Lantana Mela is on at MM Hills on Oct 6th.

Lantana camara was once a troublesome weed that colonized nearly 60% of the forest land in MM hills. Also known as Spanish flag, the plant is a native of South America.

Sustained efforts made by ATREE’s Conservation and Livelihoods team have helped transform Lantana from a disturbing weed to a utility plant. Working with Lantana camara has become an attractive livelihood option for the Soligas as well as other tribal communities.

Perhaps you may want to spend this Saturday meeting with the craftspeople and seeing for yourself the lovely works of art and craft that can be made with Lantana.

Lantana camara is a tough, hardy plant which thrives well in low rainfall conditions and is not affected by bugs or microbes. To know more about the Lantana initiative at ATREE, you can check out this link: http://www.atree.org/lantana_confl_07.html

Here's the agenda for the Lantana Mela

11.00 am: Invocation by Divyajyothi members

11.30 am: Laying of Foundation stone for Community-based Conservation Centre, MM Hills
by Mrs Parimala Nagappa, MLA, Hannur - Chief Guest

11.40 pm: Distribution of certificates to the Lantana Craftspeople

13.00 pm: Lunch

14.30 pm: An interaction session with the Craftspeople

15.30 pm: Field trip

19.00: Cultural program: Janapada geethegalla nruthyarupaka by Soliga artisans and Adima Kala Shale, Kolar

Event Organizers : Lantana Craft Centre (LCC), Divyajyothi SHG (Self Help Group)Federation, University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore and ATREE.