native tree species

Inspired by the movie Avatar, environmentalist and clean air activist Jai Dhar Gupta turned 32 acres near Uttarakhand's Rajaji National Park into a biosphere. With the help of expert Vijay Dhasmana, he revived the land, bringing back native plants and wildlife.

What began as a small act inspired by a neighbour became a 25-year-long green movement. With no funds or land, Bholeshwar Palange has grown and donated over 1 lakh saplings — turning a parking lot into a thriving nursery and involving his entire family in the mission.

Every monsoon, a government-run nursery in Udupi, Karnataka, offers indigenous saplings for as little as Rs 20, encouraging locals to grow native forests on their land. Here’s how Siva Sankar and his team at Magadha Vana used this initiative to transform their farm.

Jai Dhar Gupta and Vijay Dhasmana have turned 32 acres in Uttarakhand into India’s first private biosphere, creating a thriving ecosystem and setting a new standard for rewilding efforts across India.