`Hara Bahara': Telangana launches India's first drone-based afforestation project
Telangana Information Technology and Communication Department and the Forest Department have partnered with Marut Drones, a Hyderabad-based drone technology startup, to plant 50 lakh trees on 12,000 hectares of land across 33 districts of the state.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 Aug 2021 3:56 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Telangana Information Technology and Communication Department and the Forest Department have partnered with Marut Drones, a Hyderabad-based drone technology startup, to plant 50 lakh trees on 12,000 hectares of land across 33 districts of the state.
`Hara Bahara' is India's first drone-based afforestation project. Seedcopter Drone and poster of `Hara Bahara' was unveiled during the AgHub launch at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University (PJTSAU) here on Monday. Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao was present on the occasion.
Seedcopter is an aerial seeding solution for rapid and scalable reforestation and it would bring community, science, and technology together for an inclusive, sustainable and long-lasting solution.
Its core objective is to build strong communities for afforestation and bring awareness at a grassroots level on the effects of deforestation, the release said. This project uses drones to disperse seed balls over thin, barren, and empty forest lands to turn them into lush green abodes of trees.
The process begins with a field survey and mapping of the terrain area to understand the ecosystem and demarcate the areas needing urgent attention. This is used to determine the number and species of trees that can be planted in the barren land based on the soil, climate, and other parameters. The seed balls are prepared by the local women and welfare communities which are dispersed via drones in the targeted areas. The area is continuously monitored to track the growth of plants sown.
Minister KT Rama Rao said Forests are essential to maintain a clean and habitable environment for human life, and emerging technologies have the potential to support the afforestation efforts. "Being already at the forefront of using drones for new use-cases, we are initiating Hara Bahara to plant seeds to increase the forest areas across all the districts of the state," the Minister said.
