In 2012, Radhakrishnan (R K) Nair witnessed hundreds of trees being cut down during a road construction project in Gujarat. The sight deeply moved him, but it was the sounds of distressed birds that struck a chord.
“The sounds of the crying birds made me realise that I had to create a forest for them,” he recalled.
Born in Kerala’s Kasargod, Nair grew up surrounded by nature, which instilled in him a deep sense of responsibility to protect the environment. Years later, his work brought him to Gujarat, where an encounter with displaced birds during the construction project set him on a new path.
At the time, Nair was working in the textile industry and had been posted to Umargam, a coastal village in Gujarat.
Image courtesy Distinct Destinations
Moved by the loss of habitat he had witnessed, he decided to plant trees using the Miyawaki method — a decision that would mark the beginning of his mission to restore nature.
Image courtesy Forest Creators RK Nair
In 2012, Nair partnered with a colleague and bought a piece of land to begin his mission. Using the Miyawaki method, they planted 1,500 trees on a one-acre plot in Umargam, Gujarat.
The Miyawaki method, developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, focuses on creating dense forests by mimicking natural ecosystems.
Nair’s first forest thrived quickly, catching the attention of the Maharashtra government, who even invited him to transform a dumping yard into a forest.
Nair planted 32,000 trees in the once barren dumping yard, turning it into a lush, thriving ecosystem. “There were so many medicinal plants in these forests growing all on their own. I learnt that if we help nature, nature helps us back,” he shared.
News of Nair’s success spread quickly. Soon, he was collaborating with state governments across India, creating forests in urban areas and restoring ecological balance. Over time, Nair has helped plant over 80 forests across 12 states, turning barren lands into green havens.
In Kutch, Gujarat, he planted two lakh trees to honour the victims of the 2001 earthquake. Similarly, in Shahid Van, he planted 40,000 trees as a tribute to the martyrs of the Pulwama attack.
Image courtesy Mathrubhumi English
From Gujarat to Maharashtra, and from Kutch to Pulwama, Nair’s work has left a lasting impact. Now, his goal is bigger than ever: to plant one crore trees across India, helping cities and communities reconnect with nature.
Image courtesy Youtube Forest Creators