In the heart of India’s Central Highlands, a restoration movement is growing. In Kabirdham, Chhattisgarh, tribal and farming communities are reviving their landscape, reclaiming lost traditions, and reimagining what’s possible — for their land, their livelihoods, and their children’s future.
This is the story of the Central Highlands Restoration Programme (CHiRP): a partnership between Commonland, Samerth Charitable Trust, PRADAN, FES (Foundation for Ecological Security), and local tribal and farming communities, rooted in the principles of the 4 Returns Framework. It’s a story of seed balls, saplings, and self-help groups. Of elders passing on wisdom, women launching businesses, and farmers learning to treat soil as a living being. And it’s a powerful example of what happens when community-led restoration is supported with trust, time, and long-term commitment.
A landscape under pressure — and full of potential
Kabirdham stretches across 1,700 square miles of forests, farmlands, and foothills — home to the Gond and Baiga tribes in the hills as well as farming communities in the plains, whose lives have long been intertwined with the landscape. For generations, these communities carefully harvested produce, respected seasonal flows, and passed down ecological knowledge. But in recent decades, deforestation, overgrazing, climate change, and extractive land use have put severe pressure on this once-thriving ecosystem. Water sources are drying up. Soils are depleted. Forests have thinned. But CHiRP is helping to turn that tide.
Restoration rooted in community wisdom
Launched in 2019, CHiRP uses Commonland’s 4 Returns Framework to regenerate ecosystems while strengthening social cohesion, building sustainable livelihoods, and restoring a sense of purpose. With support from local partners, community members across the landscape are working together to restore over 3,000 hectares of forest, farmland, and commons — using both ancestral knowledge and modern techniques.
“We are not just growing crops; we are growing the future.”
— Omprakash Chandrakar, natural farming trainer.
In the village of Mahli Ghat, community elder Samar Singh Dhurve has dedicated himself to protecting native tree species and teaching younger generations how to care for the land. Nearby, women in self-help groups are reviving forest economies — collecting, processing, and marketing minor forest produce like sal seeds and harra, and even establishing their own nurseries.
Women leading the way
Women like Anita Mesram, from the Jai Santoshi Maa self-help group, are earning independent income for the first time by bypassing middlemen and selling forest products directly to market. In Kabripathra, Baiga women have built a greenhouse nursery, inspired by a trip to Raipur, and are now growing saplings for reforestation efforts. Their actions not only restore ecosystems but also shift power dynamics, increase household income, and strengthen local decision-making.
Sustainable farming – revived
In the plains, farmers like Samaliya Sahu and Omprakash Chandrakar are restoring soil health through the Kavir Kisan initiative — a farmer-to-farmer learning network supported by Agricon under CHiRP. Practices like direct sowing, natural pesticides, and soil testing are helping farmers move away from chemical dependency, reduce water and energy use, and reclaim autonomy over their land.
“The crops grew strong — and so did my belief in this way of farming.”
— Samaliya Sahu
A new generation of leaders
In Nevratola village, 23-year-old Anuj is reviving the practice of lac cultivation, a traditional forest-based livelihood, and training others to do the same. He’s part of a growing group of young community leaders who see restoration not just as a necessity, but as an opportunity — to innovate, generate income, and build pride in their cultural and ecological heritage.
“To protect what we have left, we must ensure that protecting the trees also helps us generate income.”
— Anuj, lac cultivator and trainer
The 4 Returns in action
CHiRP is still in its early years — but the signs are clear. Forests are beginning to regrow. Streams are flowing again. Women are gaining voice. Farmers are regaining confidence. And children are learning from elders like Sheru Singh Baiga, who says, “The jungle provides me with everything I need — and in return, I must take care of it.”
This story is a reminder that landscape restoration isn’t just about ecology — it’s about dignity, equity, and long-term resilience. When people are empowered to care for the land they know best, regeneration becomes a reality.