Rajasthan: Reawakening Drylands
In the Luni River Basin, we learned from centuries-old water systems—stepwells, naadis, and beris that once sustained villages. By reading slopes, soils, and keystone vegetation, we designed catchments that slowed runoff, recharged groundwater, and invited grasses and shrubs to return. Even salination reversed, and wild animals gathered in large numbers to drink from the naadis we restored.
In Sardar Samand, overgrazing, invasive Prosopis juliflora, and years of chemical farming had damaged soil and water. Here, we designed water catchments and planted native grasses and millets to hold soil, capture dew, and build organic matter. Small depressions became ponds in times of rain, teaching us how slowing water allows the land to drink again.
Further west in Jasol, we created a network of naadis, flow channels, and sediment ponds, paired with careful planting. Even harsh soils responded: native grasses, insects, and birds returned, guiding water deeper underground and spreading resilience across the landscape.
