#native Himalayan trees

[mysterioushimachal]

Shukpa Tree: The Sacred Himalayan Juniper Reviving Cold Deserts in Spiti

[fatehbaz]

Despite its green image, Ireland has surprisingly little forest. [...] [M]ore than 80% of the island of Ireland was [once] covered in trees. [...] [O]f that 11% of the Republic of Ireland that is [now] forested, the vast majority (9% of the country) is planted with [non-native] spruces like the Sitka spruce [in commercial plantations], a fast growing conifer originally from Alaska which can be harvested after just 15 years. Just 2% of Ireland is covered with native broadleaf trees.

Text by: Martha O’Hagan Luff. “Ireland has lost almost all of its native forests - here’s how to bring them back.” The Conversation. 24 February 2023. [Emphasis added.]

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[I]ndustrial [...] oil palm plantations [...] have proliferated in tropical regions in many parts of the world, often built at the expense of mangrove and humid forest lands, with the aim to transform them from 'worthless swamp' to agro-industrial complexes [...]. Another clear case [...] comes from the southernmost area in the Colombian Pacific [...]. Here, since the early 1980s, the forest has been destroyed and communities displaced to give way to oil palm plantations. Inexistent in the 1970s, by the mid-1990s they had expanded to over 30,000 hectares. The monotony of the plantation - row after row of palm as far as you can see, a green desert of sorts - replaced the diverse, heterogenous and entangled world of forest and communities.

Text by: Arturo Escobar. "Thinking-Feeling with the Earth: Territorial Struggles and the Ontological Dimension of the Epistemologies of the South." Revista de Antropologia Iberoamericana Volume 11 Issue 1. 2016. [Emphasis added.]

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But efforts to increase global tree cover to limit climate change have skewed towards erecting plantations of fast-growing trees [...] [because] planting trees can demonstrate results a lot quicker than natural forest restoration. [...] [But] ill-advised tree planting can unleash invasive species [...]. [In India] [t]o maximize how much timber these forests yielded, British foresters planted pines from Europe and North America in extensive plantations in the Himalayan region [...] and introduced acacia trees from Australia [...]. One of these species, wattle (Acacia mearnsii) [...] was planted in [...] the Western Ghats. This area is what scientists all a biodiversity hotspot – a globally rare ecosystem replete with species. Wattle has since become invasive and taken over much of the region’s mountainous grasslands. Similarly, pine has spread over much of the Himalayas and displaced native oak trees while teak has replaced sal, a native hardwood, in central India. Both oak and sal are valued for [...] fertiliser, medicine and oil. Their loss [...] impoverished many [local and Indigenous people]. [...]

India’s national forest policy [...] aims for trees on 33% of the country’s area. Schemes under this policy include plantations consisting of a single species such as eucalyptus or bamboo which grow fast and can increase tree cover quickly, demonstrating success according to this dubious measure. Sometimes these trees are planted in grasslands and other ecosystems where tree cover is naturally low. [...] The success of forest restoration efforts cannot be measured by tree cover alone. The Indian government’s definition of “forest” still encompasses plantations of a single tree species, orchards and even bamboo, which actually belongs to the grass family. This means that biennial forest surveys cannot quantify how much natural forest has been restored, or convey the consequences of displacing native trees with competitive plantation species or identify if these exotic trees have invaded natural grasslands which have then been falsely recorded as restored forests. [...] Planting trees does not necessarily mean a forest is being restored. And reviving ecosystems in which trees are scarce is important too.

Text by: Dhanapal Govindarajulu. "India was a tree planting laboratory for 200 years - here are the results." The Conversation. 10 August 2023. [Emphasis added.]

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Nations and companies are competing to appropriate the last piece of available “untapped” forest that can provide the most amount of “environmental services.” [...] When British Empire forestry was first established as a disciplinary practice in India, [...] it proscribed private interests and initiated a new system of forest management based on a logic of utilitarian [extraction] [...]. Rather than the actual survival of plants or animals, the goal of this forestry was focused on preventing the exhaustion of resource extraction. [...]

Text by: Daniel Fernandez and Alon Schwabe. "The Offsetted." e-flux Architecture (Positions). November 2013. [Emphasis added.]

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At first glance, the statistics tell a hopeful story: Chile’s forests are expanding. […] On the ground, however, a different scene plays out: monocultures have replaced diverse natural forests [...]. At the crux of these [...] narratives is the definition of a single word: “forest.” [...] Pinochet’s wave of [...] [laws] included Forest Ordinance 701, passed in 1974, which subsidized the expansion of tree plantations [...] and gave the National Forestry Corporation control of Mapuche lands. This law set in motion an enormous expansion in fiber-farms, which are vast expanses of monoculture plantations Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus species grown for paper manufacturing and timber. [T]hese new plantations replaced native forests […]. According to a recent study in Landscape and Urban Planning, timber plantations expanded by a factor of ten from 1975 to 2007, and now occupy 43 percent of the South-central Chilean landscape. [...] While the confusion surrounding the definition of “forest” may appear to be an issue of semantics, Dr. Francis Putz [...] warns otherwise in a recent review published in Biotropica. […] Monoculture plantations are optimized for a single product, whereas native forests offer [...] water regulation, hosting biodiversity, and building soil fertility. [...][A]ccording to Putz, the distinction between plantations and native forests needs to be made clear. “[...] [A]nd the point that plantations are NOT forests needs to be made repeatedly [...]."

Text by: Julian Moll-Rocek. “When forests aren’t really forests: the high cost of Chile’s tree plantations.” Mongabay. 18 August 2014. [Emphasis added.]

[turtlesandfrogs]

So, for years, the chain link fence between me and my local strip mall had a 7 to 9 foot (2.1ish to 2.7ish meter) tall mountain of Himalayan blackberries on the mall's side of the fence. On my side, there has been a goat run, for years, and that mountain of blackberries was part of the reason why I got them (besides loving goats) in the first place. The blackberries are an invasive species after all, and it's exhausting keeping up with three neighbors' worth of constant invasion of blackberries and bindweed. Goats, however, love to chow down on them.

I probably shouldn't call a mountain of invasive plants nice, but the song birds did sit in it and sing in a full throated chorus, it was loaded with blackberries, and it did provide a cozy sort of privacy not usually available in a city.

Untill mall landlord guy decided to cut it down to the ground. Baring my entire back yard to the view of everyone going by. Why he thought that was a good idea, I don't know. Especially since he a) never said anything and b) actually cut some of the vines on my side of the fence.

ANYWAY! Yesterday, I finally worked my way down the list of projects to creating a dead hedge to replace the blackberries, or at least the privacy aspect of them. I put it on the inside of the goat run, because that way, it's doing double duty by being a goat impenetrable barrier, so I can plant native willows, red osier, oaks, and other trees that can be coppiced or pollarded for height control and handy staight lengths of wood for stakes or basketry or whatever. Without the goats just completely devouring them. I'm really happy about that both because yay! Privacy! and because those trees are important habitat for a large number of birds and bugs.

Also, a lot of people really like the goats, so this way they can still say hi and give them goat appropriate treats. Emily here has her hooves on the dead hedge eating some of the fresh prunings I got off a job and incorporated into the dead hedge. It's not done quite yet, so the top is still loose and chaotic, but you get the idea.

On the inside of that, I'm tempted to plant some native (and native-ish) conifers, because their fine needles apparently do a good job of filtering air pollution, I like making tea from them, and you know, mushrooms. Lots of mushrooms. I love mushrooms. I'd probably have to do some intense pruning to keep them from getting ridiculously tall (considering the size of my plot), but guess what goats like eating?

That's right, everything!

[mutant-distraction]

The Brown Fish Owl 🦉

Native to regions spanning from Turkey to South and Southeast Asia, the Brown Fish Owl is a fascinating bird species.

These owls typically inhabit forests and woodlands that border streams, lakes, or rice fields. They are commonly found in lowland areas, ranging from open woodlands to dense forests, as well as in plantations. In the Himalayan foothills, they can be found in submontane forests up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) above sea level. During the day, they often seek refuge in stands of bamboo or other large shady trees. Additionally, they are frequently spotted around water reservoirs, along canals, on the outskirts of villages, and along sea coasts.

Captured beautifully by @dhammika_p 📸

[animaladorablecom]

🦊 Meet the Red Panda – The Adorable Tree Acrobat! 🌳

🌿 Amazing Facts About Red Pandas: 1️⃣ Despite their name, red pandas are more closely related to raccoons than giant pandas! 🦝 2️⃣ They spend most of their time in trees and have an incredible sense of balance. 🌲 3️⃣ Red pandas are native to the Himalayan forests and other parts of Asia. 🗻

💡 Fun Fact: Their tails are as fluffy as they look – perfect for keeping warm in cold climates! ❄️🐾

📸 Have you spotted a red panda before? Share your pictures or drawings with us! #RedPandaLove #CuteAndCuddly

[b-dunn-design]

RHS Wisley, first stop 2025 garden tour

We left Annie and Mike's by Underground, got to Heathrow an hour+ later, got a cab to Avis, rented a car, and drove to Wisley. ON THE LEFT and it was not easy but we did it.

This is a demonstration garden, with everything labeled. There's an oak woodland with acid-loving plants, open fields, walled garden and alpine plant houses.

We did not find the lilac blooming but got everything else on the list. Very good specimen trees - this dogwood is amazing.

The birch above is Betula utilis var. Jacquemontii 'Doorenbos' Himalayan Birch, we planted it in Chappaqua and it is beautiful there.

This heather is a nice groundcover. Blooms Jan - March.

I did not know this one (below) and could not find an identification tag in the garden. It is a good gray weeping form, effective with the heather. I did a Google lens search and found it!! Rubus thibetanus 'Silver 'Fern'. I will be finding this and planting it for the silver leaves. So far I'm not finding any for sale in the US. It might be invasive here sad face.

This is an unusual tree that I've never seen before, the common name is Epaulette Tree. Ptero = wings. I found it for sale online and it has a beautiful fluffy bloom. I might get one of these for fun because this leaf is so cool. Asian native.

[fordcrownvictoria]

Brushstrokes in the Mist: Unearthing the Forgotten Painters of Kashmir

In the silent folds of the Himalayas, cradled by snow-laden peaks and the slow, meditative pulse of the Jhelum River, lies the verdant valley of Kashmir—a land of intricate weaves, whispering chinars, and mystic poetry. While its poetic and political narratives often eclipse other voices, buried deep within its layered history are the rare and forgotten painters of Kashmir��artists whose pigments have faded from the walls of memory, but whose essence lingers like the scent of saffron in morning mist.

These painters were neither celebrated in bustling salons nor feted with grand retrospectives. Many were mystics, artisans, or poets, quietly practicing a visual language of devotion, melancholy, and transcendence. Their canvases—often fragile paper, cloth, or fresco walls—spoke in hushed tones, capturing not the thunder of empires but the stillness between raindrops, the shimmer of a walnut branch in the wind, the sacred hush of a shrine.

Among the earliest names to rise from the mists of obscurity is Govinda Kaula, a 15th-century court painter and scholar in the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin. Though his surviving works are lost to time, historical references suggest he helped shape a native Kashmiri aesthetic, blending Indic symbolism with emerging Persian influence.

That fusion deepened in the 16th century, when artists like Sayyid Ali Tabrizi, a Persian-trained miniaturist who spent time in Kashmir, brought with them delicate brushwork and poetic forms. These early crosscurrents laid the foundation for a distinct visual idiom, rich in spiritual undertones and dreamlike landscapes.

While not a Kashmiri native, Nainsukh of Guler (1710–1778) from the nearby Pahari school left an indelible mark on the region’s artistic consciousness. His humanistic style—marked by restraint and psychological nuance—inspired generations of temple painters and court artists in the surrounding Himalayan region, including Kashmir.

In more modern times, the spiritual and the abstract converged in the work of Ghulam Rasool Santosh (1929–1997). Deeply influenced by Kashmir Shaivism, Santosh's canvases are alive with sacred geometry, mandalas, and tantric symbols. His art was not just visual, but meditative—an invitation into metaphysical experience. Though he achieved some national recognition, his name remains lesser known than his contributions warrant.

Another powerful but underacknowledged voice was Bansi Parimu (1933–1991), a painter and poet whose canvases were shaped by personal and political exile. His work fused expressionism with Kashmiri themes of loss and resilience, reflecting the trauma of a homeland fragmented by conflict.

To view the delicate watercolors of Dina Nath Walli (1908–2006), also known by his pen name Almast Kashmiri, is to return to a Kashmir that once was—pastoral, gentle, and unscarred. His paintings of everyday life, of rooftops and rivers, of boatsmen and birds, evoke a deep nostalgia and serenity.

Contemporary voices like Nazir Bakshi carry the legacy forward, often working to revive endangered visual traditions of the valley, incorporating local architecture, Sufi motifs, and historical memory. Likewise, the rarely mentioned Roshan Ara, a 20th-century painter, dared to enter the male-dominated space of Kashmiri miniature art with her intimate, spiritually resonant work—a quiet rebellion through form and image.

Why have these artists been forgotten?

Perhaps because they chose silence over spectacle. Perhaps because their art was devotional, private—created not for markets or fame, but for spirit and self. Or perhaps, as empires rose and fell, manuscripts burned, and borders hardened, their gentle legacies were simply trampled by louder histories.

To look at a surviving piece—a faded miniature of a saint beneath an almond tree, or an abstract mandala whispering of unity—is to feel a strange intimacy. These images do not shout; they hum. They do not demand interpretation; they offer presence. In them, Kashmir is not merely a site of conflict or natural splendor, but a sacred geography of soul.

To name them now—Govinda Kaula, Sayyid Ali Tabrizi, Nainsukh, Santosh, Parimu, Walli, Bakshi, Roshan Ara—is to light a lamp in a dark room. We may not know all their stories, but we can still feel their touch in the pigment, the paper, the silence.

Let us become quiet archivists of their memory. Let us speak their names, even if history has forgotten them. And let us imagine their fingers dipping into color one last time, beneath the shade of a mulberry tree, painting not for legacy—but for love.

[owlfangdraws]

StreamClan cats work in tandem with nature to improve their surroundings, including using their deft claws to shred ivy tendrils when they see the invaders choking out native trees. They have the cultural idea that catching a red squirrel is bad luck, and that the invasive gray ones are much luckier and more blessed prey. their members and medics cultivate not exactly gardens, but they find where the plants needed are already growing, make note of it, and care for them as necessary! they also have transplanted certain invasive plants on purpose, including himalayan blackberry that they intentionally planted to grow around their camp as a barrier, and they also catch the prey that eat the berries! part of their apprentice challenges and training, as well as a way to file down claws, is digging up and removing invasive or dangerous plants :) including scotch broom and yellow flag iris!

[torokiseru]

January Hobby Recap Part 1

As I mentioned previously, I am working to spend more time on my hobbies and tracking that data. Here are the results of my first full month of data tracking.

Exercise - This is the one thing on the list that isn’t a hobby, but I am trying to make it become one. I had a great streak going there until I forgot one day.

Forestry - I bought native plants twice and removed Invasives seven times. Mostly Himalayan blackberry, a little bit of yellow archangel and English ivy. Kind of fell off a bit once we got freezing temps.

Learn Dutch - I was very successful at keeping this up daily. The amounts of time spent were variable. This was listening to a Dutch podcast nineteen times (shoutout to Een Beetje Nederlands), studying from my Dutch Reader twelve times, listening to Dutch music three times, watching a children’s show in Dutch two times, intentional speaking practice one time, and a movie in Dutch one time.

Look at birds - Currently it is often too dark for birds by the time I get home for work, but I was able to at least see some cool birds while commuting most days. There were a few days I missed because it was too dark on my commutes to and from work. I did make one dedicated trip to look for bald eagles.

Look at trees - This one was pretty easy for me to achieve daily because it can be done while driving and even in the dark. I was most excited about the appearance of hazelnut catkins and watching a snag in my driveway get demolished by a woodpecker.

Play a video game - Even though this was one of my lower ones, this was a hobby I was “stuck” on and hadn’t participated in for months before starting this data tracking. This is a huge improvement. This was nine days of playing Kingdom Hearts and four Pokémon Go outings.

[intothetlkverse]

Decided to challenge myself by drawing every single TLK character out there, up until this point in time, and post it here. You can see the finished project on my main account, though I figured to post it on my tumblr just show I could proudly show off my work and a few of my head canons.

This here are all the leopards across TLG.

First off we have our main antagonists of S3, the leopards of Makucha's army, featuring, none other than,  Makucha(claws), Jiona(evening), and Fahari(proud). Makucha and Jiona are brothers while Fahari is Jiona's boyfriend.

Next are Badili(change) and his rival/cousin here, Mapigano(fighting). Strangely kind and submissive for a leopard, Badili is often outcasted from his leopards due to his more docile nature, however once he gains more confidence in himself and athletic abilities, he soon learns how to defend his territory. He later becomes a bit of a friend to the Lion Guard, often seeing them when they return to the Backlands in order to forge stronger alliances between Queen Dhahabu and the Night Pride. He even becomes a bit of a messenger for the golden zebra, and ironically becomes close friends with a family of galagoes which moves into his tree.

Mapigano is Badili's cousin. Not as athletic or confident in himself, as well as very mean and lazy, he took advantage of his cousin's kindness at first when the leopard allowed him to stay with him, then bullied him into losing confidence and kicking him out of his tree. Very mean, he is also cowardly and lazy, not wanting to stand up to Badili once he gets his mojo back, and his cousin makes it clear that Mapigano has not only exhausted his stay, but his goodwill too.

Next, appearing in "The Golden Zebra" is the members of Makucha's leap: 'Swat'/Shaya(strike-Yoruba), 'Underbite'/Kuuma(bite), and 'Overbite'/Jino(tooth). All three are siblings with one another and Makucha/Jiona's cousins. Naturally native the area where they first appear, the three were living peacefully in their rocky territory when their cousin Makucha appeared, convincing them to stop off the water from coming to the watering hole, thus leading to the dehydration and easy pickings of local prey animals. They agreed and assisted, up until the point they got their tails kicked by the Guard and Dhahabu, resulting in them agreeing to not mess with the local zebra herd and to ban Makucha from ever coming to them for help.

Swat/Shaya is the eldest of the three and the most cunning and fierce of her siblings. She is also the most confident in her hunting abilities, going for Beshte despite his size and actually managing to scratch him(in my verse), though she at least knows when to retreat. She also is like the Shenzi of her siblings, usually making the decisions and speaking for them. Kuuma(left) and Jino(right) are her younger brothers, identified by their stunning jaws and teeth. Kuuma is lankier and usually relies on more speedier attacks like Jino relies on more strength-based, while Shaya is the stealthiest. Jino is rather smart and often the mediator and strategist for his brother and sister, while Kuuma is the more unkempt and often more immature and erratic, usually going in headfirst without a plan. The three remain in the Backlands, with Shaya eventually leaving and starting a relationship with Badili.

Lastly for our TLG leopards are two non-leopards that have been modified to be actual leopards. Chuulun in my verse is a sand cat, since there's no Himalayan/Asian influences and a sand cat in the desert has about the same ghostly/mysterious effects camouflaged against the sand as a snow leopard is against snow. However, just for the fun of it, I tried making her a true leopard, a strawberry variant, though exaggerated here. I really do like her character and her design, I'm just not a fan of the Asian aspects, hence why she is a species more at home with Africa, though this here was just a design practice. I really do like her more 'evil-eye' spots and 'devil horn' face mark, so I tried to keep those here. I imagine if she was still a leopard in my verse, she'd attack primarily during dawn/dusk/twilight, since her coat would best blend into the background then. Also if she was a leopard, her name would probably be changed to Chui(leopard), though I imagine that's a small pet name Makucha and crew call her sand cat form in my verse.

Yun-Mibu was a bit hard to do, given that I initially mistook him as a girl and I wanted to keep his more brownish pelt color and markings without just making him a more golden clouded leopard, though in the end I think I did exactly that regardless. I suppose the fact that the leopards in TLG have a simplified design which allows me to keep most of his design without sacrificing too much. In my verse, he is a leopard that does help save Kion from falling, albeit without use of a non-existent prehensile tail, and is also a guard/guide for the Tree of Life, living and serving outside of it and being on lookout for any newcomers/enemies seeking to find the Tree, something that comes in handy when Jasiri and Janja come trying to look for the Guard, which he then leads them to Azaad. He's one of several guides, each at a different Moja Kwa Moja Stone. Friendly and calm, though a bit skittish, he and Kion get to know each other better after Kion gets better and later becomes king. As for his name in my 'verse, I found the name Yamubu(mosquito) works pretty well.

[mysterioushimachal]

Baan Tree: The Forgotten Guardian of Himachal’s Climate

[fatehbaz]

Planting trees does not necessarily mean a forest is being restored.

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But efforts to increase global tree cover to limit climate change have skewed towards erecting plantations of fast-growing trees. The reasons are obvious: planting trees can demonstrate results a lot quicker than natural forest restoration. This is helpful if the objective is generating a lot of timber quickly or certifying carbon credits which people and firms buy to supposedly offset their emissions. [...] [I]ll-advised tree planting can unleash invasive species [...]. For more than 200 years India has experimented with tree plantations, offering important lessons about the consequences different approaches to restoring forests have on local communities and the wider environment. This rare long-term perspective should be heeded [...].

Britain extended its influence over India and controlled much of its affairs [...] from the mid-18th century onwards. Between 1857 and 1947, the Crown ruled the country directly and turned its attention to the country’s forests. Britain needed great quantities of timber to lay railway sleepers and build ships in order to transport the cotton, rubber and tea it took from India.

Through the Indian Forest Act of 1865, forests with high-yielding timber trees such as teak, sal and deodar became state property. To maximise how much timber these forests yielded, British colonial authorities restricted the rights of local people to harvest much beyond grass and bamboo. [...] Meanwhile plantations of teak (Tectona grandis), a species well adapted to India’s hot and humid climate and a source of durable and attractive timber, spread aggressively. [...]

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[G]rasslands and open scrub forest gave way to teak monocultures.

Eucalyptus and other exotic trees which hadn’t evolved in India were introduced from around 1790. British foresters planted pines from Europe and North America in extensive plantations in the Himalayan region as a source of resin and introduced acacia trees from Australia for timber, fodder and fuel.

One of these species, wattle (Acacia mearnsii), first introduced in 1861 with a few hundred thousand saplings, was planted in the Nilgiris district of the Western Ghats. This area is what scientists all a biodiversity hotspot – a globally rare ecosystem replete with species. Wattle has since become invasive and taken over much of the region’s mountainous grasslands.

Similarly, pine has spread over much of the Himalayas and displaced native oak trees while teak has replaced sal, a native hardwood, in central India. Both oak and sal are valued for fuel, fodder, fertiliser, medicine and oil. Their loss [...] impoverished many.

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India’s national forest policy [...] aims for trees on 33% of the country’s area. Schemes under this policy include plantations consisting of a single species such as eucalyptus or bamboo which grow fast and can increase tree cover quickly, demonstrating success according to this dubious measure. Sometimes these trees are planted in grasslands and other ecosystems where tree cover is naturally low. The result is that afforestation harms rural and indigenous people who depend on these ecosystems [...].

In the Kachchh grasslands of western India communities were able to restore grasslands by removing the invasive gando bawal (meaning “mad tree”) first introduced by British foresters in the late 19th century. [...]

The success of forest restoration efforts cannot be measured by tree cover alone. The Indian government’s definition of “forest” still encompasses plantations of a single tree species, orchards and even bamboo, which actually belongs to the grass family. This means that biennial forest surveys cannot quantify how much natural forest has been restored, or convey the consequences of displacing native trees with competitive plantation species or identify if these exotic trees have invaded natural grasslands which have then been falsely recorded as restored forests. [...]

Planting trees does not necessarily mean a forest is being restored. And reviving ecosystems in which trees are scarce is important too.

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Text by: Dhanapal Govindarajulu. "India was a tree planting laboratory for 200 years - here are the results." The Conversation. 10 August 2023. [Bold emphasis, some paragraph breaks/contractions, and italicized first line in this post added by me.]

[osrmedia]

 How to Plan the Ultimate Nature Retreat in Uttarakhand—With Junglhabits as Your Base Camp

If you’re daydreaming about fresh mountain air, starry skies, and a peaceful escape from city noise—Uttarakhand might just be calling your name. Known as the “Devbhumi” or Land of the Gods, this Himalayan gem is more than a spiritual retreat—it’s a sanctuary for adventurers, nature lovers, and anyone craving a little quiet magic.

Tucked away in the green embrace of the Shivalik range is Kotdwar—a lesser-known but breathtaking gateway to Uttarakhand’s wild side. And if you’re planning a nature retreat that blends comfort with authenticity, Junglhabits’ JUSGAR Resort in Kotdwar could be your perfect home base.

Here’s your easy guide to planning the ultimate nature escape in Uttarakhand.

Step 1: Start with the Right Destination—Why Kotdwar?

Most people head straight to the usual suspects—Mussoorie, Nainital, or Rishikesh. But if you’re looking for raw nature, fewer crowds, and a real sense of connection, Kotdwar is the place to be.

This peaceful town, nestled in the Himalayan foothills, is rich in biodiversity, culture, and hidden gems. Think quiet forests, untouched trails, charming villages, and a sense of stillness that’s hard to find elsewhere.

From jungle safaris to riverbed hikes, Kotdwar offers incredible eco-tourism opportunities—and staying here means you’re close to nature, not tourist traps.

Step 2: Stay at JUSGAR by Junglhabits—A Habitat, Not Just a Hotel

At the heart of your nature retreat is where you stay—and JUSGAR Resort isn’t just accommodation. It’s a jungle habitat designed to blend into its surroundings, offering you a space where sustainability meets serenity.

Built with locally sourced materials and a deep love for nature, JUSGAR feels more like a soulful retreat than a typical resort. Here’s what makes it special:

Rustic-chic rooms tucked between native trees

Farm-to-table meals using local, organic produce

On-site adventure options like forest hikes and rock climbing

Peaceful yoga spaces and wellness corners for reflection

Evenings by the bonfire, under star-filled skies

Whether you’re traveling solo, with your partner, family, or a group of friends, Junglhabits creates a space where you can truly slow down and reconnect—with yourself and the wild.

Step 3: Make Time for Adventure—Explore Uttarakhand’s Wild Side

When it comes to nature-based adventure, Junglhabits gives you front-row access to some of Uttarakhand’s best-kept secrets. Want adrenaline? Or something a little more meditative? You can do both.

Here are 10 unforgettable activities to add to your itinerary:

Trek through untouched forest trails

Watch rare Himalayan birds on early morning safaris

Hike along seasonal riverbeds and splash through streams

Try rock climbing or rappelling on natural formations

Join a night safari and meet the jungle’s nocturnal residents

Stargaze far from light pollution—you won’t believe your eyes

Walk through Umbrella village and meet the locals

Go foraging with naturalists and learn what the forest offers

Pedal along quiet paths on a guided forest cycling tour

Cook your meal on an open fire at a bush-cooking session

These experiences are perfect whether you’re looking for high-energy adventure, peaceful immersion, or a mix of both.

Step 4: Support the Earth While You Travel—Go Eco

Junglhabits isn’t just about a comfy stay—it’s about traveling with intention. Every detail at JUSGAR is designed around sustainability, making your trip better for the planet and the people who call this region home.

By staying here, you directly support:

Local artisans and village workers

Rainwater harvesting and natural waste management

Organic farming and slow food movements

Eco-friendly building practices

Environmental awareness among visitors and locals alike

This isn’t greenwashing—it’s real, responsible travel that you can feel good about.

Step 5: Go Inward—Connect with Yourself

Sure, adventure’s great—but sometimes, the biggest journey is the one you take inward. JUSGAR offers simple, beautiful ways to reconnect with yourself in the most natural of settings.

Take a breath. Feel the forest around you. Tune in.

Wake up with sunrise yoga overlooking the hills

Meditate in open clearings or beside a gentle stream

Try nature journaling or creative art workshops

Unplug with a “digital detox” day (your mind will thank you)

Experience forest bathing, a Japanese-inspired therapy where nature itself is the healer

This is the kind of place that invites you to be still—and maybe, to rediscover a part of yourself.

Step 6: Take a Day Trip—There’s More to See Around Kotdwar

If you’re itching to explore beyond the resort, there’s plenty to see nearby. Kotdwar is surrounded by natural beauty and cultural landmarks.

Here are some easy excursions:

Visit Sidhbali Temple, perched on a quiet hilltop

Explore Kandi Range Forest Division, known for rich wildlife

Take a scenic drive to Lansdowne, a charming colonial-era hill station

Extend your trip with a wildlife safari in Jim Corbett National Park

And the best part? After a day of exploring, you’ll return to the calm and comfort of your jungle habitat at JUSGAR.

Step 7: Make It Yours—Customize Your Retreat

Everyone travels differently—and Junglhabits gets that. Whether you’re a solo wanderer, a couple seeking connection, a family with energetic kids, or a corporate team in need of bonding, JUSGAR has something just for you.

Here’s what you can expect:

Custom itineraries based on your interests and energy levels

Kids’ nature camps with fun, hands-on learning

Wellness retreats and workshops for mental clarity

Team-building adventure experiences for groups

Weekend escape packages and long-stay offers for creatives or remote workers

That’s what makes JUSGAR more than a resort—it’s a place where your nature retreat is as unique as you are.

Final Thoughts: Start Your Journey Here

Planning a nature retreat in Uttarakhand doesn’t have to mean overbooked hill stations or generic resorts. With Junglhabits, you get something more meaningful—real connection, deep calm, conscious adventure.

[sundarbanwildlife]

What is the best time of year for a Red Panda Expedition?

Have you ever dreamed of seeing adorable Lal Panda in your natural habitat? If yes, then a red Panda campaign is actually what you need. Lal Panda is shy, trees-lover creatures found in the calm temperate forests of the Eastern Himalayas. Holding a glimpse of him in the wild is a lifetime experience for many nature lovers and wildlife photographers.

However, it is important to plan your Red Panda Expedition at the right time. In this article, we will guide you when the best time to see the red panda is what is expected during the journey, and reliable experts such as beautiful bans wildlife tourism can help you to make your campaign unforgettable.

Understanding the Red Panda’s Habitat and Behavior

Before diving in the best time to travel, it is important to understand where and how Lal Pandey lives. Lal Panda is a native of the Eastern Himalayas, including Nepal, India (especially Sikkim and North Bengal), Bhutan and parts of China. They prefer bamboo-filled dense, high altitude forests-their favorite food.

Lal pandas are mostly active in solitary and evening during the evening and morning (cracker animals). Their red-brown furs are completely mixed with red colored moss and white lactacles of trees, making them difficult to present until you know and where to see when you know.

Best Time for a Red Panda Expedition

1. Autumn (October to December)

Autumn is widely considered the best time for the Red Panda campaign. During these months:

• The sky is clear and blue, which offers a spectacular view of the Himalayas range.

• The weather is cold, but not cold, which is comfortable for trekking.

• The forests are alive with autumn colors, and with leaves that leave trees, it becomes easy to spot red pandas.

• Red pandas are highly active as they prepare for cold months.

If you are planning a red panda tour, aiming at the end of October gives you the highest chance to see them in the end of December.

2. Spring (March to May)

Spring is another excellent time for a red Panda campaign:

• The forests are alive with blooming rhododendrones and wildflowers.

• The weather is pleasant, with cool morning and evening.

• Red pandas are after active winter and they can also be seen forging and sometimes sexual intercourse.

However, spotting them can be slightly more challenging than the autumn as the forest becomes dense with fresh leaves.

3. Avoid Monsoon (June to September)

The monsoon is usually not recommended for a red panda tour:

• Heavy rain makes trekking trails slippery and risky.

• dense fog and constant rainfall reduces visibility.

• Red pandas are sheltered, which reduces your chances of seeing.

Therefore, it is best to avoid planning your journey during the rainy season.

What to Expect During a Red Panda Expedition

A specific Lal Panda campaign is not only about seeing Lal Pandas. This is an immersive experience where you:

• Trek through pure, untouched forests at high altitude.

• Spot other attractive Himalayan wildlife such as Himalayan black bears, cloud leopards, civates, and various species like pheasants and butterflies.

• Witness the culture and lifestyle of indigenous communities living in Himalayan villages.

• Enjoy breathtaking scenes of peaks like the world's third largest mountain Kangchenjunga.

With experts such as Sundarbans Wildlife Tourism, your journey becomes even more rich because they provide trained naturalists and guides who really know where these elusive creatures are looking for.

Tips for a Successful Red Panda Tour

If you want to maximize the chances of spotting a red panda and enjoy the experience, then here are some simple suggestions:

1. Be patient: Lal panda is shy and cautious. Sometimes, you may need to wait for hours before making a spot.

2. Wear comfortable clothes: Leveled fabrics are ideal because temperature in the mountains can change rapidly.

3. Take good optics: A good pair of binoculars and a camera with zoom lens can increase your experience.

4. Honor Nature: Avoid loud noise and garbage. Lal Panda is sensitive to disturbances.

5. Rent Expert Guide: Sundarbans wildlife tourism such as professional animal behavior and area better, which is more likely to have your vision.

Why Choose Sundarban Wildlife Tourism?

There are many operators offering wildlife tourism, but Sunderban Wildlife Tourism stands out because:

• They have experience of naturalists who are experts of Himalayan wildlife.

• Their tourism is designed to see moral wildlife, which ensure minimum disturbances to animals.

• They prioritize permanent tourism, working closely with local communities.

• Their package often includes comfortable migration, required permits and safe trekking arrangements.

Choosing Sundaraban wildlife tourism ensures that your red panda tour is not just a visit to a scenic spots, but an unforgettable learning experience.

Conclusion

Red Panda is one of the most delightful compositions of nature, and seeing one in the wild is a dream true for many wildlife enthusiasts. The best time for a red panda campaign is from October to December, followed by March to May when weather conditions are ideal, and red pandas are the most active.

The Sundarban can create all differences between the only trek and a magical experience filled with rare vision, natural beauty and nutritional memories with the right experts such as wildlife tourism.

If you are ready to go on a lifetime journey and look at the panoramic beauty of the red panda, then there is no better time to plan your Red Panda more than now!

[turtlesandfrogs]

I think a good first step is to notice what edibles and natives are already incorporated into landscaping, and just ignored. Here, for example, commercial landscapers plant our native evergreen huckleberry, which has much to recommend it, both as a "landscape" plant and edible: evergreen, easy care, subtle flowers, berries that ripen long after others, native as mentioned so supporting native animal species, tasty, humans and others enjoy the fruits. Yaupon holly isn't native here, but it's still used and is non-invasive while providing caffeine and theobromine(!), evergreen, pleasantly bland looking for fitting right into whatever landscape already exists. People plant rosemary, sage, sweet bay, lavender, etc for aesthetics but they're all very tasty too, obviously. Elderberries are gorgeous, and used all the time. My city planted chestnuts, and a lot of people go and forage for them (more so during bad economic times, but still). Also things that are food crops, but don't look like food crops: sunchokes, a species of daylily, camas, rhubarb, artichokes, cardoon, native strawberries, etc. Asparagus is a really neat looking plant. Scarlet runner beans are beautiful, and attract hummingbirds, while also making beans. Snow peas are also very pretty vines.

For vacant/neglected land, it's great to learn what invasives, weeds, and tough & abundant natives are edible. Giant knotweed, Himalayan blackberries, yarrow, etc fill-in-your-plants-here. Also it's great to go around pulling out invasive species because people will just think you're a really committed environmentalist, and you can harvest other edibles while you're at it. Be doubly sure about the land history though, don't want to unknowingly be picking from a superfund site! And for goodness sake, be sure of your ID! I've seen people mistake Oregon grape (native) for English holly (invasive) before, and you don't want to be that person.

With tubers/roots especially, you need to know the history of your soil and/or get a soil test for heavy metals. There are ways of improving polluted soil, and certain plants/parts of plants have less or no contamination. Cornell has a pdf available for free titled "Soil Contaminants and Best Practices for Healthy Gardens" which has a lot of good information, please do read it if you're gardening or foraging in urban areas.

From experience, landlords often have no clue and don't care if things are grown in pots/incorporated into existing landscaping. A big pot with Swiss chard, lettuce, kale, etc can look pretty aesthetic. Apartment complex often have edible invasives and/or the above mentioned edible and/or native plants- and nobody picks them.

You can also learn to graft, and graft fruit bearing varieties onto existing ornamental varieties- crab apples, pears, cherries, plums, etc.

A lot of people just straight up ignore plants, and a lot of people have no clue what food looks like if it's not in a store or restaurant. Use this to your advantage. I have seen landscapers look at a plant that clearly doesn't belong (invasive spurge laurel, for example, which is neither a surge nor a laurel), or is growing up through another (hazelnut through a rhody), and just completely ignore it, watering, fertilizing, and pruning them just like the rest. The ones most likely to do this are the ones that "prune" everything to be a cube or sphere though, so keep that in mind. What can still produce food when whacked into a cube? A few things. Also, look for the edges and backs, and places where the landscapers let things slide a little because they figure the clients won't ever look there.

Another big thing that gets ignored is that a single fruit tree often provides much more fruit than a small family will reasonably eat, and often a tree was planted literally decades ago and the current residents don't care about it's fruit. I've gotten loads of figs, apples, pears, grapes, etc just by asking- or by offering to make them a fruit crumble from their fruit tree if they let me pick as much as I want. Back alleys get invaded by out of control raspberries, blackberries, walnuts, etc.

@guerrilla gardeners, solarpunks and plantarchists of all stripes we need to make a good guide to growing food stealthy style

i'm talking growing in rental properties without alerting the landlord, growing on vacant/unused land, stuff like that