Leaf

The full form of LEAF is Legal and Environmental Action Foundation; it is called and known as LEAF as
it’s easier. LEAF’s work began in 2004. LEAF’s main occupation is to bring to the people the essential
legal knowledge that they require in their daily life; and to protect native plant species and conserve and
manage the natural forests found in their work areas in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh.

These activities of awareness of conservation and legal literacy are conducted through workshops in the
work areas of LEAF; the meetings are in the local adivasi languages. In areas where, due to bad forest
amangement, or other reasons, forests have been cleared, LEAF works on reforestation programmes. This involves regular seed collection of native seeds, establishing plant nurseries – LEAF has 5 such nurseries in it’s work areas – and a steady supply of 1,00,000 to 1,50,000 plants of between 35-40 species. LEAF registered itself under the Indian Societies Act in 2012.

LEAF works in 22 villages; of these 18 are in Bastar disrict, 2 villages in Dantewara district and 2 villages
in Sukma district. Almost all the members of LEAF are adivasi. Some work is also being done with regard
to NTFPs, especially through the womens’ Self Help Groups that collects and trades in some of these
products. At present LEAF engages with five such womens SHGs. Apart from this LEAF works on the
CFR process in villages; this entails strengthening the panchayat raj institutions, like the gram sabha and
the village panchayat.

LEAF is a member of NTFP Exchange Prorgamme Asia.