“Every summer, I would visit Nizamabad, where my maternal uncle, a forest officer, introduced me to the dense forests around us. As a child, I wandered these forests with a camera, capturing the beauty of nature. Over time, my passion for wildlife photography grew, and in 1993, I began working in national parks. But as I grew older, I realised how urbanisation was damaging our forests. The need for conservation became clear, and that’s when I started focusing on tree translocation and other conservation efforts.
In 2014, I founded Vata Foundation, with the mission to address environmental challenges and work on sustainable solutions. One of my first major initiatives was the foot-over bridge in Begumpet, Hyderabad, opposite Hyderabad Public School. As an alumnus, I knew the risks involved in crossing that busy road. While the bridge was a much-needed solution, it came at the cost of cutting down 19 trees. We attempted to translocate them, but only 8 survived due to the chemical-free process we use. Over the years, my team and I have successfully translocated over 2,000 fully grown trees across different parts of India without government funding—we only require permission. Still, cooperation is often a challenge, and we’ve had to file PILs to secure permission.
In addition to tree conservation, tiger conservation is another area I focus on. My work in Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra included providing water tankers, planting several thousand saplings, and working towards creating a rain-fed lake to support the local wildlife.
On this International Day of Forests, it’s a reminder of why our efforts matter. Conservation is more than just planting trees; it’s about understanding the right place and conditions for each tree, and that takes careful study. While government initiatives like Haritha Haram are promising, a deeper understanding of tree species and their environment is vital for long-term success.
Looking forward, I hope our future projects, such as the Green Wall around Hyderabad, will bridge the gap between urbanisation and nature. Our goal remains to ensure that every action we take creates a lasting, sustainable impact.”
- Uday Krishna, Co-Founder, VATA Foundation