In an era when deforestation and climate change threaten ecosystems worldwide, one man from Gujarat—a state on the west coast of India—is rewriting the narrative of environmental restoration.

Dr. Radhakrishnan Nair, fondly known as Nairji, has created 122 forests across India, transforming barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems. His most remarkable achievement, Smritivan (a memorial forest) in Gujarat—recognized as the world’s largest Miyawaki forest—stands as a testament to his vision. Spanning 470 acres and home to over 500,000 trees, this forest is not just a memorial but a beacon of ecological hope. Nair’s work demonstrates how one individual’s determination can combat global warming, restore biodiversity, and inspire communities to embrace a greener future.

From entrepreneur to green crusader

Born in Kasaragod, Kerala, R.K. Nair’s path to becoming India’s “Green Hero” was anything but conventional. After failing his 12th-grade exams, he took on a series of odd jobs, eventually rising to become a successful entrepreneur in the garment industry. But a pivotal moment came in 2011, in Umargam, Gujarat, when he witnessed the felling of 179 ancient trees for road construction. The cries of displaced birds and the destruction of their habitat struck a deep chord.

“I felt the birds were speaking to me,” Nair recalls. “That day, I vowed to create forests where no one would harm them.”

This epiphany led to the founding of Forest Creators with his friend Deepan Jain in 2014. Using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, Nair began planting trees—starting with 1,500 saplings on a single acre. Today, he has planted over 3.2 million trees across 12 Indian states—from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh. His approach blends the Japanese Miyawaki method, known for rapid and dense forest growth, with a localized adaptation he calls Bharatavanam, tailored to India’s diverse ecosystems.

Smritivan: A green miracle in the Desert

Nair’s crowning achievement is Smritivan, a sprawling forest in Bhuj, Gujarat, established in memory of the 13,805 victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. Originally conceived in 2004 but long stalled, the project gained new life when Nair took charge. Despite the 470-acre terrain being arid and hilly, he began planting in July 2021. “By August 2022, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the memorial, the forest had reached an astonishing 16 feet in height, with 223,555 saplings planted in the first phase alone. Today, Smritivan houses over 525,000 trees, with plans to add 40,000 more,” Nair says, in an interview with EdPublica.

A report from the Gujarat Ecology Commission, accessed by EdPublica, highlights Smritivan’s ecological transformation. Now home to 117 tree species, the forest supports 79 bird species, 28 types of butterflies, 21 reptiles, nine mammals, and two species of fish. The dense canopy and mulched soil prevent erosion, retain moisture, and enrich the land with organic matter. “With an 86% tree survival rate, species like neem and casuarina are flourishing,” according to the report published in 2023.

The forest has also led to localized temperature reductions, while its 50 check dams help replenish groundwater. A one-megawatt solar plant further bolsters its sustainability, making Smriti Van a global model of eco-restoration.

A report from the Gujarat Ecology Commission, accessed by EdPublica, highlights Smritivan’s ecological transformation. Now home to 117 tree species, the forest supports 79 bird species, 28 types of butterflies, 21 reptiles, nine mammals, and two species of fish

Industrialist Anand Mahindra recently shared a viral post on X, praising Nair for building the world’s largest Miyawaki forest.

Ecological impact: Restoring balance

Nair’s forests are more than green patches—they are ecological engines. “In Chhattisgarh, the coastal forest of 103,000 trees raised groundwater levels dramatically—from 160 feet to just 12 feet—reviving wells and sustaining communities,” Nair claims. Across India, his forests have restored biodiversity, attracted wildlife, and helped rebuild natural food chains.

The Gujarat Ecology Commission underscores Smriti Van’s role in carbon sequestration, a vital tool against climate change. Experts recommend ongoing assessments to quantify its carbon storage potential, which could significantly offset emissions.

Nair’s method ensures long-term ecological success. He doesn’t merely plant trees—he nurtures ecosystems. By selecting native species suited to local conditions, his forests are resilient and sustainable. They grow 10 times faster than natural forests, mimicking 150-year-old ecosystems in just 10–15 years. Dense planting (3–4 saplings per square meter) encourages vertical growth, mimicking natural competition for sunlight.

A Vision for the future

Nair’s ambition is bold: planting one billion trees by 2030. Backed by governments, corporations, and citizens, Forest Creators is scaling up to meet this audacious goal. His work has earned international acclaim, including an invitation to represent India at a NASA conference and a UNESCO Prix Versailles award for Smritivan.

Yet, Nair remains grounded—dressed in his signature white mundu, shirt, and cap—a nod to his Malayali roots and the spirit of India’s farmers.

Beyond ecology, Nair’s forests are also community spaces. Smriti Van has become a popular destination for its tranquil trails and vibrant festivals, with 94% of surveyed visitors citing its fresh air and peacefulness. Future plans include guided tours and educational programs to engage youth in environmental stewardship.

A Global inspiration

R.K. Nair’s story is a clarion call for individual action in the face of global crises. His 122 forests—especially the monumental Smritivan—showcase what one person’s vision and persistence can achieve. By restoring biodiversity, cooling urban climates, and sequestering carbon, Nair’s work supports global efforts to fight climate change. As he marches toward his billion-tree goal, he reminds us that a single seed, planted with purpose, can grow into a forest of change.

A new study led by researchers from MIT, Georgia Tech, and other institutions suggests that the use of marine scrubbers—devices that clean sulfur emissions from exhaust gases—may be just as environmentally friendly, if not more so, than burning low-sulfur fuels. This groundbreaking research, published in Environmental Science and Technology, challenges the common assumptions about the environmental impact of scrubbers and has important implications for the future of the maritime industry.

The 2020 mandate by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to cap the sulfur content of marine fuels at 0.5% pushed shipping companies to consider alternatives to the traditionally used heavy fuel oil (HFO), which contains much higher levels of sulfur. The options? Companies could either burn low-sulfur fossil fuels, install exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers), or switch to biofuels. While the latter has been limited by availability, scrubbers became the go-to solution for many, thanks to their cost-effectiveness and ability to enable continued use of cheaper, high-sulfur fuels.

However, a critical question remained: How “green” are scrubbers when viewed through a holistic environmental lens?

“Scrubbers Turned Out to Be an Unexpectedly Deep and Important Transitional Issue”

According to Neil Gershenfeld, MIT professor and senior author of the study, the study explored this question through a comprehensive lifecycle assessment. “In our collaboration with Oldendorff Carriers to broadly explore reducing the environmental impact of shipping, this study of scrubbers turned out to be an unexpectedly deep and important transitional issue,” he explained.

The Study: A Comprehensive “Well-to-Wake” Assessment

The researchers used a “well-to-wake” approach, which examines the environmental impact of fuels and technologies from production to final use. They looked at everything from the manufacturing and transportation of fuels to their emissions when burned on ships. They also gathered data directly from a bulk carrier vessel in China that burns heavy fuel oil with a scrubber and low-sulfur fuel under similar conditions. The team analyzed emissions from the exhaust and samples of washwater discharged from the scrubbers, which is often a concern due to its potential toxicity.

Lead author Patricia Stathatou, an assistant professor at Georgia Tech, emphasized that a full lifecycle analysis is critical for understanding the true environmental impact. “If we just look at everything that happens before the fuel is bunkered onboard the vessel, heavy fuel oil is significantly more low-impact, environmentally, than low-sulfur fuels,” Stathatou said. She added that scrubbers, with a lifetime of about 20 years, have a minimal environmental footprint compared to the energy-intensive production of low-sulfur fuels.

Surprising Findings: Scrubbers Surpass Low-Sulfur Fuels in Several Areas

The results of the study were surprising. When the researchers considered the entire lifecycle, including the production of fuels and scrubbers, burning heavy fuel oil with scrubbers was found to be the least harmful option in terms of most environmental factors, such as greenhouse gas emissions, terrestrial acidification, and ozone formation.

“The claims about environmental hazards and policies to mitigate them should be backed by science,” said Stathatou. “You need to see the data, be objective, and design studies that take into account the full picture to be able to compare different options from an apples-to-apples perspective.”

Scrubbers: A Proven and Mature Technology

Marine scrubbers, which have been used for decades in land-based applications like power plants, are now widely deployed in the shipping industry. Scrubbers are typically large vertical tanks that use seawater to wash sulfur dioxide from the exhaust gases. The seawater reacts with the sulfur, converting it into sulfates, which are environmentally benign. The washwater is then released back into the ocean, where it is diluted by the vast expanse of seawater.

Despite concerns over the acidity and potential pollutants in the washwater, the study found that most chemical concentrations in the washwater were well below the limits set by environmental regulations, such as those from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union.

Scrubbers Meet International Standards

The researchers also tested the washwater for over 60 chemical parameters, including metals and hydrocarbons, and found that concentrations of harmful substances were generally well within safe levels. “Scrubbers reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 97 percent, making them just as effective as low-sulfur fuels in terms of sulfur emissions,” said Scott Bergeron, managing director of Oldendorff Carriers, who co-authored the study.

A Call for Balanced Environmental Policies

This research has significant implications for future maritime environmental policies. As Stathatou points out, there is growing momentum toward alternative fuels, but it’s critical to assess the environmental impacts of these fuels in comparison to current technologies. “We must do our due diligence to compare them equally with existing solutions to see the costs and benefits,” she said.

The study’s findings could reshape policies governing the maritime industry, suggesting that scrubbers may offer a more sustainable path forward than previously thought. The research team hopes this will prompt a more science-driven approach to reducing shipping’s environmental footprint.

The study, which includes contributions from researchers at MIT, Georgia Tech, and Oldendorff Carriers, highlights the importance of scientific analysis in shaping policies that reduce the environmental impact of global shipping. With over 5,800 vessels now using scrubbers worldwide, the technology is clearly making an impact, but questions around its long-term environmental effects are only just beginning to be answered.

Imagine diving into the ocean’s depths, descending further than the eye can see, into a cold, almost completely dark world where every movement feels like a gamble. For some of the ocean’s most formidable predators—like tuna and swordfish—this is no mere adventure; it’s a necessity. A new study reveals that these apex hunters are making regular, long-distance plunges into the twilight zone, a mysterious and dark layer of the ocean, to fill their stomachs. And what they’re finding there could change the way we think about ocean ecosystems and the future of commercial fishing.

For decades, oceanographers knew that large fish like tuna and swordfish occasionally ventured into the depths of the ocean, but the purpose of these dives remained unclear. Were these predators hunting for food, or were they just exploring? A recent breakthrough by MIT oceanographers has answered that question—and the results are more astonishing than anyone could have imagined.

In a pioneering study published in ICES Journal of Marine Science, an MIT team led by Ciara Willis has found that these fish are relying heavily on the twilight zone, a dark, cold layer between 200 and 1,000 meters below the surface, for as much as 60% of their diet. This discovery reveals a much deeper connection to this enigmatic zone than scientists previously realized.

“We’ve known for a long time that these fish and many other predators feed on twilight zone prey,” says Willis, a postdoc at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in a press statement. “But the extent to which they rely on this deep-sea food web for their diet has been unclear.”

The Hidden Feast

The twilight zone—often overlooked in marine research—has been gaining attention for its rich ecosystem. It’s a vast, underexplored region teeming with strange creatures, from tiny lanternfish to massive squid, all adapted to live without sunlight. While the surface waters are teeming with life, they offer less concentrated food for large predators. By contrast, the twilight zone is like a dense buffet, providing predators like bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish a more reliable food source.

“This is a really understudied region of the ocean, and it’s filled with all these fantastic, weird animals,” Willis says. “We call it the ‘deep ocean buffet.’”

The deep sea creatures in the twilight zone have evolved to migrate vertically—swimming to the surface to feed at night and returning to the depths by day to avoid predators. For the big predators of the open ocean, this behavior creates a prime opportunity to feast. Bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish dive regularly into these depths to hunt. But until recently, scientists didn’t know just how important this food source truly was.

“We saw the bigeye tuna were far and away the most consistent in where they got their food from,” Willis explains. “The swordfish and yellowfin tuna were more variable, meaning that if large-scale fishing were to target the twilight zone, bigeye tuna might be the ones most at risk.”

The Price of Overfishing the Deep

This discovery comes at a critical time. The growing interest in commercial fishing in the twilight zone, despite its often unpalatable fish species, has raised alarms. These creatures are increasingly being harvested for fishmeal and fish oil, products commonly used in animal feed and other industries. However, as researchers point out, this could have dire consequences for tuna and swordfish populations.

“There is increasing interest in commercial fishing in the ocean’s twilight zone,” says Willis. “If we start heavily fishing that layer of the ocean, our study suggests that could have profound implications for tuna and swordfish, which are highly reliant on this region.”

The team’s findings underscore the need for careful management of the twilight zone’s resources. Given that tuna and swordfish rely on this zone for up to 60% of their food, disruptions to the ecosystem here could have cascading effects on the open ocean and the global fishing industry.

“Predatory fish like tunas have a 50% reliance on twilight zone food webs,” Willis warns. “If we start heavily fishing in that region, it could lead to uncertainty around the profitability of tuna fisheries.”

As the twilight zone becomes a target for increasing commercial interest, scientists are calling for greater caution in how we approach the deep ocean’s complex food web. What lies in the shadows of the ocean’s depths may be far more crucial to our marine ecosystems than anyone has realized.