Reforesting Baran

ReForesting Baran

Commencing in 2023, Reforesting Baran is a + 10 year project to restore over 500 square km of arid land in Rajasthan India. Water retention, soil restoration and reforestation,
to bring food security and self reliance to the 100,000 people living there.

Bordering the Kuno National Reserve, the Baran region of Shahbad was once a thriving forest. Today, it faces extreme environmental degradation caused by poor water retention, and a disrupted local water cycle which has led to severe drought and depleted groundwater.

Years of deforestation and land mismanagement have caused extreme soil erosion and the collapse of the soil biome, making agriculture nearly impossible.

As a result, the communities living here are some of the poorest in India.  Over 100,000 people who depend on this land face hunger, poverty, and forced migration.  Livelihoods have vanished, and the community is caught in a cycle of poverty and hunger.


Outstanding Potential to transform ecosystems - Reforesting Baran

Transformative potential

Yet, there is immense potential to reverse this. By addressing the water crisis, restoring the land, and rebuilding the natural ecosystems, we can unlock a powerful transformation—not just for nature, but for people. This change can ripple across livelihoods, food security, education, women’s empowerment, and create long-term resilience.

Our Vision

Our vision is to convert over 500 square km of arid land into a thriving ecosystem, that is water secure, can support farming, and provide for the communities that depend on it.

Project Plan

The project area has been split into distinct micro catchments, each acting as a stand alone project which once revived will support the villagers, event in times of drought.

There are two core pillars:

  1. Restore the natural ecosystem by storing water in the land, restoring soil health and planted trees across the region
  2. Work together with the community, who are critical to the planning, execution and long term sustainability of the project, to ensure they have the knowledge and resources to maintain and manage the water,  irrigate the land, farm sustainability and protect the wider natural environment

Long term ecosystem Restoration

The Baran region is trapped in a vicious cycle of drought and soil degradation, where water is lost, forest dies and livelihoods vanish. Restoring water and soil health, the land can sustain agriculture, recharge ecosystems, and support its people. With renewal, forest can return – bringing food, resilience and climate benefits locally and globally.

Water Retention

Building multiple water bodies to capture rainwater, recharging rivers and aquifers and restoring water balance in the region

Soil Restoration

Minimising erosion and enhancing soil fertility, moisture retention, and natural carbon sequestration in the region’s soil

Re/Afforestation

Trees are planted in harmony with the water to restore the ecosystem health. This will be scaled to eventually reconnect the area to the Kuno National Park – over 650,000 trees in total.

Project Progress – 2024

The initial project plan and surveys were developed in partnership with the regional communities and local partner. In 2024 the first four water bodies were built in Guwari, Bhoyal, Purana Faredua and Ranipura.

Following the monsoon rain in 2024 these water bodies were full and overflowing. The equivalent of 60 olympic sized swimming pools of water was collected, providing a water source for the communities throughout the dry summer period.

In 2024 alone this led to the area of cultivable land more than doubling, and three productive harvests. Already in the first year after construction the communities could diversify their crops, meaning a diversified diet and a diversified source of income. In Purana Faredua fish farming was successfully piloted.

139,000 m 3 of Water Held

The monsoon rain is captured as a valuable and life changing resource

11,274 Trees Planted

A mixture of native and fruit bearing trees are planted, to work together to restore the health of the region and provide a food source

1,800 People Reached

The impact to the communities in the short term is transformative. Over time this impact will spread across the region

Before & After comparison

The pond in Purana Faredua – June 2024 compared to October 2024 after the monsoon rain. 25,800 m3 of water collected which otherwise would have been lost

Building Water Capacity

The Ranipura pond part way through construction. Building water capacity of 26,950 m3 in the otherwise dry and arid landscape

Crop diversification

Water enables expanded farm land, productive yields and three harvests. Diversifying diet and income

Engagement

Women are educated in water management, water budgeting and establishing kitchen gardens

Productive Harvest

Efficient irrigation transforms harvests, boosting incomes and opportunities

2025 – BUILDING BLOCKS FOR CHANGE

In 2025 this work has been continued. Two further structures have been built in Sanwada and Kasba Nonera. The Sanwada structure is across the Palku River – holding water to be used to irrigate the farm land and by local villages, but also contributing to the river revival.

A master nursery has been set up seeding 100,000 trees. This together with satellite nurseries planned across the region will ultimately enable the large scale reforestation planned as the project develops.

KASBA NONERA COMPLETED

100,000 TREES SEEDED

SANWADA 1 COMPLETED

Partner with us

The Reforesting Baran project is a project of the Landscape Water Carbon Trust.

We welcome partners to join us on this journey and are looking for funding to complete the next stages. Get in touch to find out more.

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