Native species

India's tiny mammals may be hidden, but their role in protecting nature and supporting agriculture is huge and necessary for healthy ecosystems.

Harshada Kerkar from Saligao, Goa, formed a citizen action group called Catch2o with her niece Sharada and their friends to revive ponds in Saligao, Pilerne and Marra in Goa

Maharashtra-based Mohammed Dilawar, a sparrow conservation activist, and his team have restored 400 species of native plants, which they have planted across 20,000 acres. The beauty of these plants is that all of them are indigenous alternatives to non-native ones, helping keep the ecological balance in check.

Scientifically known as Macaranga nicobarica, the species is endemic to Andaman and Nicobar islands, and its leaves are unusually!