The school children are joining the United Nations Decadal movement on Eco-restoration through M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) by providing seedlings of native wild trees from their collection made at home. These seedlings will be used in every reforestation effort of MSSRF. Students have collected about 50 varieties of seeds of native wild trees as part of an activity of a project called Edible School, supported by Botanical Garden Conservation International (BGCI).
Edible School is a concept to engage the Children in food production under the guidance of trained, interested and caring leaders, who lead the children into discovery and exploration of soil, water, biodiversity, and the science of agriculture. As a pilot project, it is now being implemented in two schools in the district of Wayanad, Kerala, the Hill Blooms School, Mananthavady, and Govt. High School, Thrikaipetta. The students were trained in the collection and multiplication of seeds of native wild trees.
As a result, they maintain a small nursery at home with trees such as Pterocarpus marsupium (Venga), Syzigium cumini (Njaval), Ficus racemose (Athi), and Pongamia pinnata (Ungu). They have collected the seeds and recorded their scientific name and uses. Another interesting fact is that for the preparation of the nursery they used innovative methods using natural products rather than using plastic containers. Through this activity, the children are learning about the importance of native trees in the restoration of degraded lands.