12+ Years of Protecting Our Planet

In the serene hills of Tok Chama village, Okhalkanda (Nainital, Uttarakhand), a quiet environmental revolution began — led by Chandan Singh Nayal. After earning a diploma in engineering, he chose not to pursue a corporate career, but instead dedicated his life to protecting forests, reviving water sources, and restoring the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

Over the past decade, Chandan has planted more than 70,000 trees, transforming barren lands into thriving green landscapes. Every year, he nurtures nearly 40,000 saplings in his self-established nursery and has distributed over 83,000 plants across communities. With the support of youth groups and women’s collectives, he is developing mixed forests across four hectares of land in his village to create sustainable ecosystems for generations to come.

Understanding the deep connection between forests and water, Chandan and his team have constructed more than 6,000 micro check dams. Through rainwater harvesting and trenching techniques, they have revived dried springs and recharged groundwater sources — restoring not only water but hope for farmers, livestock owners, and rural communities.

One of his visionary initiatives is the creation of an oak forest near his village. Traditionally, women had to travel long distances to collect fodder and grass. By planting oak saplings and constructing water channels to maintain soil moisture, Chandan is building a sustainable forest that will reduce hardship and empower women in the community.

Before fully dedicating himself to environmental activism, Chandan served as a teacher in Rudrapur, where he educated students about the importance of forests and organized plantation drives. He has delivered environmental awareness sessions in nearly 200 schools, inspiring thousands of students and building a strong network of young volunteers across every block of Nainital district.

His remarkable work has earned national recognition. He was honoured with the prestigious Water Hero Award by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on July 23, 2021, and has received the Uttarakhand Ratna and the Sunder Lal Bahuguna Smriti Vriksha Mitra awards. His efforts were praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Mann Ki Baat program and acknowledged by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

In a profound act of commitment, Chandan has donated his body to Haldwani Medical College, ensuring that not a single tree will be cut for his last rites. His mission remains clear — to restore oak forests, recharge water sources, protect the Himalayan ecosystem, and inspire future generations. From a small village in Uttarakhand to national recognition, Chandan Singh Nayal stands as a living example of how one individual can transform landscapes — and lives.