HCL Foundation extends partnership with National Mission for Clean Ganga and INTACH to boost native biodiversity in Uttarakhand

NOIDA, India, June 10, 2023: HCL Foundation (HCLF), which delivers the company social duty (CSR) agenda of main world know-how firm HCLTech, has renewed its partnership with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for one other three years to boost native biodiversity in the eco-sensitive areas of Uttarakhand.

Over the previous 5 years, HCL Foundation and its associate INTACH planted over 13,550 saplings, together with 11,300 Rudraksha saplings and 2,250 saplings of different related native species, in 30 acres of community-owned land close to Sentuna village, in Gangolgaon area of Gopeshwar, Chamoli district, and Aati village in Almora district. As a part of the initiative, round 200 native communities (together with NSS volunteers, members of Mahila mangal dal, farmers, college youngsters and others) have participated in consciousness campaigns and plantation and upkeep efforts.

The plantation has improved native biodiversity in the area with birds, animals and different species discovering habitat in the planted areas. Many mammals (Barking deer, Blue sheep), birds (Laughing thrush, Grey treepie, Blue-capped Rock thrush), butterflies (Common sailor and Common banded peacock) and spiders (Giant wooden spider) are routinely recorded by native communities and area groups.

The prolonged partnership goals to double down on the optimistic impression this distinctive initiative has been in a position to make in restoring native biodiversity and habitat in Uttarakhand. HCL Foundation goals to plant an extra 10,000 Rudraksha saplings and different native species in the area by 2026. It may also arrange group consciousness packages to restore degraded habitats and preserve native biodiversity.

“HCL Foundation’s profitable drive in opposition to habitat degradation and native biodiversity loss in the area and its concerted efforts alongside with its NGO associate are serving to help the delicate ecosystem in the Himalayan forests. The renewal of the MoU will contribute to India’s nationally decided local weather change targets whereas preserving the pure ecology for future generations,” stated G Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India.

Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation, emphasised the necessity for cohesive motion in the direction of restoring degraded habitat with native biodiversity and applauded the federal government’s efforts in this regard. “At HCL Foundation, now we have all the time taken a holistic method to promote the restoration of pure ecosystems. We all the time work to help a robust and thriving ecosystem whereas honoring the wealthy cultural and non secular heritage linked to it by selling the plantation of native species in the Ganga catchment space. This renewed MoU will play a essential position in partaking native stakeholders in community-based habitat restoration,” she stated.

The tripartite MoU was signed by G Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation and Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director, Natural Heritage Division, INTACH in the presence of different esteemed dignitaries in New Delhi.