Vanrai- Forfending forest

Dahanu has one of the narrowest transect between the Northern western ghats and the Arabian sea comprising diverse units of landscape varying from highland forest, midlands to the coastal wetlands, mudflats and marshes. The Vahindra river starts from the highlands and empties in the coastal area. It acts as a connector for the different landscape units and the communities (Warlis, Kolis, Wadwals, Parsis) that reside within it. It was declared as an ecologically fragile area in 1991 and is today at the crossroads – ecologically, socially, and culturally. The warli is a forest dwelling community and the forest is the essence of their existence. There is a sudden shift in the way of life of the warlis. They were nomadic at first, living in isolated lands, and are now forest fringe dwellers. In numerous interactions we had at site with the people- this strong connection to forest and have the fright to leave their homelands, the forests are felt deeply. A prominent motif of a safe place, i.e. the forest for warli people s visible in the fabled stories of this land. Many species of the forests hold important part on this narratives. The aim to consider a prominent motif- a leopard from the narratives and use it as a mascot a representation of link to forest. The project works on two scales. One, it proposes a community led afforestation drive in the degraded leopard habitats. The association to leopard and the presence and significance of it to the people will help imitate and drive it as a community led practice. The second part of the project is ‘vanrai’, a community ground that brings together and celebrate the idea of species conservation, cultivation and afforestation. It acts as a cultivation ground for endangered species of the local forest and also multiplies itself as a seed collection part, an interpretation center and a camping ground. It will become the ‘knot’ that links forests and people at many levels.