International Women’s Day 2025: Meet the women behind the Asha Reforestation Project

EcoAct, in partnership with its local partner Tomorrow’s Foundation, is developing the Asha reforestation project, which aims to revitalise unproductive and degraded lands, improve carbon absorption through soil, increase biodiversity, and enhance the livelihoods of local communities.

This International Women’s Day, we sat down with the women at the heart of the Asha project: Margarita Vides, EcoAct Senior Consultant and local project coordinators—Panchali Datta Biswas, Pampi Mohanta Saha and Shanti Oraon.

Discover how these women are not just participating in, but leading, environmental change, dismantling stereotypes, and creating a powerful blueprint where forest restoration and women’s empowerment flourish.

Margarita Vides, Senior Consultant Agroforestry Project Development, EcoAct

1. Tell us about yourself and the work you do at EcoAct?

I am an engineer with a Master’s in Geographic Information Systems. My professional life has spanned many contexts—private sector, NGOs, academia, and public institutions—but always with geospatial analysis as the common thread.

My goal in life is to help address the environmental crisis we’re facing, and I find climate finance is a good way to do this. At EcoAct, I’m part of the forestry team working on nature-based solutions, developing projects that generate carbon credits through reforestation and forest conservation. Currently, I’m working on the Asha project in West Bengal, India, where we’re aiming to reforest 2,000 hectares with native tree species.

2. Can you tell us about your role in the Asha project?

I oversee our relationship with the project partners Tomorrow’s Foundation, conducting weekly meetings where we discuss progress and make decisions about project management. I’m also involved in emissions reduction calculations and the geospatial aspects of the project—monitoring the project’s impact through remote sensing, establishing baselines, and determining land eligibility.

3. How has the Asha project influenced women’s roles in the local communities, and what leadership opportunities have emerged?

While common perceptions about gender roles in rural India often suggest limited leadership opportunities for women in agriculture, my experience on the ground has revealed a different reality. Our three district coordinators—Pampi, Panchali, and Shanti—have emerged as exceptional leaders, each managing an entire district. This stands out because leadership positions in agricultural projects traditionally go to men, which has completely transformed my understanding of gender dynamics in rural India.

Beyond leadership roles, women’s involvement throughout the project has been remarkable. During our recent field visits, I was impressed by the number of women landowners confidently overseeing reforestation activities on their properties.

Panchali Datta Biswas, District Coordinator, Asha Reforestation Project

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in the project?

I am Panchali Datta Biswas, I was born and brought up in the village of Turturi in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. After completing my studies, I started working with a local NGO, where I gained experience in health, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. Later, I joined a Kolkata-based organisation and worked on food security and decentralised natural resource management, collaborating closely with local institutions.

In 2012, I joined the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in West Bengal as a State Resource Person, working across multiple districts. In 2021, I started working with Tomorrow’s Foundation as a Block Coordinator in the Nutri Garden Project for tea garden labourers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in forest villages, addressing post-COVID challenges. Currently, I am the District Coordinator in Alipurduar for the Forestry Project, where I oversee fieldwork, planning, and community engagement.

2. What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

As a District Coordinator, my daily tasks involve visiting project sites, monitoring ongoing activities, and coordinating with various stakeholders. I engage with local communities, provide support to field staff in critical situations, and ensure the smooth implementation of the project. I also manage logistical planning, address challenges, and work to strengthen the relationship between the project and local communities.

3. How does the project interact with local communities?

We conduct Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and community meetings to educate people about the benefits of this project. By explaining how reforestation can improve their environment and livelihoods, we gradually earn their trust and cooperation. Once they understand the long-term advantages, they’re excited to participate in the project.

4. How important do you think it is for women to be involved in this type of project?

Women play a crucial role in environmental conservation. In the Asha project, 200 to 250 women are involved at various levels, from fieldwork to decision-making. They contribute to core project activities such as fencing, pit digging, and plantation work, and are essential to the project’s success.

Pampi Mohanta Saha, District Coordinator, Asha Reforestation Project

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in the project?

I am Pampi Mohanta Saha, a rural development professional with over four decades of experience organising community initiatives. My career highlights include strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions, where I promoted decentralised governance in drought-prone regions of West Bengal through the Integrated Watershed Management Programme—work I consider my proudest achievement.

Since 2017, I’ve served as a State Resource Person with the National Rural Livelihood Mission, and in 2021, joined Tomorrow’s Foundation to support labourers and Self-Help Groups in forest villages through the Nutri Garden Project, addressing post-COVID challenges.

Currently, I serve as District Coordinator for the Forestry Project in Jalpaiguri and work with the Asha Agroforestry Project. My responsibilities include community engagement, conducting focus group discussions, and collaborating with local councils and government officials to implement sustainable development initiatives that benefit rural communities.

2. What motivated you to embark on this project?

I have always been deeply moved by the impact of small human actions on climate change. Convincing people about the harmful effects of certain behaviours can help us build a healthier society. After the devastating floods of 1993, significant changes occurred in the soil and land of North Bengal, greatly affecting the lives of its people.

Through this project, there is an opportunity to restore production on barren lands and improve livelihoods. It also plays a vital role in combating climate change.

3. What has this experience brought you personally and professionally?

This project has broadened my expertise in enhancing human livelihoods through biodiversity. I have gained knowledge in multiple areas, such as soil health, plant science, and environmental technology. I have also learned to use digital tools for managing environmental projects.

On a personal level, it is deeply fulfilling to see my work positively impacting people and the environment. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness how initiatives like this help reduce carbon from the atmosphere and contribute to a greener planet.

Shanti Oraon, District Coordinator, Asha Reforestation Project

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role in the project?

My name is Shanti Oraon. I was born and raised in the village of Madhu Tea Garden in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. While studying in college, I started working as an apprentice with a Kolkata-based NGO, where I gained experience in nutrition gardening, sustainable agriculture, and asset-based community development.

Later, I worked on food security and decentralised natural resource management, collaborating closely with local councils and institutions. During this time, I worked closely with landless and small women farmers. From 2015 to 2017, I served as the Chairperson of a women-based organisation focused on empowering women socially and economically.

In 2017, I joined the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in West Bengal as a State Resource Person, working across multiple districts. In 2021, I started working with Tomorrow’s Foundation as a Block Coordinator in the Nutri Garden Project for tea garden labourers and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in forest villages, addressing post-COVID challenges. Currently, I am the District Coordinator in Alipurduar for the Forestry Project, where I oversee fieldwork, planning, and community engagement.

2. What are your day-to-day responsibilities?

As a District Coordinator, my daily responsibilities include developing work plans, timelines, and budgets for the forestry project. I supervise the field team, conducting site visits to assess project progress and compliance, and ensuring the smooth implementation of the project. Additionally, I also coordinate with key stakeholders, including government agencies.

3. What are the most rewarding aspects of your work?

The most rewarding moments are when I visit the plantation sites and see the plants thriving and growing. It’s heartwarming to see some landowners take care of the plants like their own children. It gives me immense satisfaction to know that we are contributing to a healthier environment.

Conclusion

The Asha Reforestation Project demonstrates how climate finance can create sustainable leadership pathways for women while simultaneously improving carbon absorption, enhancing biodiversity, and generating economic opportunities for local communities.

If you want to learn more about how EcoAct can support you with project development or investment, get in contact with our experts here.