In Reshamiya, a village in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, women from Rabari, Rawal and Koli communities are at the heart of a community-led grassland restoration effort. Through the manual removal of Senna uniflora, an invasive plant species that threatens native grassland vegetation, these women are contributing their labour, time and knowledge to restoring the ecological health of their landscape. For many, employment opportunities have historically meant travelling long distances to work in ceramic factories and sand-related industries. Grassland restoration now offers an opportunity for seasonal wage employment closer to home.
But their contribution extends beyond the removal of invasive plants. Their work brings together questions of women’s livelihoods, access to local employment, ecological restoration and the value of labour in conservation. At Conservation indica, we believe that restoration is as much about people as it is about ecosystems. Through this space, we hope to introduce the women behind the work, share their experiences in their own words, and recognise the labour that makes restoration possible.
