Project Empowering HEALTH supported environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods in Uttarakhand by planting herbal, fruit, and fodder-bearing trees while creating income opportunities for rural families, particularly women.

Project Empowering HEALTH (Himalayan Ecosystem and Livelihood Through Herbiculture) was launched to restore the fragile ecosystem of Uttarakhand while improving livelihoods for rural communities. With support from IDS, the project planted 5,000 herbal saplings, including Rosemary and Dandelion, along with 2,000 fruit and fodder-bearing trees such as Amla, Reetha, Oak, and Bheemal across villages in Tehri Garhwal. IDS funding supported the procurement, transportation, and plantation of saplings, as well as labor activities such as site preparation, pit digging, and land development. The project directly benefited 25 rural residents, including 23 women, by providing employment opportunities and creating sustainable sources of future income. Beyond environmental conservation, the initiative strengthened local livelihoods, supported livestock farming through fodder plantations, and encouraged community participation in environmental awareness programs and sustainable land management practices.