The first wave of planting will take place in autumn in the ecovillage of Milenki. The village, only recently connected to the electrical grid, is located 200km from Moscow and is home to 90 families. The area was converted to agricultural land at the beginning of the century leading to the loss of species-rich native forests. The only trees remaining are pine and birch, inherently low in biodiversity and ecosystem services.
DESCRIPTION
The objective of the project is to create diverse edible forests with a minimum of 15 different species planted per site. The trees will provide a secure food source to the villagers whilst creating habitats for birds and small mammals thereby effectively restoring lost biodiversity. The seedlings will be reared in a local nursery by the villagers themselves, providing an additional revenue stream to the village. The tree species will be selected for their historic presence in the area and their suitability to the local environment. The trees planted as part of this project are essential for the eco-villagers to sustainability live off their land, in harmony with the environment and the people around them.