Nandini Mehrotra

2023 at TfW

As we step into the new year, we reflect on the progress, challenges, and collaborations that have defined our journey in 2023. The loss of our founder-director, Shashank Srinivasan, has been a profound moment for our organisation. Despite the challenges, we remain committed to our mission of amplifying conservation impact and express gratitude to our collaborators, donors, and well-wishers for their continued support.

TfW core-team in discussion, Jan 2023.

We commenced the year with an in-person team meeting to discuss our objectives and goals for the first quarter.

At the end of the week, we made simultaneous in-person presentations. One was at Ganpat Parsekar College, Arambol as part of a state-level workshop supported by the Directorate of Higher Education, Goa. We spoke to students about the use of technology for conservation. The other was a presentation on the transmission line through Mollem at the inaugural meeting of the Goa Development Group at a seminar on Goa's economy and society, hosted by the Goa Institute of Management.

Nandini Mehrotra presenting on the use of conservation technology.

TfW with Dr. Nandini Velho in Mollem National Park.

In the following week, we undertook our first field trip of the year to Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. We looked at linear infrastructure features cutting through the park.

Alex identifying boundaries of the forest land in Mhadei.

TfW mentoring students of Srishti for a studio. Picture courtesy of Himanshi Parmar.

In mid-January, we visited Alex Carpenter and Cristina Toledo near Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa, where they focus on restoring private forest land. Here we initiated our collaboration of experimenting with a combination of ground, UAV and satellite-based data to aid restoration activities.

Also in January, we mentored students at Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology for a studio on environmental design taught by Himanshi Parmar.

 Nandini Mehrotra in discussion with the CILS5 cohort. Picture courtesy of Pakhi Das.

In February, we took part in the Fifth Central Indian Landscape Symposium (CILS5) near Kanha National Park. Hosted by the Network for Conserving Central India (NCCI), this acts as a platform for stakeholders to discuss conservation challenges in the region. Nandini Mehrotra, our Programme Manager, attended the conference and held an interactive session on the use of technology for wildlife and environmental conservation.

TfW conducting field-work in Bihar.

We have been working with Wildlife Conservation Trust, India (WCT) exploring the use of UAVs for the study and conservation of Gangetic river dolphins and gharials. In February, we successfully completed our second field trip to Bihar with WCT, conducting aerial surveys of behaviour and population estimation of these vulnerable species.

Introducing Bihar FD to the use of UAVs for conservation.

Following the field surveys, both organisations jointly organised a comprehensive day-long training workshop for the Bihar Forest Department. The workshop, centred on monitoring threats to river-floodplain wildlife in the Gandak River, served to enhance the skills and knowledge of frontline forest staff.

Team viewing live-stream of olive ridleys through the drone-controller.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of olive ridley turtles nest on the beaches of Odisha before returning to the sea. In March, we conducted fieldwork in Odisha to assess the feasibility of using drones for studying near-shore olive ridley turtle aggregations, as part of a three-way collaboration with WWF-India and Dakshin Foundation.

During a joint field survey we captured aerial footage revealing these turtles as small white dots off the coast of the Rushikulya mass nesting beach. Additionally, we gathered aerial video-transects of near-shore turtle aggregations and generated orthomosaic maps of nesting beaches.

During the first weeks of March, Goa's Western Ghats experienced intense fires. We created burn scar maps to identify affected forest areas, to inform future restoration projects. Our conservation geographer, Sravanthi Mopati, detailed the steps to create these maps in a blog as well.

In March, we also crafted a story map explaining the linear infrastructure projects proposed through Mollem in 2020 and summarising updates on the proposed projects since then.

Aditi Ramchiary presenting to high school students on TfW’s work.

We also spoke to high school students about our work and the use of technology for conservation on an educational trip organised by Journeys with Meaning.

Towards the end of March, the core-team gathered in person to review the first quarter, assess ongoing tasks, and plan for the upcoming months.

Also during this month, we unveiled the illustration created by Aashti Miller for TfW. Highlighting some of the different species that we have had the privilege to work with, the illustration conveys the nature of our work towards creating meaningful impact, by the use of appropriate technology for the conservation of wildlife and the environment.

We conducted phase one of an internal capacity building workshop on the use of vector design tools for cartography, and refined our spatial analysis workflow.

In April, we made the most of our time away from the field by analysing data, documenting methodologies, and creating communication material from our field work.

Illustration by Aashti Miller.

Artwork by Svabhu Kohli.

On 22nd April, 2023 we faced an unexpected and heart-wrenching loss with the sudden passing of our founder-director, Shashank Srinivasan. His vision for conservation, with his leadership, passion, and conviction are the driving forces behind this organisation's existence. While in this profound grief, the outpouring of support from all quarters helped us regain stability in the ensuing months.

TfW in Mhadei, May 2023.

TfW core-team, June 2023. Picture courtesy of Supriya Roychoudhury.

For our final field trip before the monsoon, we revisited Alex and Cristina's restoration project near Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. We used our UAVs to look at the effects of recent forest fires, the detrimental impact of invasive species and map parts of their plot as pilot sites for targeted assisted regeneration as well as control sites.

Later in May, we gathered in person at a co-working space in Goa to work together as a team on alternative days of the week. We also completed the second phase of our counter-mapping work with our collaborators for NID Ahmedabad.

Map output from the counter-mapping exercise.

Through the summer, from April till July, we produced 21 maps for 10 stories as part of our collaboration with Mongabay-India to use cartography to broaden conservation communication for environmental journalism. August marked the completion of our two-year commitment with them. Read more the stories we have worked on together here and explore our blog-posts for the process of visualising them


In August and September, we worked on cartography for 'Fish Curry and Rice' - a book detailing Goa's ecology and environment. Written and compiled by the Goa Foundation, it was first published in 1993, and is currently being updated for republication. As the cartographers, our goal for this project is to provide a spatial view of Goa's environmental landscape and create meaningful visuals for readers. We created over 20 outputs for publication- with revisions in October and December.

Screengrab from an internal capacity building workshop.

In September, we conducted the second phase of our internal workshop, focusing on the effective utilisation of vector design tools for cartography. During the same month, we had a meeting with WWF-India in-person in Goa to explore collaboration opportunities based on our joint efforts earlier in the year. 

Also in September, we were profiled to be part of a climate report 'Our Uncommon Future,' created by Dasra and the Observer Research Foundation. The report lists us alongside fellow CSOs championing for creative climate solutions through collaborative, multi-stakeholder methods.

In October, we extended our support to citizens in Assagao on using free and open-source tools to document the forests around them. Simultaneously, we marked the beginning of the final phase of our report on the use of drones for conservation in India, by seeking reviews and feedback from the interviewees. 


A special photo exhibit showcasing Shashank’s work in Ladakh was featured as part of the GDN Conference 2023 by the Global Development Network in Quito, Ecuador, during the first week of November. This exhibit, curated by Supriya Roychoudhury and TfW offers a glimpse of his work in this incredible landscape.

Aerial view of mangroves in Goa.

We have been selected as exhibitors and grantees for Science Gallery Bangalore’s exhibit on Carbon. We began work on the exhibit in the monsoon,continuing to refine our outputs through October and November. Our exhibit revolves around remote sensing methods to estimate carbon sequestered by mangrove ecosystems. We have compiled research and methods conducted over the last two years combining drone and satellite data. For this exhibit, we have also collaborated with visual artists who have interpreted our scientific outputs and analysis through multimedia. The exhibit will be open for the public soon in Bangalore and will also feature a website with digital material.

Aditi Ramchiary at her farewell. Picture courtesy of Nandini Mehrotra.

In November we bid a bittersweet farewell to our core-team member, Aditi Ramchiary, as she embarks on her journey towards an academic career. In her time with us, Aditi had numerous firsts and achievements. She skillfully blended her artistic and technical abilities, resulting in a distinctive aesthetic that made her a highly effective cartographer. In her parting blog, she talks about her experience with TfW which was also her very first job.

In December, we had exciting changes in our core-team. We welcomed Ishan Nangia, who will contribute to computer vision analysis in various projects. Ishan is a coder and a diver and is presently working with us on using computer vision to aid restoration planning. We also welcomed Dr. Madhura Niphadkar as an advisor to the same project.

TfW in discussion with the Asian Flying Labs. Picture courtesy of Anuj Pradhan.

At the beginning of December, our team travelled to attend conferences. In Delhi, we partook in the WeRobotics hosted Asia Retreat for Flying Labs, representing our work in conservation drone technology as co-leads of India Flying Labs. Simultaneously, Nandini Mehrotra, attended Ecological Restoration Alliance’s Restoring Natural Ecologies 2023 retreat in Panchgani, Maharashtra.

Identifying species from aerial footage as part of the workshop on restoration in the Western Ghats.

Mid-December, we conducted a day-long meeting cum workshop to make progress on the restoration project in the Western Ghats. Our team examined samples of our field data with Alex and Cristina- our partners on the ground. We were joined virtually by remote sensing expert Dr. Madhura Niphadkar and Dr. Kartik Teegalapalli, an expert in forest recovery. Based on our discussion on potential methodologies, we are currently testing a combination of computer-vision aided analysis of UAV footage along with satellite data and analysis, based on the input and on-ground expertise that Alex and Cristina provided.

We also began work on a new project with the Sciurid Lab of IISER Tirupati. In a virtual meeting, Dr. Nandini Rajamani and Harsha Kumar talked our team through the research that the lab is currently focusing on, and helped us understand more about the species they work with. We then explored avenues of research and the possibilities of using a combination of computer vision and spatial analysis to further explore data collected through our previous field work with the lab in 2022.

Last team-call of 2023.

As the year drew to a close, we concluded with a team call, summarising the events of the year, sharing personal and work reflections.

Reflections on 2023

TfW with collaborators in Mhadei, January 2023.

2023 was definitely a very unusual year at TfW. The year began in full steam- with workshops, conferences and lots of field work with travel. We were then suddenly presented with a situation nobody anticipated- finding ourselves without Shashank Srinivasan, our Founder-Director. While it was a year of irreplaceable loss, it came with its own learning and growth. This blog is a reflection of what it has been like navigating this change over the last few months.

When faced with this situation of suddenly being without our team leader, I found myself in a new position of leadership. The very first thing was to see if the organisation-really the people, a small team – remained motivated to keep going. Without hesitation, the entire team was sure of wanting to continue work and see projects through. It was a relief that we all felt this way, and I understood what it meant to be a mission-aligned organisation. We believed in the work we were doing, were motivated by it and unwilling to let it go. It strengthened my own belief in the work we did, that nobody needed any convincing to stay in a period of uncertainty.

Core-team, June 2023.

Team in discussion, July 2023.

The projects of course meant little without the team behind them. I cannot adequately describe the incredible resilience, understanding and grit of the team I’m so lucky to be a part of. Each and every person showed determination and growth, both technically and personally. They met commitments and created high quality work while showing endless patience and adaptability with me and changing circumstances. Aditi and Sravanthi upskilled significantly and grew more independent in their tasks. Nancy and Shivangini took on additional responsibilities and workload. These are the things that kept us going in the months since.

Unexpectedly, it felt like the team also grew- we began working with Sandhya Srinivasan as our Director, and our accountant Nikhila Ballal. As the Director, Sandhya Auntie, continued to provide the structural support the organisation needed to keep running as well as immense understanding, and kindness that helped us retain the character and culture of the organisation. Nikhila, our accountant was always a part of our set up but someone I hadn’t previously interacted with. I valued her presence more than ever as provided patient explanations and guidance while making sure our work could continue smoothly.

TfW in Mhadei viewing forest fire scars, May 2023.

Without planning for it, it also suddenly became a team composed entirely of women- managing everything from field work and GIS to communication and accounts. It was an unexpected but special and empowering experience for me. To be working in an environment where each colleague was a competent, empathetic and motivated woman was a support and inspiration I never anticipated I would experience, let alone this year. I know this is a rare phenomenon in any field, and it has significantly helped ease some of the difficulties in this transitionary period.

TfW in Odisha surveying olive ridleys, March 2023.

What also made it possible for us to keep working was the stable support and patience from our donors. To have continued belief in our work and ability was immensely reassuring and gave me the confidence I needed to keep going. It also gave us the ability to focus our energies on the work we were doing, rather than anything else.

The conservation community, especially that in Goa, further felt like a safe and valuable ecosystem to be a part of where our worth was acknowledged, and support extended. Trust, built over years was tangibly felt and helped us to continue to feel a part of the community in which we work. 

Professionally, for me the year was of learning to manage and adapt continuously. It was a journey of understanding personal and collective capacity- of knowing when and to whom to ask for help and finding the sparks that keep us motivated. Most of all, in everything, as I deliberated and thought- ‘What would Shashank do?’ I realised just how much difference a single person can make. Like him, every single person in the team has created so much wonderful work and change. This has provided me with inspiration and helpful reminders of what we are capable of.

With this as we begin the new year, more changes are to come and we hope we can continue to create positive change and share this journey with you all!

The team sharing a light moment while waiting to board a flight, March 2023.

The Guardian of Mangar Bani

One of the wonderful opportunities we have at TfW is our collaboration with Sanctuary Asia on their Mud on Boots project. We speak to grantees to explain TfW’s mission, and if our work can build on their projects in any way, we find ways to collaborate. We have connected with amazing practitioners through this program - one such grantee is Sunil Harsana. While on a visit to Delhi for work, we were able to visit his field site and meet him in person in November 2021 so we could better understand his work.

I was eager to see the sacred grove in Mangar Bani. It’s not often that I get to visit new places close to where I grew up. Even so, I didn’t expect to be as surprised as I was. While I had been to Mangar before, I hadn’t visited the sacred grove, which was just 40 minutes from my house. The taxi driver and I were both in for a surprise. Neither of us could believe where we ended up this short drive later. 

Sunil Harsana in Mangar Bani.

The next few hours were a beautiful lesson on Mangar Bani, as Sunil unravelled the landscape with as much ease as the maps he was carrying. We stood staring at the rolling Aravallis in every direction, and I couldn’t believe the scale of what I was seeing. As we walked along, I heard Sunil’s descriptions of the species we saw, and of how unique and precious the ecosystem was. He went on to explain the cultural significance of the grove, the historical temples in juxtaposition to the current land pressures in the area. The scientific, cultural and political contexts were laid out for me to better understand the land with which I was being acquainted.

Layered  in this narrative was Sunil’s own story. Of how his life is deeply rooted here, from his ancestry and childhood to his future. His family, his work, his aspirations - everything is intertwined with Mangar Bani, much like the root systems of the Dhok trees that it supports. The majority of this dry, deciduous forest is made up of Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) trees. Dhok is a slow-growing tree taking up to 10 years to reach a height of 5ft. It begins its life cycle by clinging to the rocky slope, acting as a substrate for groundwater recharge. This craggy hillside of Haryana Aravallis is covered with Dhok in various stages of its life cycle, from grass-like substrate form to very tall trees. The tree with its tiny leaves and crooked trunk yields extremely hard timber that is used for making tool handles.

Sunlight filtering through the foliage.

In the face of immense land pressure and legal loopholes, Sunil is dedicated to the long-term protection of this vulnerable landscape. He is gathering data and evidence about the biodiversity of the area and increasing the appreciation for its ecological value amongst both urban and rural youth. The area is  a High-Biodiversity Zone with over 30 native tree species  and  100 native shrubs and herbs which provide shelter to the wildlife, rare birds and part of the Northern Aravalli leopard corridor. Mangar Bani and its surroundings also form a water catchment and groundwater recharge zone, while sequestering carbon and releasing oxygen to the National Capital Region (NCR). Sunil’s vision is to demonstrate the value of the ecosystem and secure legal protection for it in order to ensure its long term preservation. 

Sunil with maps of the region.

Sunil is unwavering in his efforts to raise awareness about the sacred grove. He began campaigning for the protection of Mangar Bani over a decade ago, and founded the Mangar Eco Club in 2015. At the Eco Club, community youth work to increase awareness about Mangar Bani and its potential among local and urban children. The members spend the monsoon months planting seeds of native species in the degraded areas, from those collected in the grove in summer. They also go birdwatching, build check dams, participate in clearing the grove and litter, and document the biodiversity of the hills.

The discovery of Palaeolithic cave-paintings in May 2021 revived calls for the forest to be protected. Activists and environmentalists like Chetan Agarwal, who have studied the forests and flora of Mangar Bani extensively have demanded that the Government should designate it as a sanctuary or national park for permanent conservation. 

Sunil has rare clarity about his vision of Mangar and his work. This made collaborating with him really straightforward. He knew the gaps in his work and we figured out what was possible for us to do to help him address these gaps. One of the challenges he was facing was with data collection - he wanted a way to document evidence of wildlife presence when they were conducting routine walks, even when formal wildlife surveys were not taking place. We worked with him to adapt his existing flora and fauna surveys into Open Data Kit (ODK) surveys. This should also make data entry and storage more efficient. Additional information about this  can be found in a previous blogpost by my colleague.

Dhok trees thriving in the Haryana Aravallis.

It was satisfying to play a small part in Sunil’s vision for Mangar. It was a privilege to get a peek into his world, and receive a glass of fresh chhach (buttermilk) from his mother. We intend to continue visiting and collaborating to build a  future where I hope the Aravallis are replete with Dhok, owls, children and leopards.

Sunil is part of the Coexistence Fellows 2022- Cohort, working with Nitesh Kaushik on understanding leopard ecology and enhancing human-leopard coexistence in the Aravallis of south Haryana.