The title picture shows a drone view of our first Gurkha Memorial Forest (GMF-1) that we planted in 2023 and that has grown rapidly thanks to our pioneering use in Nepal of the Miyawaki Method of reforestation. It comprises a forest with an adjacent water hole that has become a tremendous focus for biodiversity in an otherwise barren, over-farmed landscape.
This was the first of nine stepping-stone landsites that we have procured and that will ultimately become a wildlife corridor of forest clusters running between the Baluwa River and the Dhanushadham Protected Forest. This is a vital pathway for migratory animals that currently have to cross exposed fields with a high risk of human-wildlife conflict. In total, we aim to develop 13 GMFs, one in honour of each Victoria Cross (VC) won by Gurkha soldiers and officers since the start of The Second World War.
Through the forthcoming Big Give ‘Earth Raise’ campaign, that runs between 22nd and 29th April, we are aiming to raise the funds that will allow us to purchase and reforest the final four landsites for the future corridor. However for us to hit our fundraising target of £200,000 we still need to find £14,500 in matching pledges that will allow online donations made during the campaign week to automatically double in value. And we need to identify those pledges by this coming Friday, the 27th March.
If we can both secure the pledges AND the online donations that will allow us to buy strategically important land immediately next to GMF-1 (becoming GMF-10) and a landsite in the very exposed area between GMF-1 and GMF-2 (the future GMF-11). The forested area at GMF-1 will effectively double in size, which is a tantalising prospect.
GMF-10 and GMF-11 will be planted in memory of Lachhiman Gurung of 8th Gurkha Rifles and Bhanbhagta Gurung of 2nd King Edward VII’s Own Gurkha Rifles. Both won their VC’s in Burma in 1945.
Please let me know if you or your organisation can help us out. The minimum pledge is £100.
See the film below from the same appeal this time last year that shows clearly the locations of GMF-1 and GMF-2.
