Along the stretch of hills in the Kharghar region of Navi Mumbai, one hill is special. It’s called Taloja Hill due to its proximity to Taloja Central Jail, and is the site of a three-year reforestation initiative led by local residents, non-profit iNaturewatch Foundation and the Forest Department.

The success story’s origins go back to 2016, when environmentalist and animal welfare officer Jyoti Nadkarni first moved into a residential building that faced the hill. “At the time, the land was barren. The few trees that existed were chopped by villagers for firewood once they reached a certain height. Illegal mining was also a concern. I soon realised that the only way to make a difference was to take responsibility,” she recalls.