\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something different in the air now,\u201d says Inderjit Singh, a 79-year-old farmer from Rajinder Nagar in Punjab\u2019s Fatehgarh Sahib district.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels cleaner. Birds sing all day, and when I walk through the trees I planted, it feels like a forest that belongs to all of us.\u201d His voice carries the pride of a man who has watched life return to land once left barren.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Not far from his village, in Lang, 32-year-old Romanpreet Singh shares a similar experience. \u201cWe never imagined anything could grow on that patch of land near the crematorium. It was dry and forgotten. Now it is buzzing with butterflies and birds, and it has created jobs for women and youth. It brought our village together.\u201d<\/p>\n
These reflections capture a larger transformation taking root across rural Punjab. It is a movement of ecological renewal and communal healing, driven by a growing network of native forests that are reviving ecosystems, replenishing groundwater, and restoring dignity to those who care for them.<\/p>\n
The force behind this change is the Roundglass Foundation, led by its founder, Gurpreet Sunny Singh, whose lifelong bond with Punjab fuels his vision of environmental and social renewal. He speaks of the land with reverence:<\/p>\n
The Billion Tree Project (TBTP) was started in March 2019 to promote planting trees in Punjab villages<\/p>\n
\u201cPunjab is not just a state to me; it is a breathing heritage. The environmental challenges we face are not isolated; they are symptoms of a larger disconnect between communities and nature. Our work is about restoring that bond, nurturing both land and life,\u201d he tells The Better India<\/em>.<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n For him, it is not just about planting trees but about cultivating a future where nature, culture, and community grow in unison.<\/p>\n Guiding the foundation\u2019s afforestation efforts is Vishal Chowla, project lead of The Billion Tree Project (TBTP)<\/em>, an initiative to rebuild Punjab\u2019s green cover by reintroducing native tree species to depleted landscapes. He recalls the early days vividly:<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first visited these villages, the soil was exhausted and the air heavy with pollution. We knew planting trees was essential, but the real challenge was to plant hope, livelihoods, and a sense of ownership among the people.\u201d<\/p>\n That seed of hope was first sown in March 2019, when the foundation planted saplings on government land in Badaushi Kalan village. It was a modest start, but rooted in the idea of reviving Punjab\u2019s biodiversity with native species like desi beri, dhaak, phulai, and farah. These hardy trees, once central to the state\u2019s natural identity, restore soil and water systems, support wildlife habitats, and withstand climate extremes.<\/p>\n Roundglass Foundation encourages and educates the youth to plant native trees in their villages, so that the initiative continues<\/p>\n From that single pilot, the project has spread like the roots of a forest, reaching over 1,600 villages with more than three million native trees planted. The model is as much social as it is environmental. TBTP stresses not only planting but also long-term care. Saplings are nurtured for up to 30 months, creating steady employment for local residents \u2014 especially women and youth, who make up 70% of the caregiving workforce.<\/p>\n \u201cPlanting is only the start. The real effort is in the care \u2014 watering, pruning, and protecting \u2014 until the trees can stand on their own,\u201d says Vishal. Gurpreet adds, \u201cEmpowering youth through this work is important. It is about instilling purpose, building self-reliance, and reshaping how communities view their future. When young people become guardians of these forests, they don\u2019t just protect the environment, they lead their communities towards change.\u201d<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n For Inderjit and many others, this change has become deeply personal. A seasoned cultivator, he had long watched his soil decline. He offered a kanal of his private land to the project with cautious optimism. \u201cI was sceptical at first,\u201d he admits. \u201cI had tried planting before, but the trees didn\u2019t survive. When Roundglass came, they stayed, cared for the saplings, and involved us in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, his land hosts a flourishing mini forest of nearly three kanals with over 700 trees from more than 100 varieties, including peepal, neem, and jhand. The impact has been striking. \u201cIt is a diverse forest, resilient and alive. Birds have returned, and my crops have improved because they eat the pests naturally. I\u2019ve reduced chemical sprays, and the soil feels richer. It is a gift to the next generation,\u201d he says, his voice heavy with emotion. \u201cPeople once questioned why I was so involved in The Billion Tree Project. Now, they come and sit in the forest. It is peaceful and has united the whole village.\u201d<\/p>\n In Lang, Romanpreet tells a similar story of renewal. \u201cThe dry patch near the crematorium was lifeless,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen TBTP came to our village, it didn\u2019t just plant trees. It brought work \u2014 especially for women and youth \u2014 who watered, tended, and protected the saplings. It gave us purpose and pride.\u201d<\/p>\n The foundation has planted around three million native trees so far in the villages <\/p>\n Over time, what was barren became green and alive. \u201cNow we see prinias, kingfishers, coucals, purple sunbirds, and sparrows all the time. The ecosystem is healing,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n These mini forests are not isolated patches but part of a wider ecological strategy. Beyond shade and beauty, native trees conserve water, regenerate soil health, and support biodiversity. Vishal explains, \u201cTrees improve soil moisture, reduce evaporation, and create micro-channels that hold rainwater. An acre of forest can save over 12 million litres of water annually compared to conventional paddy fields.\u201d<\/p>\n Gurpreet reinforces the connection: \u201cWater and trees are intertwined. By protecting one, we safeguard the other. Punjab\u2019s future depends on this balance.\u201d<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n This balance is being rebuilt not through imposition but collaboration. Much of the land is government-owned, but when individuals like Inderjit offer private land, it fosters co-ownership and responsibility. \u201cVillages take ownership, and that is why survival rates of trees are so high,\u201d says Vishal.<\/p>\n In many places, schools are involved, turning forests into living classrooms where children learn about ecology and conservation. \u201cChildren see the trees grow and learn to respect nature,\u201d Inderjit smiles. \u201cIt plants seeds of awareness that will last generations.\u201d<\/p>\n From planting a few saplings in one village, The Billion Tree Project<\/em> has grown into a statewide movement spanning 17 districts. Each of the three million trees has been carefully tracked, with survival rates monitored through rigorous documentation and local engagement.<\/p>\n The native trees help to use water wisely and improve the health of the soil<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t just plant and walk away,\u201d says Vishal. \u201cWe map each site using KML Polygons \u2014 satellite-based tools that log the exact coordinates of every mini forest. This lets us maintain a digital record, verify locations, and track growth.\u201d<\/p>\n The project\u2019s social impact matches its ecological gains. Beyond trees, it has become a source of livelihood for thousands in rural Punjab. Around 120 people work at its nurseries, and the initiative collaborates with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to scale up plantations.<\/p>\n By the end of 2024, TBTP had generated more than 15,000 jobs through MGNREGA, most filled by women and young people. These roles extend beyond wages, involving environmental custodianship from land preparation to sapling care.<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n \u201cMGNREGA has been instrumental in bringing in local workers who not only earn but also develop a sense of responsibility towards the land. When someone helps raise a forest from scratch, it becomes personal,\u201d says Vishal.<\/p>\n He has watched young people grow into community leaders through this work. \u201cThey educate their neighbours, advocate for conservation, and carry the torch forward,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n As the sun sets over Rajinder Nagar, Inderjit walks slowly through his forest. \u201cThis is the Punjab I remember as a child \u2014 lush, vibrant, alive. It is coming back,\u201d he says. In Lang, Romanpreet watches butterflies flit through the branches.<\/p>\n The Billion Tree Project helps to plant trees and is a consistent source of livelihood for many villagers, especially women<\/p>\n Ultimately, The Billion Tree Project<\/em> is not only about greening land but about rekindling identity, reviving community, and reimagining a future in harmony with nature. Gurpreet puts it aptly:<\/p>\n \u201cPlanting a tree is an act of faith in the future. It is a promise that we care, that we will nurture, and that we believe in the resilience of this land and its people.\u201d<\/p>\n All pictures courtesy Roundglass Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cThere is something different in the air now,\u201d says Inderjit Singh, a 79-year-old farmer from Rajinder Nagar in Punjab\u2019s Fatehgarh Sahib district.\u00a0 \u201cIt feels cleaner. Birds sing all day, and when I walk through the trees I planted, it feels like a forest that belongs to all of us.\u201d His voice carries the pride of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28429,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10662],"tags":[18705,18706,18707,18708,11232,18709,18710,18711,11790,11791,18712,16113,3947,18713,18714,18715,1226,18716,18717,18718,18727,16562,18719,18720,18726,18721,12248,12477,11690,14350,18722,18723,18724,8388,10850,11692,18725],"class_list":["post-28428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-food-news","tag-afforestation-india","tag-billion-tree-project","tag-biodiversity-restoration","tag-carbon-sequestration","tag-climate-action","tag-community-forestry","tag-eco-friendly-initiatives","tag-ecological-balance","tag-ecological-restoration","tag-environmental-awareness","tag-environmental-ngo-india","tag-environmental-sustainability","tag-foundation","tag-green-jobs","tag-green-punjab","tag-indian-environmental-projects","tag-million","tag-native-species-plantation","tag-native-trees","tag-nature-conservation","tag-planted","tag-punjab","tag-punjab-reforestation","tag-reforestation-punjab","tag-roundglass","tag-roundglass-foundation","tag-rural-development","tag-soil-health","tag-sustainable-development","tag-sustainable-livelihoods","tag-tree-plantation","tag-tree-planting-jobs","tag-tree-planting-movement","tag-trees","tag-water-conservation","tag-women-empowerment","tag-youth-employment"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",0,0,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",0,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",0,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",2048,2048,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",370,265,false],"kava-thumb-s":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",150,85,false],"kava-thumb-s-2":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",230,230,false],"kava-thumb-m":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",400,400,false],"kava-thumb-m-vertical":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",370,500,false],"kava-thumb-m-2":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",570,450,false],"kava-thumb-l":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",1170,650,false],"kava-thumb-xl":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",1920,1080,false],"kava-thumb-masonry":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09-04T191156.776_11zon-1756993332.jpg",600,999,false],"kava-thumb-justify":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Blue-and-Yellow-Modern-Business-Workshop-Facebook-Ad-2025-09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FOOD NEWS<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"\u201cThere is something different in the air now,\u201d says Inderjit Singh, a 79-year-old farmer from Rajinder Nagar in Punjab\u2019s Fatehgarh Sahib district.\u00a0 \u201cIt feels cleaner. Birds sing all day, and when I walk through the trees I planted, it feels like a forest that belongs to all of us.\u201d His voice carries the pride of…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28428"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28430,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28428\/revisions\/28430"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What happens after planting? The work that matters<\/h2>\n
Birdsong and biodiversity \u2013 When nature returns<\/h2>\n
Who owns a mini forest? The power of local pride<\/h2>\n
How forests are feeding families<\/h2>\n