Now aged 105, Saalumarada Thimmakka has battled the arid conditions of southern India to grow nearly 300 trees on the road from her village.
Saalumarada Thimmakka Intl Foundation
Mother nature —
Thimmakka believes it was her fate not to have children, instead planting hundreds of banyan trees with her husband as a way of receiving "blessings."
Saalumarada Thimmakka Intl Foundation
Mother nature —
The environmental hero has earned numerous awards and has a foundation named after her -- "Saalumarada" meaning "row of trees." Pictured, a holy banyan tree in Sri Lanka.
LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images
Mother nature —
Thimmakka is highly revered in her community and is often invited to tree-planting ceremonies across India.
Saalumarada Thimmakka Intl Foundation
Mother nature —
The chief minister of Karnataka has dedicated funding for Thimmakka to continue her green-fingered work.
Saalumarada Thimmakka Intl Foundation
Tree child —
Thimmakka's work eventually led her to adopt Sri Umesh.
Saalumarada Thimmakka Intl Foundation
Tree child —
Umesh has been passionate about conservation from a young age and now acts as president for her organization, running a nursery that distributes trees to farmers.
