History

The Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge (EBR) was registered as a non-profit trust in late 2003. In June 2003, Tarun Chhabra invested his own money for purchased a plot of land and took on lease another adjacent plot in the Avalanche area of the upper Nilgiri plateau in southern India. This totaled close to 1.5 acres and is located at 11° 17’ 354” N, 076° 36’ 794”E, with an elevation of 2100 m. This is the first time in the Nilgiris than an individual has spent his own money to purchase land and initiate eco-restorative measures. However, it was soon realized that a single person could not do very much for very long without straining his resources beyond limit. It was then that he along with good friend and naturalist Ramneek Singh decided to float a non-profit and charitable trust.

 

Mission

Economic empowerment of indigenous and impoverished people through shola/grassland restoration and reforestation in the upper Nilgiri Hills

To identify a model procedure for eco restoration, afforestation and NTFP so as to eventually create a reliable revenue source for deprived local people.

Purchase, protection and restoration of some privately owned lands that lie around critical biodiverse habitats.

To conserve wildlife and improve their scope for habitat expansion

 

Vision

EBR centre shall have a botanical documentation, seed preservation, and herbarium, photographic and illustrative records of the endemic, rare and endangered flora of this general area.

EBR centre established a unique plant nursery having seeds and seedlings of most of the documented species. This shall provide a unique source from where ecologically altered areas in the vicinity could be restored.

EBR centre collaborate with large research institutions so that certain critical species that are highly endangered, could be studied, propagated and re-established in erstwhile areas.

EBR centre shall document and establish the relationship between native flora and the associated fauna-both animal and birds, with special emphasis on certain endangered species like the Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri Wood pigeon and others.

The centre shall strive towards re-establishing native plant species in the degraded areas in the vicinity of the EBR. This could be on lands acquired by the centre, or on nearby government lands – in response to a specific request, where this centre collaborates with the government.