With erratic winters, scorching heatwaves, and unseasonal monsoons becoming the norm, the planet’s climate crisis calls for immediate action. As the urgency to address climate change grows, it's crucial to embrace sustainable practices and champion eco-friendly initiatives.

Before climate concerns became a global conversation, some remarkable individuals stood as protectors of nature. Meet four eco-warriors who have dedicated their lives to preserving forests, wildlife, and traditional knowledge.

1: Bah Tambor Lyngdoh Bah Tambor Lyngdoh works to protect sacred groves. Leading the Khasi Hills Community REDD+ Project, he ensures tribal traditions support modern conservation. Since 2007, he has helped revive over 27,000 hectares of forest, preserving ancient trees and rare herbs.

Bah Tambor’s vision is simple yet profound: extend the sacred grove tradition across Meghalaya to combat climate change. With the support of 62 villages, his efforts have impacted over 3,500 households, demonstrating how age-old beliefs can drive meaningful environmental change.

2: Jamuna Tudu In Jharkhand’s Purbi Singhbhum, Jamuna Tudu has waged a non-violent war against the timber mafia. Known as the ‘Lady Tarzan’, she inspires thousands of women to protect their forests by tying rakhis around trees — a spiritual and social statement of commitment to nature.

Over the last 20 years, Jamuna’s efforts have saved 50 hectares of forest. From assembling women armed with bamboo sticks to confronting poachers, she remains steadfast in her mission. Despite the challenges, the forest is worth the struggle, says Jamuna.

3:  Lakshmikutty Amma Seventy-eight-year-old Lakshmikutty Amma from Kerala, affectionately called ‘Vanamuthassi’, is a healer, poet, and protector of traditional herbal medicine. Her remedies for snakebites, passed down through generations, have saved over 350 lives.

Every day, Lakshmikutty nurtures 150 herbal plants, embodying a deep harmony with nature. Recognised with a Padma Shri, her legacy of knowledge is being preserved in a book by the Department of Forest, Kerala, ensuring her invaluable wisdom guides future generations.

4: Peera Ram Bishnoi Peera Ram Bishnoi, a tyre mechanic from Rajasthan, has saved over 1,180 distressed animals in the last decade. Inspired by his community’s ethos, he uses home remedies and personal funds to nurse injured wildlife, defying hunters and poachers despite facing threats.

Peera Ram’s compassion inspires his village to rescue and care for wildlife. “These species are more valuable than our lives,” he says, embodying selfless dedication. His small acts of kindness have rippled into a movement of conservation in his region.