Guwahati: In a novel attempt to bring degraded forest patches back to life, conservation organisation Aaranyak has deployed more than 15,000 native seed balls across parts of Assam’s Khalingduar Reserve Forest, combining traditional ecological knowledge, science and community participation to restore elephant habitat.
The initiative is part of an integrated habitat restoration pilot being implemented at a two-hectare demonstration site at Samrang under the Dhansiri Forest Division in Udalguri district, with support from the International Elephant Foundation (IEF).
The restoration programme focuses on two key interventions, removing invasive alien plants and introducing native species through seed balls, to encourage natural forest regeneration and improve the ecological health of degraded habitats used by Asian elephants.
Launched on World Environment Day 2026, the programme has brought together Aaranyak researchers, students and local communities in an effort to restore native vegetation while giving communities a direct role in conserving their surrounding forests.
More than 15,000 seed balls have so far been prepared and dispersed at the Samrang restoration site, including areas cleared of invasive plants, as well as other degraded forest patches in the locality.
From seed to forest
The technique, popularised by Japanese natural farming pioneer Masanobu Fukuoka, involves enclosing seeds in a mixture of clay, soil and organic matter. The protective coating helps shield the seeds from drying out, predation and displacement before germination.
Unlike conventional plantation programmes that require nursery-grown saplings, extensive soil preparation and considerable labour, seed balls can be scattered across difficult terrain and left to germinate when rainfall and other conditions become favourable.
For conservationists, that makes the approach particularly useful in large, degraded or difficult-to-access forest areas.
The seed balls used in the Khalingduar project contain seeds of native species including Jamun, Velkor, Odal, Bel, Gamari, Khair, Simalu and Kum.
The choice of species is also closely linked to the ecological needs of the landscape.
Fruit-bearing and forage species such as Jamun, Bel, Kum and Khair can provide food for elephants and other wildlife, while Gamari, Simalu and other native trees can contribute to canopy formation, organic matter, carbon storage and the gradual rebuilding of forest structure.
Restoring the habitat, not just planting trees
Aaranyak said the seed-ball approach is not intended to replace conventional plantation but to complement natural regeneration and increase the diversity of native species emerging across restoration sites.
The removal of invasive alien plants is a critical part of the strategy. Once invasive vegetation is cleared, the introduction of native seeds can increase the availability of local propagules and improve the prospects of long-term forest recovery.
The broader objective is to move beyond simply planting trees towards rebuilding a functioning forest ecosystem, one capable of supporting elephants and the wider biodiversity of the Khalingduar landscape.
The initiative has been implemented by Aaranyak’s Elephant Research and Conservation Division in collaboration with the Jailkhlong community nursery, local communities and students.
The project team comprises Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Abhilasha Baruah, Bistirna Burhagohain, Dibakar Nayak, Bikash Tossa, Manav Nayak and Pradip Barman.
By putting seeds directly into degraded landscapes and involving local communities in the restoration process, the pilot seeks to demonstrate a relatively low-cost, nature-based way of turning degraded elephant habitat back into living forest.