We adopt a holistic approach toward improving the lives and living conditions of tribal and forest-dependent communities—especially women—by enabling access to and control over productive resources through the facilitation of collective action for the protection, conservation, and regeneration of woodlots, forests, and reserves, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation.

We work toward the conservation of nature, natural resources, and commons through the collective action of local communities. Forests continue to remain the mainstay of the Malyagiri Mountain region (the second highest mountain in Odisha) and its surrounding ecosystem. Since rural inland areas primarily rely on agrarian economies, forests and fodder play a crucial role in the livelihoods of local communities. Beyond providing fuelwood and fodder, forests protect and recharge perennial springs—key sources for maintaining surface and groundwater levels—and serve as the primary drinking water source for local tribal populations.

It is, therefore, crucial to actively involve communities in the conservation and regeneration of forests. Our strategy has been to build strong community institutions that protect and nurture forests and water bodies, and actively participate in their management. Over the years, we have gradually reduced physical interventions and increasingly focused on supporting and strengthening these community institutions.

Our work on the right to water and the conservation of water bodies began in 2014, rooted in community participation—especially among indigenous groups. We have focused on reviving the relevance of traditional water bodies in contemporary times and promoting their protection through community-led management. These efforts have also led to the establishment of a growing network of individuals committed to advancing community-based water governance.

We have documented numerous case studies showcasing tribal communities’ involvement in the protection and conservation of water bodies through traditional knowledge. Water harvesting structures and conveyance systems that reflect the ecological, cultural, and livelihood needs of tribal communities have remained at the heart of our work.

We are one of the partner organisations of the National Adivasi Alliance, India. The alliance has a presence in 11 states and works closely with tribal and forest-dependent communities to ensure their rights and entitlements. We emphasise raising awareness among tribal and forest-dwelling populations to encourage them to actively expedite the implementation of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) and Community Forest Rights (CFR) processes, as well as to promote the participatory management of common resources, including forests.

Our team, volunteers, and the tribal communities collectively decided to focus on the issue of Community Forest Rights, which remain unaddressed in several villages. Committee members were capacitated to oversee developmental activities related to forests and natural resources, working in close coordination with the forest department and local administration. This was done to strengthen the implementation of IFR and CFR under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

The mountainous regions of the Eastern Ghats are rich in reserves of medicinal and aromatic plant species, including many that are endangered. To promote their conservation, regular sensitisation activities are conducted to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these valuable species that are on the brink of extinction.

Nurseries of endangered medicinal herbs and shrubs are being established, and seeds and saplings are distributed among both programme and non-programme households and communities. Villagers from across the region are actively participating in the conservation of medicinal plant species found in the virgin forest zones.

As the implementing agency, we have successfully organised training programmes on the sustainable and judicious collection of seeds, regeneration techniques using matured seeds, propagation through plant cuttings, as well as processing and preservation methods. Caring for these medicinal plants has now become an integral part of daily life, particularly among tribal women.

It has been observed that around 60% of tribal families use medicinal plant-based remedies—such as pastes, decoctions, and crude extracts—for treating their livestock. These ethno-veterinary practices not only help reduce household expenses but also contribute to the economic well-being of Adivasi communities engaged in animal husbandry.

Paribartan signed an MoU with Dinabandhu Trust, Kolkata, and Capgemini to work in partnership for the implementation of the “Mission Million Trees” project. The initiative aims to undertake large-scale plantation activities in Odisha to enhance vegetation cover.

Plantation plays a vital role in moderating the microclimate, sequestering greenhouse gases (such as CO₂), and aiding water percolation. Estimates suggest that approximately 6 tons of carbon can be sequestered per hectare of forest annually, averaging about 6 kg of carbon per tree per year. Trees of all kinds provide immense ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, soil replenishment, air purification, and groundwater recharge.

Under this initiative, 20,000 saplings were planted across four blocks in four districts: Pallahara block of Angul district, Kanas block of Puri district, Tirtol block of Jagatsinghpur district, and Bhubaneswar block of Khordha district, including areas under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Active community involvement—particularly that of community-based organizations (CBOs)—in plantation efforts, monitoring, and protection was a key component to ensure the survival and growth of the saplings.