Crafting Bamboo Village of the Future

Madi Valley  is situated in the foothill of the Chure region and lies inside Chitwan National Park. Being at the back end of the Park, the area has not enjoyed any economic fruits of conservation. In fact, the region manifests the dark side of the conservation efforts. For years, in the name of 'conservation,' native people were and continue to be forced out of their ancestral lands. Their access to common resources are denied and even criminalized by the State. With their access to resources being curtailed, their traditional knowledge systems are being lost and the livelihoods further exacerbated. The traditional medicine men, shamans, weavers, foragers and musicians are now forced to work as unskilled laborers in industrial construction sites. Despite living in a vibrant Sal forest, they are not allowed to harvest them in order to make houses- they are  forced to live in makeshift  houses. While tourists enjoy scenic safari rides in the frontier of the famous national park, the indigenous people are struggling in the periphery. 

In 2010, though modest in size yet bold in vision, ABARI undertook an experiment by acquiring approximately 2 hectares of land in a flood-devastated area to demonstrate that full rehabilitation was possible through bamboo plantation. With its extensive root system, phenomenal growth rate, unparalleled strength and historical cultural association, bamboo was an ideal candidate for land restoration, biodiversity conservation and livelihood generation. Ten years later, the area has turned into a vibrant bamboo forest. Today, hundreds of farmers have joined hands with ABARI to transform their degraded land into a productive forest. It has created habitat for a plethora of birds. Moreover,  this pilot project has demonstrated that biodiversity conservation, sustainable production and livelihood can have a healthy intersection. ,

Regenerative Land Restoration.

Regeneration Strategy

As part of our restoration strategy, we divided the land into distinct ecological zones. Closest to the river lies the bamboo porcupine—an interwoven bamboo mesh structure that initially functions as a dyke, and over time, regenerates into living plants. This zone is further reinforced by dense layers of vetiver, pater, moonj, and lemongrass, all of which contribute to soil stabilization and flood protection.

Beyond this, we established a thick bamboo forest, planting over 30 species of bamboo. As a fast-growing grass that reaches maturity within just three to five years, bamboo plays a vital role in ecological restoration. Its extensive root systems hold soil in place, enhance soil health, and retain water. Bamboo also acts as a natural windbreak, reducing the impact of strong winds on nearby crops, while its canopy improves the microclimate for understory plants, mushrooms, and vermicompost systems. In addition to its ecological value, bamboo serves a wide range of practical uses—from fencing and scaffolding to construction—providing farmers with diversified sources of income.

The third zone is a vibrant fruit forest, home to over 60 varieties of fruit trees, including mango, lychee, banana, and jamun. This is followed by a fourth zone dedicated to vegetable cultivation and plant nurseries, and then a waterbody designed for fisheries. Finally, the landscape transitions into rice fields.

This integrated agroforestry system places bamboo plantations on degraded land, while reserving the more fertile, sunlit areas for cereal crops. The result is a resilient, biodiverse landscape that provides multiple streams of income, protects against environmental hazards, and supports long-term soil and ecosystem health.

Regeneration over Ten Years