Fully Funded

Project Khejri India

Restoring Rajasthan’s southern Aravalli landscapes to revive ecosystems and strengthen community resilience.

Reforestation

Rajasthan, India

1 million / 30 years

8,000 ha

Stage:

Post Feasibility

Standard:

Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GGs) | Afforestation and Reforestation (AR) v2.0

ABout

Project Overview

Rajasthan, India

Project Khejri is a large-scale reforestation initiative spanning 8,000 hectares across Udaipur, Rajsamand and Bhilwara districts in Rajasthan. The project addresses long-standing land degradation caused by deforestation, overgrazing and extractive land use, which has reduced biodiversity, soil fertility and water retention across this semi-arid landscape.

Working with local communities and partners, the project will establish approximately 4.9 million native trees across degraded land, supported by soil and water conservation measures designed to improve long-term planting success. Species selection prioritises ecological function, drought resilience, cultural significance and livelihood value.

By combining ecological restoration with inclusive governance and long-term stewardship, Project Khejri aims to deliver lasting climate mitigation, healthier ecosystems and improved resilience for communities that depend on these landscapes for their livelihoods.

Implementation partners:

No items found.

CO-BENEFITS

Environmental co-benefits

Reforestation will help rebuild ecosystem function and strengthen long-term landscape resilience in a critically degraded dry deciduous forest system.

Ecosystem restoration

Planting diverse, non-invasive native species will restore habitat, reconnect ecological corridors, and improve ecosystem services such as fodder availability and pollination in the Kathiawar–Gir Dry Deciduous Forests ecoregion.

Improving soil and water health

Soil and water conservation measures such as contour trenching, bunding and reseeding of native grasses will reduce erosion, improve moisture retention and rebuild soil productivity in shallow, erosion-prone soils.

Carbon storage

Sequestration of approximately 1.1 million tCO2e over 30 years, contributing to global carbon reduction targets.

SDGs

CO-BENEFITS

Social co-benefits

Project Khejri is designed as a community-led restoration initiative, embedding inclusive participation, equitable benefit-sharing and long-term local stewardship.

Strengthening local livelihoods

Creating local employment across nursery operations, site preparation, planting and long-term monitoring. Employment opportunities will support women, youth, landless households and tribal communities.

Building local capacity and governance

Communities will receive training in reforestation techniques, carbon monitoring, natural resource governance and field safety.

Advancing gender equality

Creating dedicated pathways for women to influence decisions about land restoration and long-term stewardship, including through women-led consultations and leadership roles.

SDGs