Waral Prakalp

Waral Prakalp is a community-led initiative dedicated to forest regeneration and ecological preservation in Devgaon-Ganjad, Maharashtra. Founded by a collective of farmers, artists, beekeepers, and shamans, the project seeks to revitalize ancestral practices of agroforestry, seed preservation, and sustainable land management. With a deep-rooted connection to the Warli Adivasi traditions, Waral Prakalp perceives the forest as home and works to sustain its biodiversity through cultural and ecological stewardship.

The initiative encompasses several key programs, including a Seed Library, which safeguards and distributes native seeds to ensure biodiversity and food security. Through community nurseries, Waral Prakalp propagates saplings and implements a forest cover plan, encouraging small farmers to adopt agroforestry models. Traditional Warli farming methods, such as Raab—a form of slash-and-burn agriculture that enhances soil fertility—are reintegrated into their agricultural practices, supporting both environmental and cultural sustainability.

In addition to ecological efforts, Waral Prakalp fosters knowledge exchange and artistic practices. The initiative integrates intergenerational learning, where elders and shamans share wisdom about forest care, seed rituals, and medicinal plants. Art also plays a crucial role in their activism, as Warli visual storytelling and mural traditions serve as tools to raise awareness about conservation and climate resilience. The initiative further emphasizes the protection of Mohvar bees (Apis cerana indica), essential pollinators in the Warli ecosystem, ensuring their habitat remains intact and supporting honey-harvesting traditions.

Through rainwater harvesting, sustainable livestock integration, and land stewardship, Waral Prakalp envisions a future where Indigenous ecological knowledge informs contemporary forest conservation. By combining community action, cultural resilience, and environmental sustainability, Waral Prakalp stands as a powerful model for grassroots-led ecological regeneration and Indigenous land sovereignty.