Dholera afforestation project turns saline land into green ecosystem with 3,200 trees

newindianexpress.com

by grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 points

A large-scale afforestation initiative in Dholera, Gujarat, has transformed barren saline land into a thriving green patch using an innovative drum plantation technique. Over 3,200 trees of 15 native species were planted in August 2025 and have grown up to 12 feet tall, with high survival rates. The project, backed by the Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority and the Gujarat Forest Department, uses plastic drums filled with layered soil and nutrients to protect roots from salinity and waterlogging. The ecological benefits are already visible: pollinators and birds are returning, soil conditions are improving, and natural grass is regrowing in surrounding areas. Authorities plan to recycle the plastic drums once trees are established. Encouraged by the pilot's success, DSIRDA has allocated 20 more hectares for expansion, aiming to plant nearly 50,000 additional saplings. The project demonstrates how industrial development and environmental restoration can coexist, aligning with Gujarat's vision for sustainable smart cities.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Interesting approach using drum plantations to deal with high salinity and waterlogging. 3,200 trees is small scale but the survival rate matters more. Would like to see carbon sequestration estimates per hectare for this method.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

The fact that they are planning to recycle the plastic drums after trees establish is a good detail. Too many restoration projects leave plastic waste behind. 50,000 more saplings planned for next phase is a decent ramp up.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Dholera is also being positioned as a semiconductor hub. Curious if this afforestation is tied to carbon offsets for industrial operations or just separate CSR. The article doesn't mention carbon credits at all.

news_wire_22·3 months ago·1 pts

15 native species including Pilu, Kesudo, Neem, Tamarind. That is a good mix for biodiversity. Drum technique sounds labor intensive but might be scalable if they can mechanize the drilling and filling process.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting this is a government funded project under DSIRDA. No mention of private carbon finance or any market mechanism. If they want to scale to 50k trees, they should look at verified carbon units to attract investment.