Shyam Sundar Paliwal, former panchayat (or village head) of Piplantri in Rajasthan, created an initiative aimed at eliminating female infanticide in India. This initiative celebrates the birth of a girl child with the planting of 111 trees — and has transformed the ecology of the village.

Once a completely barren village in the desert state of Rajasthan, Piplantri now has over 300,000 trees, which has not only ensured better air quality and attracted biodiversity, but has also brought water back to ground level when it had fallen almost 800 feet below. The village residents now enjoy a cooler environment and also save electricity.

Piplantri has become a model village and a case study in sustainability for communities and cities around the world. It also sends a very strong social message to villages across the country that the birth of girl children is a cause for joy and celebration.

The challenges of this new decade have highlighted the vast inequalities facing communities around the world. How does your work help address the intersection of environmental justice, social equity, and human health and wellbeing? Share your story.