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TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT FY 2023 COMMUNITIES THE PLANET THE WORKPLACE

Revival of Khejari in the Thar ecosystem through agro-forestry measures Manmade mangroves and species conservation at Ravva

right direction.These luxuriantly, dense wetlands
support approximately 150 species of avifauna,
Cairn has also committed to plant 15,000 52 species of butterflies, more than 5 species of
saplings of Khejari in the Thar desert mammals and snakes each, and hundreds of
Target region, thereby helping to support the Over the past 20 years, Cairn has transformed species of insects, beetles, spiders. Species like
local biodiversity of this fragile and the Fishing Cat, Smooth coated Otter, Black
15,000 plantations by FY 2025 unique ecosystem. 56 acres of waste land adjoining its Ravva oil Tailed Godwit, Painted Stork, Black-headed
and gas field in Krishna-Godavari basin near
Surasaniyanam in Andhra Pradesh, into a lush Ibis,Spot Billed Pelican, which are classified as
Progress till 31 March 2023 Impact spread of mangroves that hosts thousands of ‘nearthreatened’ or ‘vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red
st
300 plantations done Biodiversity conservation and livelihood different species of flora and fauna. The Ravva List of Threatened Species, are all found in these
mangroves, which provide them with a natural
generation for farmers by providing the oil field on the Bay of Bengal coast, is a joint habitat. The disappearance of mangroves from
higher yielding variety of Khejari. venture between Cairn Oil & Gas-Vedanta Ltd, India’s and south Asia’s coastal regions have also
As part of Cairn’s ESG commitment toward Oil & Natural Gas Corporation, Videocon
No Net Loss to biodiversity and to Industries Ltd and Ravva Oil Singapore Pvt. Ltd. meant that a lot of aquatic, amphibian and
conserve indigenous and ecologically Way Forward Cairn became the operator of this field in 1996. tropical rain forest-based species have lost
sensitive floral species of the Thar region Cairn’s long term objective is to increase habitats, a gap that Ravva is filling. The wetlands
in Rajasthan, we have initiated a project for the population of Khejari in western The reclamation of the 56-acre stretch of dry are also enriching the soil beneath. Revva’s
the revival of Khejari. The Khejari tree is Rajasthan, by involving both local wasteland began as a social and environmental topsoil samples are estimated to have an organic
Rajasthan’s state tree and has both communities and the government. Our change initiative and subsequently became an carbon content greater than 1.9%. The very
ecological, social as well as, economic short- to medium-term goal is to increase ongoing CSR initiative for the JV entity. The high-density canopy created by the mangroves
importance. This species is adapted to the number of plantations in the areas reclamation entailed the creation of manmade also makes it an exemplary carbon sink. So far,
thrive in the harsh and arid conditions of surrounding our site. mangroves and wetlands in the area which the wetlands have stored more than 2000
the region and helps in sustaining the houses Cairn’s crude oil storage and processing tonnes of carbon and sequestered nearly 7500
nutrient value of the soil. The leaves are terminal. As a part of the reclamation initiative, 8 TCO e of greenhouse gases from the
2
used as fodder for livestock. The tree also mangrove species out of the 40-odd commonly atmosphere.
helps in nitrogen fixation and improves the found species endemic to the eastern coast,
quality and fertility of the soil. Further, have been transplanted and nurtured in Ravva.
Khejari pods, locally known as sangari are
used as a vegetable and is rich in proteins, Impact
minerals and fibers. The tree is also used
for medicinal purposes, for curing of South and South East Asia are losing
ailments like asthma, bronchitis. mangroves at the fastest rates in the world. Yet
mangroves have an even greater role to play in
However, due to over-cultivation, grazing these regions which face some of the fiercest
and habitat degradation the Khejari storms and hurricanes in the world, against
population has been decreasing. Cairn has which mangroves can act as natural barriers.
distributed 300 saplings of Shobha Khejari These regions also have high population
to farmers in 2022 as a part of its Van densities and high carbon emissions
Mahotsav initiative. This activity will help in trajectories, where mangroves can make a dent
improving soil quality and also generate given their high rates of carbon sequestration.
livelihoods for the farmers. Our wetlands at Ravva are thus a step in the

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