Forests play a key role in safeguarding the environment and providing long-term ecological security. Local communities depend on forest resources for subsistence living and for agriculture, fodder, livestock, and water. Recent developments in the Himalayan region have led to the degradation of forests which in turn have impacted the local communities. The development of afforestation programs in these regions would not only help in providing an income to these communities but improve the lives of people living in such areas.

The Himalayan region that is known to support a variety of species of forest, has witnessed several landslides and soil erosion, and dried up perennial springs due to forest degradation. This has caused damage to the agro-economy and has been responsible for loss of livelihood of many. With the introduction of afforestation programs, local communities would be provided with subsistence living and would also help to curb down migration caused by a lack of resources.

The project aims to reforesting mass scale plantation/regeneration in mountain villages. To expand the green cover, Van Panchayats (VPs), Common Village Land and Private Lands will be taken up. VPs and Common Village lands will consist of be deforested, degraded and wastelands in VPs and common village land. Whereas private lands will consist of terraces and barren land. The method for increasing the green cover will be the plantation of seedlings raised in nurseries, direct sowing of seed/acorn of selective species, and ANR to have options and models.

The project aims to support women by encouraging women driven self-help groups and Van Panchayats to facilitate in protection and management of sites. This is achieved by capacity-building, leadership and confidence building measures. Beneficiaries of the project would be earning money through the sale of carbon credits thus ensuring better livelihood.