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= Project GreenHands = Project Green Hands is an ecological initiative launched by the Isha Foundation in 2004 in Tamil Nadu. Project Green Hands emerged in 2002 along with the Vanashree Eco Project, which itself was dedicated to the protection of the Velliangiri Mountain Range. With the goal of saving the ecology and biodiversity of these mountains, the Isha Foundation volunteers propagated the reproduction of native species of flora and fauna by their abundant replanting. The project targets to resolve desertification, reduce soil erosion, restore self-sufficiency, recreate sustainability, and survive climate change by increasing the green cover in Tamil Nadu by 10%. They aim to reach the goal of 114 million trees in the shortest time span by promoting agro-forestry initiatives, community participation, and education about afforestation. PGH has used 95% of its spending for reforestation purposes across the country. PGH leaders support school children, corporate employees, and Isha foundation volunteers in contributing towards nursery activities. The Task so far has substantiated itself with 35 million trees planted, 2 million volunteers, 4610 ranchers prepared for characteristic confining, 2785 nurseries in schools and 124,575 younger students prepared for regular cultivating, since 2004. Ownership of the plants is given to the ones they are planted by. These owners are then responsible to nurture these plants to the trees.

Isha Foundation
Isha Foundation is a volunteer-based, non-profit organistation with an inculcation of 9 million volutneers. It was founded by Sadhgru Jaggi Vasudev in 1992. The foundation possesses a special consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council. The foundation offers yoga programs under the name of Isha Yoga. It is a resource for those wishing to explore the ancient science of yoga in depth.

Projects under Project GreenHands
PGH undertakes multiple rural and urban tree planting campaigns across the Southern India, partnering with corporates, schools, colleges, NGOs and the government in various environmental initiatives.

1) Trees For Life
'Trees For Life' model educates the ranchers to plant a blend of natural product, grain and timber trees on their farmland. Ranchers are instructed on picking the suitable kind of tree saplings through this model to bring back tree-based rural practices in India. The task attempts to make itself a self-supporting development.

2) Trees For All
A survey conducted by an agency of U.N. in Tamil Nadu reported that 60% would transform into a desert by 2025.The then level of tree cover in Tamil Nadu was only 17% which was far to reach the expected level of 33%. Drying of rivers and palm trees and loss of moisture from the soil were prevailing extensively.

Under the “Trees For All” initiative, people are provided with tree saplings as part of education programs aimed at teaching them the environmental benefits offered by trees. 35 nurseries volunteer under PGH throughout the state. These are the sources of production of more than 4 million saplings every year. Involving fodder, timber, fruit bearing, flowering and avenue trees, on an average 84 different species of trees native to Tamil Nadu are raised by these volunteer-nurseries. Participation in these production activities like sapling, transplanting, weeding, and sowing is seen from people of various backgrounds like nature enthusiasts, students, corporate employees, and more.

3) Green School Movement
The National Green Corps (NGC), the Green School Movement was established by noticing the need for practical environmental education by Project GreenHands.

The program incorporates participation of children from middle and high schools in distributing and planting activities of saplings. Planting of the saplings happen within the school boundaries. Ownership of these saplings is given to the school and the local communities whose duty remains to take care and nurture them.

4) Isha Agro Movement
Isha Agro Movement (IAM) is a derivative of Project Green Hands. It was launched in the year 2007 to propose a suitable model for sustainable agriculture, where the primary focus is on economic returns.

Aim of the project is to educate farmers about the sustainable methods rather than chemical-based systems of agriculture. With a decade’s worth of experience, IAM is widely spread across the state of Tamil Nadu.

Accomplishments

 * Guinness World Record: Project GreenHands set a world record on 17th October, 2006 with platation of 8,52,587 at 6,284 location in Tamil Nadu.
 * Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar: In 2010, PGH was awarded the India’s highest environmental award, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, instituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, in recognition of PGH’s positive ecological impact.
 * Sport for the Environment: The Project received this award on 30th September, 2010 at the Beyond Sports summit in Chicago.
 * PGH was awarded the State Environmental Award by the Department of Environment, Tamil Nadu State Government on April 5 2012.
 * LASSIB Society Honorary Award: LASSIB Society entitled Project GreenHands with their Honorary Award for its outcomes subjecting to the environment on 13th July, 2013.
 * Community Mobilizer – 2016: The Project earned the award of the “Community Mobilizer” in 2016 at the India Today’s Safaigiri Awards in New Delhi.