In India, One Man Creates a Forest

Standing in a sun-scorched arid stretch of land he had newly bought, Abdul Karim made himself a promise, "I will turn this ochre expanse green." The land where he stood is on India's westcoast near the Arabian Sea, in the Kasargod district of Kerala State. Nineteen years later as he walks through that land, there is the twitter of birds in the air scented with the fragrance of wild flowers. Karim has kept his promise, creating a whole forest out of nothing. Kareem has transformed a 32-acre barren hilly terrain in the panchayat into a natural forest. He began work on the project in 1978. Five years ago, a forest officer gave him the application forms for the Vrikshamitra award, instituted by the environment ministry. The forms are yet to be filled out. "Living happily in this forest is a reward in itself. So why seek others," Karim says, his face breaking into a smile.