Axis Bank supports plantation of over 5.25 lakh native saplings to strengthen ecological restoration in Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal : On the occasion of International Day of Forests, Axis Bank reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation by spearheading ongoing landscape restoration initiatives in Madhya Pradesh. These efforts are driving large-scale habitat restoration by planting over 5.25 saplings in over 750 hectares of land from 2022 till 2030, across some of the state’s most ecologically significant forest regions.

The initiative focuses on restoring degraded forest ecosystems especially across the North Shahdol Forest Division and the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, both part of the ecologically vital Central Indian tiger landscape. Implemented in partnership with The Corbett Foundation, the programme aims to strengthen habitat connectivity and support long-term ecological recovery across wildlife corridors that link multiple tiger habitats in the region.

As part of this effort, Axis Bank is supporting the plantation of over 1.50 lakh native saplings over 4 years across degraded forest patches located within the ecological corridor connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Sanjay–Dubri Tiger Reserve. This landscape serves as a critical wildlife passage enabling the movement of tigers and other species across protected areas including Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary, making corridor restoration essential for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.

Vijay Mulbagal, Group Executive – Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank, emphasised,“At Axis Bank, we recognise that restoring degraded forest landscapes is both an environmental responsibility and a people‑centric opportunity. Our ecological restoration efforts are designed to protect biodiversity while supporting the communities that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. Through long‑term, community‑inclusive initiatives across India’s vulnerable landscapes, we aim to advance the country’s climate and biodiversity priorities while creating lasting social and ecological value.”

The programme also builds on earlier restoration efforts under Axis Bank’s Mission 2 Million Trees initiative at the Masira site in the North Shahdol Forest Division, where 75,000 native saplings were planted to rehabilitate a 100-hectare degraded forest patch from 2022 to 2024. The current phase focuses on strengthening survival rates and achieving ecological stability through interventions such as invasive species removal, plantation maintenance, repair of check dams, installation of solar-powered water pumps, and seasonal watering during dry months.

In parallel, a large-scale restoration initiative in the Manpur Buffer Zone of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve will target nearly 400 hectares of degraded forest land, with the plantation of about 3,00,000 native saplings between October 2025 and March 2030. The project will also involve removal of Lantana camara, development of water conservation structures, establishment of a nursery, and installation of solar-powered water systems to support wildlife and long-term habitat restoration.