Meet the champions for nature who are improving the world we live in

In the past few weeks, incidents of buildings collapsing, rubble storms, and lives lost have summed up the ground reality of Turkey and Syria. Back home in India, and other countries around the world, people are facing extreme climatic conditions in the form of gruelling summers and intense cold waves in winter.

Climate extremities and other disasters serve as a wake-up call for us to realise the acute impact of global warming due to callous human activities.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Adding a ray of hope to the gloomy scenario are the efforts of individuals who are fighting to conserve natural resources in order to restore our ecosystem and tackle the severities of climate change.

Social Story has compiled a list of changemakers in the country who are doing their bit to improve the world we live in.

Varun Ravindra: Reviving barren lands

It’s not easy to give up a well-settled job to follow one’s passion. But Varun Ravindra, inspired by his father’s passion for nature, took the step in a heartbeat.

Ravindra started Vanantara in 2016 by buying 100 acres of barren land along the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. The region now has over 40,000 trees thanks to Vanantara’s efforts.

Vanantara aims to revive barren lands and make them sustainable. It focuses on soil remediation and creating the right environment for biodiversity to thrive in.

The revival process involves composting, vermicomposting, preparation of fermented bio inputs such as jeevamrut, infusing soil with efficient microorganisms, and using foliar sprays that serve as growth enhancers.

Vanantara has also planted 40,000 trees across Bengaluru to create Miyawaki forests. Conceived and popularised by Akira Miyawaki, a Japanese botanist, this method calls for high-density planting of a prescribed proportion of native tree species. This technique helps in generating a more resilient forest ecosystem.

The initiative has generated additional employment for many local farmers. Many people from startups and other corporate firms also participate in this effort.

Shyam Kumar: Planting and nurturing trees

Here is another person who is committed to nurturing trees. Shyam Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Thenkurissi, Palakkad in Kerala, is an avid environmentalist.

Kumar has helped plant over 23,000 trees in Palakkad. Apart from planting trees, he also helps nurture them, for which he carries over 10 litres of water in his autorickshaw.

Kumar, who is often referred to as a “forest minister” in his community, has received many awards, including the Haritha Vyakthi Award of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board.

Mehul Kumat: Restoring the ecosytem

Mehul Kumat, who was born and brought up in Udaipur, was in Class 12 when he decided to do something to mitigate the catastrophic effects of climate change on the city.

Since childhood, Kumat had been fond of taking long walks along the city’s green trails, listening to the monsoon rains, and gazing at the sparkling waterbodies of Udaipur. So, he could not just sit and see the city’s landscapes degrade.

In 2018, he established Kritaash, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on ecological restoration. Kritaash translates to ‘hope for a better future’ and this is what Kumat’s NGO attempts to do.

The NGO recycles waste paper into useful products and organises afforestation drives using the proceeds from the sale of these products.

To create environmental awareness among children, Kumat and his friends also conduct workshops across schools in Udaipur.

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Anand Malligavad: Rejuvenating lakes

Anand Mallihavad, who hails from a small village in Koppal district, North Karnataka, came to Bengaluru in 1996.

Years later, in 2015, he read an article about Bengaluru staring at Day Zero by running out of water in a few years. This prompted him to do something to stop this from happening.

Malligavad plunged into lake rejuvenation projects. He has rejuvenated many lakes in Bengaluru, including Vabasandra, Konasandra Lake, Gavi Lake, Manae Lake, Hadosiddapur Lake, Nanjapura Lake, and Chikka Nagamangala Lake.

A total of 211 acres of land have been rejuvenated, over one lakh saplings have been planted, and over 8,000 borewells have been recharged till date, according to Mallihavad.

A typical lake rejuvenation project involves making a detailed project report, getting permission from the municipal corporation, and then doing surveys of the lake. The actual rejuvenation process includes desilting, creating walking paths, and opening up channels by removing mud, waste, etc.

Chandra Kishore Patil: Protecting Godavari

If Mallihavad is concerned about lakes, Chandra Kishore Patil of Nashik is committed to the Godavari river.

Patil, who lives near Godavari, has sought to protect the river from pollution. He stands by the river from early morning till 11 pm, with a whistle, to stop people from throwing garbage into the river. He also tries to explain the deadly effects of water pollution due to human activities to passersby.

Women of Western Ghats preserve nature’s biodiversity

For over two decades now, a women’s collective in the Western Ghats has been conserving nature, preserving its biodiversity, and providing sustainable livelihoods to the people of the region by conserving traditional seeds.

Vanastree, or Women of the Forest, was set up in 2001 to provide a platform for women gardeners, engage children and youth in experiential learning programmes, and support livelihood initiatives for the members of the community through the sale of value-added products from home gardens, fields, and the forest.

Women farmers play an active role in Vanastree’s initiatives. The collective consists of 150 members located within a radius of 40 kilometres around Sirsi, Karnataka.

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A couple on a beach cleaning drive

Can two people make a difference?

Yes, they can, and here is the proof. Anudeep Hegde and Minusha Kanchan, newlyweds from Baindur town in Karnataka, decided to spend the first weeks of their marriage cleaning the Someshwara beach near their house.

In December 2020, the couple cleared about 600 kilos of garbage from the beach. Later, around 15 young people joined them in their drive.

This is what Anudeep had tweeted, “Got married two weeks back and with my wife have decided to clean up this beach before we celebrate honeymoon. 40% have been cleared. Few more days to go. A much satisfying experience so far.”