A couple bought abandoned farm land in India and spent 26 years turning it all back into the rainforest it was before deforestation occurred!
SAI Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats of Southern India, which is in the heart of the watershed area for the entire South Indian Peninsula. It is a ‘Hot Spots’ of biodiversity in the world, as designated by the United Nations.
Pamela Gale Malhotra and her husband, Anil Malhotra bought 55 acres of private forested lands in 1991, 26 years ago, and have since expanded it to a massive 300 acres. The area is home to more than 200 globally endangered species of plants and animals, including Asian elephants and Bengal tigers.
“When we first came here, most of the lands that were sold to us, were abandoned lands. Abandoned rice fields, coffee, and cardamom fields as well. A lot of deforestation had taken place. And that took a lot, a lot of care and energy and time and years to bring it back.” – Pamela Gale Malhotra
The forests provide shelter for the animals, and the animals in return keep the forests healthy.
“We both feel a tremendous amount of joy when we walk through the sanctuary,”
“I’ve never felt this kind of joy in anything else that I’ve done in my life.”
When the forest started growing back, the insects returned. When the insects returned, the forest grew thicker. Once it was thicker the monkeys, elephants and tigers returned. Now it’s a full forest once more.
Watch the video below to see the beauty of forest.
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