How communities are reviving forests in the Western Ghats

In Maharashtra’s Satara district, afforestation is transforming degraded land between the Koyna and Chandoli wildlife sanctuaries. Led by former migrant laborer Santosh Kadam and supported by corporate social responsibility funding, locals – mostly women – are planting native trees, restoring biodiversity, and earning a sustainable income. The Wildlife Research and Conservation Society has reforested over 900 acres across 18 villages. In Loni Kalbhor, a similar model focuses on napier and commercial timber forestry for faster dividends. These projects show how conservationand community empowerment can go hand in hand.