The Trials of the Tableland

How an ecologist and lawyer teamed up to protect Panchgani's iconic plateau

In the summer of 2023, we began exploring the workings of justice in the context of the environment.

We asked - what does creative and effective problem-solving look like at the intersection of justice systems, both formal and informal, and the environment? Conversations with community members and experts who were addressing this in myriad ways revealed the inextricable link between justice for people and justice for the environment.

While we somewhat understand the ways in which justice plays out at the societal level, there is a vast chasm in our ability to understand the needs, rhythms and realities of the non-human living world. This gap reflects in the many forms of system that govern us and the environment.

When Arjun Singh of Ecological Restoration Alliance (ERA) introduced us to Ecologist Aparna Watve and Activist-lawyer Hema Ramani's efforts towards restoring the Panchgani Tableland, what struck us was their approach to addressing the gap. One that placed the sentience of the Tableland at the center and drew from their respective expertise and distinct ways of relating to it. Their story spoke of the evolution of an environmental changemaker and how this space can only benefit from an openness to unlearn, cross-disciplinary collaboration and a deep, deep empathy for the living world.

Visual Narrative by Paus