Two founders began their project by purchasing ten acres of arid land near the Kanha National Park. Initially, for about three years, they left this semi-desert area in Madhya Pradesh virtually untouched after acquiring it in December 2015. At the time of purchase, there were fewer than 300 trees.
Today, this protected area boasts over 6000 native plants and trees, as well as 59 species of birds. Furthermore, an artificial pond was created, which attracts wildlife during the summer when water is scarce in the region.
The founders, who had extensive experience in India's travel industry, noticed that tourism often benefits visitors but provides limited advantages to surrounding communities and ecosystems. They aimed to create an alternative model near one of India's renowned conservation areas.
The Surwahi Social Ecoestate project was conceived as a long-term social impact venture where tourism could contribute to land restoration, support local populations, and preserve traditional skills. The founders continued their corporate activities, funding the development of the property, including during the pandemic. During the first ten years, one founder actively participated in all stages of construction and management, while the other focused on shaping the ecological vision and overall direction.
After fencing off the land, locally known as Satkata Jungle, its restoration began. The fence prevented illegal logging and stopped vehicles involved in illegal sand mining along the nearby Sanduk River. Within two or three monsoon seasons, the forest began to regenerate naturally.
The team also dug an artificial pond named Arjun Talab to collect floodwaters and replenish groundwater, reducing the amount of unused rainwater flowing into the Sanduk River. A hydrogeological survey was conducted before drilling wells to map the aquifer and determine a suitable location. The study also recommended creating catchment trenches and using local plant species, such as Paras Pipal, Cassia siamea, and local bamboo, which determined the planting of about 1000 trees.
Of the more than 6000 plants and trees growing on the site, approximately 1500 were planted, with the remaining 4500 appearing through natural self-regeneration. As the forest recovered, more bees, birds, and butterflies returned, whose pollination activity supported further growth. Recently, the team added about 300 fruit and flowering varieties to the main complex.
As the land began to recover, Ankit and his team sought architects who shared their values. They eventually found Mrinmayee Architects from Bangalore, led by renowned professors from IISc and a young architect who worked with local stonemasons to realize the vision. The building plan was simple and uncompromising: the team aimed to avoid burnt red bricks, glass, and steel. Instead, thick mud walls were used, which helped the buildings naturally respond to temperature changes. The roofs were covered with recycled terracotta tiles collected from the debris of nearby village houses.
Ankit emphasized that 'every worker, from stonemason to painter and plumber, came from surrounding villages. This was a non-negotiable condition. This land belongs to these people. The least we could do was ensure they built it.' All furniture was either bought second-hand at the Gurundi market in Jabalpur or made by local bamboo craftsmen.
The first space, Maikal Express, opened in October 2019. The eight-bed earth dormitory was named after the Maikal hills near Kanha and designed as a 'wildlife co-living' space where nature, community, and tourism could coexist. After a few months, the pandemic paused Surwahi's plans, but the founders continued to support the project using their corporate earnings.
In December 2021, two family suites, Jolar and Karivah, named after villages relocated outside Kanha in the 1970s during the creation of the national park, were added to the eco-hotel. Ankit noted that they named them intentionally to keep this memory alive.
Today, Surwahi is fully operational, remaining small in scope while continuing to develop every part of the property according to its ecological and social goals.
When preparing the buildings, the team faced the question: how to manage a hotel in a forest buffer zone without harming the environment? They approached the study of sanitation, water, energy, and waste with the same rigor applied to the land and construction. Conventional septic tanks were excluded from the start. Finding another solution in a remote forested area required extensive research.
With support from Safalgram in Uttar Pradesh and international sanitation expert Martha Vanduzer-Snow from the USA, the team installed an evapotranspiration toilet. In this zero-discharge system, waste decomposes naturally using banana trees and other nitrogen-loving plants. The team claims this is the first such system in Madhya Pradesh.
A 1500-liter biodigester was installed on the other side of the property, utilizing bacteria developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. According to the team, this was also the first such system used by a hotel in the region at that time. Water received equal attention. Ankit stated: 'You don't gamble with groundwater in the forest. We believe we can be the first lodge in Madhya Pradesh to do this before drilling.'
Rainwater from the Satkon dining hall roof is directed into an internal fish pond. When the pond fills, an overflow helps replenish an old nearby well. The property also uses a chemically pure earth swimming pool instead of a conventional one. The power station is fueled by solar energy, and hot water is provided by a wood-fired steam boiler. Thin cotton towels reduce water consumption per wash, and plastic is completely banned.
The founders extended this mindset beyond the property boundaries. In 2017, Ankit proposed building a dam on the nearby Sanduk stream so farmers could retain water and grow a second crop. According to Ankit, it took years of persistent appeals at the Panchayat (village council), Tehsil (administrative unit), and district levels before it was finally approved and built under the MNREGA program. He noted: 'This is what it means to do the right thing in this country. You have to be prepared to wait and keep showing up.'
The banks of the dam suffered erosion after the first two monsoon seasons. Since then, Surwahi staff and local residents have maintained it seasonally, using burlap sacks filled with sand and excavated catchments. Water is now available longer, supporting the second crop, fishing, cattle grazing, and vegetation along the Sanduk. At least 10 families directly benefit from this.
However, water alone was not enough to solve the farmers' irrigation problem. They had access to water but lacked electricity to pump it to the fields. In 2019, Surwahi financed and provided an 11 kVA transformer and grid connection for agricultural land. The team describes this as the first installation of this kind in Madhya Pradesh. Thanks to the power line and subsidized state electricity billing, at least seven farmers have started growing a second crop.
Surwahi's work has received recognition from ICRT, TOFT, Outlook Traveller, and the Wildlife Tourism Conclave among others. Nevertheless, the founders continue to measure their progress by what still needs to be done. Their internal sustainability assessment covers water conservation, clean air, chemical-free soil, waste sorting and recycling, toilet waste management, reforestation, and community participation beyond direct employment.
The system also accounts for inclusive amenities for pets, the elderly, and guests with disabilities, alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals, local sourcing of food and materials, and sustainable building design, including the earth swimming pool. According to this assessment system, the team claims that Surwahi is confidently past the halfway point and rates its current sustainability at 70–80 percent. Ankit states: 'Currently, we are operating at a 70–80 percent sustainability level. But our goal is to continue closing this gap and soon reach 100 percent.'
Since all efforts were focused on land restoration, Ankit believed that conservation should improve the lives of the people living around the forest. He stressed: 'If the forest thrives, but the people living around it do not, then we haven't really solved anything. That's what we wanted to change.'
The team started with a clear principle: hire locals, patiently train them, and create opportunities that last longer than individual jobs. Priyanka Rastogi, another travel industry veteran, joined the team to lead planning and strategy. Suraj Singh and Lokesh Dongre joined as interns in 2024 and soon took on key roles focused on community-based tourism.
Priyanka notes: 'Creating jobs is only the first step. Real impact is achieved when people gain the confidence and skills to take responsibility, grow into leadership roles, and build long-term careers.'
Narendra Patle from the village of Sarekha was one of Surwahi's earliest employees. He joined as a caretaker while the eco-hotel was still under construction. Hospitality was an unfamiliar field for him. Through training and mentorship from Ankit, Narendra grew into the role of estate manager and now helps run Surwahi.
Pradap Uikey followed a similar path. He joined without formal culinary training and now works as the eco-hotel's chef. For Ankit, their stories reflect what community-managed tourism should achieve. Priyanka believes it would be easier to hire experienced managers from outside, but then the knowledge leaves when they leave. When locals reach leadership positions, the benefits stay in the community.
Some of Surwahi's most significant social projects were implemented through women from neighboring villages. In 2017, the founders helped establish the Deetiya Jagriti Self-Help Group, noticing that local women had limited opportunities to earn independently or form a collective voice. Today, over 40 women from nearby villages are members of this group. Through small member contributions, they have raised over 1 lakh rupees. The group provides these funds internally at one percent monthly interest, functioning as...
Shina Ansari, head of the Environmental Department, announced that Iran's main objective in participating in the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) will be to highlight the ecological consequences of military actions and call for increased international responsibility.
Speaking at a press conference on Iran's participation in COP31, Ansari emphasized that the annual UN Climate Change Conference is one of the most important global environmental forums. This forum provides the Islamic Republic of Iran with a valuable platform to present its position, capabilities, and challenges to the international community.
Ansari stated that Iran will provide documented reports based on factual data detailing the impact of military aggression on the environment, infrastructure, and public health. These findings will be presented to the international community to raise awareness and stimulate appropriate international measures.
According to Ansari, even before the start of hostilities with the US, the Environmental Department had warned international organizations and the United Nations about the escalation of military activity in the Persian Gulf region. Furthermore, the agency contacted the environment ministers of Persian Gulf countries, stressing that the region's fragile ecosystems cannot withstand the consequences of armed conflict.
Iran's reports will document a wide range of environmental damage. Such damages include explosions at fuel storage facilities, attacks on protected areas and ranger stations, destruction of oil and gas and petrochemical infrastructure, as well as impacts on nuclear facilities, destruction of natural habitats, wetlands, and biodiversity, and harm caused to civilian populations and critical national infrastructure.
Ansari further stressed that the ecological consequences of the war extend far beyond immediate damage. She warned that armed conflict leaves long-term and often irreversible marks on ecosystems, coastal habitats, wetlands, and biodiversity, the restoration of which will require significant time and resources.
It was also noted that the international community must recognize that the war has significantly disrupted Iran's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease its carbon footprint. Ansari noted that the environmental consequences affect not only Iran but also neighboring countries and the global environment.
The transition to regenerative agriculture does not require an immediate, complete overhaul. In an episode for mentor farmers, researcher Lyane Erasmus explains how livestock management can be transformed starting with small steps, such as high-intensity grazing and adaptive methods.
For Lyane Erasmus, regenerative agriculture is not a passing trend or an imported concept. It is based on experience she gained living on a farm near Rustenburg in North West. There, managing pastures, livestock, and grazing throughout the seasons was a normal part of farm life.
Now, working in regenerative agriculture research, Erasmus is convinced that farmers can run a profitable business while simultaneously restoring the natural resources upon which agriculture depends. After studying animal husbandry and pasture science at the Free State University, she returned to her family farm and later joined a regenerative agriculture research team.
She recalls: 'I grew up on a farm and had the privilege of working with my parents and grandparents. When working with livestock, you had to plan for winter, manage camps, and think about how the animals moved across the land. This became the foundation of my understanding of farming.'
When she began working with the research group, her understanding of the farming system deepened. Although she first encountered the term 'regenerative agriculture' during her research work, she realized that many of its principles had always been part of good farming practice. In her view, regenerative farming involves studying nature's workings and attempting to imitate them in one's own system. The essence is building up, not destroying. Nature provides many things for free, and farmers must figure out how to use these natural processes to their advantage.'
Although regenerative agriculture is often associated with crop production and soil health, Erasmus notes that livestock farmers can also benefit from improved grazing management and more efficient use of pastures. However, she emphasizes the lack of a universal plan. 'There is no recipe that suits everyone,' she says. 'Every farmer has their own problems, climate, and environment. You need to look at your own farm and decide how to implement regenerative practices so that it matches your situation.'
At the Riger Boerderd in North West, implementing high-density grazing faced practical difficulties. The complex landscape hindered livestock movement, and additional fencing, watering points, pipelines, and pumps required careful planning and investment. Erasmus notes that supplying water on flat terrain is simple, but lifting it up a hill presents a different problem, requiring more powerful pumps, pipelines, and reservoirs.
The transition also required staff to learn and adopt the new grazing system. While both workers and livestock needed time to adapt, concentrating the herd in smaller paddocks improved herd management, reducing inspection time from half a day to one or two hours. Implementing a new way of farming also meant convincing family members of the viability of these investments. 'There was a family issue too. You need to communicate openly and ensure everyone understands the vision and the reason for the changes.'
For farmers interested in regenerative agriculture, Erasmus advises moving gradually instead of trying to transform the entire farm at once. She insists: 'If financial resources are limited, act step by step. Money won't bring itself. You have to work at it.' She considers patience and adaptability to be among the most important qualities for farmers adopting regenerative practices. 'It won't happen overnight. Tomorrow you might not have everything perfect, but you can do what you can using the resources you currently have. Don't despair if the process seems slow.'
Erasmus urges farmers to focus on long-term goals rather than the opinions of others. She believes that significant changes occur gradually, achieving improvements in farming methods and financial sustainability incrementally. For her, regenerative agriculture ultimately means making today's farming decisions that will make the land healthier and more productive for future generations.
The World Bank Group Executive Directors' Council has approved an initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation in water resource management in Central Asia. Grant funding of $20 million will be provided to the Executive Committee of the International Fund for the Saving of the Aral Sea (IFAS).
The Central Asia Water and Energy Cooperation (CAWEC) project is designed to enhance regional interaction, develop new investment areas, and improve mechanisms for joint management of transboundary water resources. It is estimated that approximately 40 million people in the region will benefit directly or indirectly from this project.
According to the World Bank, Central Asian countries face a number of systemic problems. These include outdated water infrastructure, limited institutional capacity in the energy and water supply sectors, and insufficient data exchange between states in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins.
Climate change is placing additional pressure on the region's water sector. Over the past six decades, the area of glaciers in Central Asia has decreased by approximately 30%, negatively affecting water availability. The World Bank estimates that annual economic losses due to weak coordination of national water management systems exceed $4.5 billion.
Tatyana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, emphasized that sustainable management of shared water resources will be one of the key factors for economic growth and job creation in the medium and long term. She noted that the new project will help Central Asian countries intensify joint efforts to solve common water problems and strengthen regional partnership.
The project will be coordinated by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for the Saving of the Aral Sea in close cooperation with the fund's member states. By 2031, the project is expected to prepare up to six transboundary infrastructure projects affecting two or more Central Asian countries. These projects will focus on modernizing irrigation systems, improving water conservation and storage efficiency, and strengthening joint management of water infrastructure.
Furthermore, the project includes the digitalization of water accounting systems and the updating of information systems in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins. Training for up to 100 specialists from regional water resource management organizations is also planned, along with conducting activities to build professional capacity, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support joint research in the region.
