A 71 acre degraded Himalayan slope in Almora, Uttarakhand, has been transformed over three decades into a biodiversity rich landscape supporting 125 woody species, more than 160 bird species and over 100 butterfly species.
The restoration project, known as Surya-Kunj, began in 1992 at the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment. At the time, the site was a degraded stretch of gentle slopes with only a small number of Pinus roxburghii trees and shrubs.
A study published in 2025 in Frontiers in Conservation Science documented the ecological recovery of the site. It recorded 88 successfully established plant species and found that most of the planted tree species were showing healthy natural regeneration through seedlings and saplings.
The site covers around 28.73 hectares and lies at an elevation of 1,100 to 1,250 metres above sea level.
How the restoration began
Researchers initially planted 172 multipurpose plant species and continued gap filling plantation activities until 2014. Over the course of three decades, around 190 tree species were planted, including 136 native Himalayan species.
The restoration programme focused not only on planting trees but also on improving soil and water conditions and protecting the developing vegetation.
Terracing, bunding, gully plugging and small check dams were introduced to control soil erosion and retain moisture. Staggered contour trenches were constructed to collect rainwater.
Because water availability was limited, underground tanks lined with polyethylene were built to support irrigation. Seeds collected from plants already growing at the site were also used for direct sowing and nursery development.
Researchers worked with nearby villages to protect the area from open grazing, allowing vegetation to establish and regenerate naturally.
Natural regeneration strengthens
As the landscape recovered, natural regeneration became an important feature of the restored ecosystem.
The study recorded 125 woody species, comprising 98 trees and 27 shrubs, with an average tree density of around 323 individuals per hectare.
Twenty-two tree species showed good regeneration through seedlings and saplings. These included Celtis australis, Cinnamomum tamala, Quercus glauca and Quercus leucotrichophora.
Pinus roxburghii remained the dominant tree species, with a density of approximately 144.1 trees per hectare.
The presence of substantial numbers of seedlings and saplings suggests that many planted species are now reproducing naturally, indicating that the restored landscape is gradually moving towards a more stable and self sustaining ecosystem.
Wildlife returns
The recovery of vegetation was accompanied by a notable increase in wildlife diversity.
More than 160 bird species have been recorded at the site, along with over 100 butterfly species. Surya-Kunj also supports 86 bryophyte species and more than 30 lichen species.
The site’s medicinal plant garden contains more than 90 species.
Several plants provide important food resources for birds through their flowers and fruits. These include Berberis asiatica, Rubus ellipticus, Pyracantha crenulata, Morus alba, Prunus cerasoides and Pyrus pashia.
The increasing diversity of vegetation and food sources has created suitable habitats for a wider range of birds, insects and other wildlife.
Community participation
Local communities have played an important role in the restoration process.
Researchers worked with villagers to promote the recovery of degraded and abandoned land. Local residents were employed for plantation and other restoration activities and received wages for their work.
Scientists also shared technical knowledge with villagers while naturally growing grasses at the site could be collected for fodder.
To strengthen environmental awareness, the institute established a Nature Interpretation Learning Centre near Surya-Kunj.
Over three decades the programme conducted 62 conservation education workshops involving more than 5,331 stakeholders and students.
A model for Himalayan restoration
The Surya Kunj experience demonstrates that restoring degraded mountain ecosystems requires more than simply planting trees. Soil and water conservation, protection from grazing, selection of suitable native species, community participation and allowing natural regeneration to take place were all central to the site’s recovery.
Three decades after restoration began, the transformation of Surya Kunj shows how sustained ecological management can turn degraded Himalayan land into a functioning landscape capable of supporting diverse vegetation and wildlife.