian biodiversity. Plantation efforts have begun with digging underway to enhance green cover and habitat restoration. Simultaneously, ongoing watering initiatives ensure the health and robust growth of newly planted vegetation, reflecting our commitment to sustainable stewardship of Taloja Hills' natural resources. Additionally, community engagement activities like sapling bag making events and community meetings have actively involved local residents, reinforcing a sense of ownership and responsibility towards environmental conservation. 

September to December 2023, our caretakers diligently improved the project's infrastructure, including repairing nurseries and cabins for enhanced functionality. Conducted site mapping to identify intervention points on two hills and ensured the protection of plants by repairing tree guards. A significant plantation effort, led by our caretakers, included species like Agave, Wild Banana plants, Clerodendron, and Vetiver to combat soil erosion effectively. They also collected stones for pond lining to conserve water. Biodiversity surveys and a site visit by Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi deepened our understanding of the local ecosystem. Invasive species removal and perimeter fence restoration were also carried out by our caretakers, who maintained plant health through watering and de-weeding. Grass removal for fire prevention and community engagement initiatives were actively pursued, with 411 participants joining in eight community events, illustrating strong community involvement and support for our project.