Rainforest Alliance

This reforestation project began in 2002 and will conclude in 2022. Situated on privately-owned land located in Rano, Rano II, Pendravan, Saleh and Lara, in the Durg, Rajnandgaon and Raigarh districts, the project will reforest degraded areas known locally as "Bhata Lands", a name given to lands with poor water holding capacity, little/no vegetation and with soils prone to wind and water erosion. The project benefits the local community by sponsoring school teachers for nearby villages, participating in Durga Puja (a traditional Hindu festival), and other local events such as intervillage cricket matches. The project is a significant source of local employment and encourages women, in particular, to participate and work in the project. In fact, women form the majority of workers on the Rano and Lara project sites. For these exceptional benefits to the local community, and many other benefits that go above-and-beyond the basic requirements for validation to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards, the Chattisgrah project received the standards' prestigious "Gold Level" validation.