Mountains to Mangroves

01/05/2026

We usually talk about planting trees to save the planet, but it’s actually a two-part story: Green vs. Blue.

Green Carbon is the mountain hero. It’s the visible forests holding the soil together and cooling the air.
Blue Carbon is the coastal secret. It’s the mangroves burying carbon deep in underwater mud for thousands of years.

If the mountain forests disappear, the soil washes down and smothers the mangroves. You can’t protect the Blue without the Green.

It’s all connected. From the peak to the roots.

29/04/2026

It takes more than just saplings to restore a forest—it takes grit.

When there are no roads, you carry the future on your back. Nabin Bhattarai, an alumnus of the .fellowship with a joint initiative of IBTI and Mountains to Mangroves, is showing us what that looks like in Eastern Nepal.

By carrying thousands of saplings up steep trails by hand and bridging the gap between elder wisdom and youth energy, Nabin and his community are reclaiming 40 hectares of their land. It’s a powerful reminder that the most lasting change starts from the ground up.

Watch the full story of Nabin’s journey below.

27/04/2026

Climate action needs proof of impact.

Here, Jeff Silverman, Senior Director, Natural Climate Solutions, Conservation International shares how the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas helps measure environmental and socio-economic change in real time.

As an open-source, transparent platform, the Atlas enables donors and decision-makers to track progress, analyse results, and invest in solutions with confidence.

Because better data leads to stronger climate outcomes.

This project is supported by the UK government through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Funding for the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas is delivered through Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA), the UK’s flagship regional programme to build climate resilience in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands.

24/04/2026

Restoration is more than just a numbers game.
True ecological health isn’t measured by the quantity of trees planted, but by the functionality of the ecosystem they create. A green landscape can still be a silent one if it lacks the native biodiversity required to support local life and regulate water cycles.

22/04/2026

Meet Pragati Tamang. Since 2005, she’s been a beautician in Rangbull, but her vision for care goes far beyond her salon.

Pragati sees the connection between the trees we plant and the water that flows into our homes. She isn’t waiting for a hero or a government project to fix things—she believes the solution starts in our own backyards. From tackling plastic waste to restoring the greenery that keeps the seasons on track, her message is simple:

“Change begins at home. Before blaming others, be the example.”

Let’s take a page out of Pragati’s book today. What’s one small thing you’re doing to make your corner of the world a little greener?

20/04/2026

caption for today’s vox pop: YASHVEER BHATNAGAR
CAPTION
“Better conservation decisions begin with better information.”
Here, Dr. Yash Veer Bhatnagar, Country Representative – India at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, highlights how the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas can support smarter conservation planning.
From identifying habitats for species like the red panda to understanding how freshwater flows and silt loads affect mangrove ecosystems, the Atlas brings together critical layers of data that can guide restoration and biodiversity protection.
When combined with strong field research, this kind of information can help address complex challenges, from species conservation to human–wildlife conflict, with greater clarity.

This project is supported by the UK government through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Funding for the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas is delivered through Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA), the UK’s flagship regional programme to build climate resilience in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands.

19/04/2026

POORNA RAI:

What if planting a few trees could bring water back to an entire hill?

In Kalimpong, water is scarce, and fragile springs are all some families have left. Poorna Rai and his community are taking matters into their own hands, restoring forests to revive the water sources they depend on. Will their efforts be enough to change the hills forever?

Watch the full story to find out.

17/04/2026

Planting trees is just the beginning. The real question is how do we know restoration is actually working? At a small plot in Jobari, Ilam, Nepal, every sapling tells a bigger story about survival, growth, and impact.

Watch to see what the data reveals →

15/04/2026

What happens when the river rises and there’s nowhere for the snakes to go?

In Amadi, Bangladesh, floods didn’t just bring water. They brought snakes into people’s homes. For years, families lived with that fear until the riverbank began to change. Trees were planted, the land held together, and slowly, the snakes stopped coming into people’s homes.

The snakes didn’t disappear. They simply had somewhere else to be. And once that changed, other things began to return too.

See how a change along the river changed everything.

Our Partners: .fellowship

13/04/2026

Climate solutions are strongest when communities lead the story.

Here, Saurav Malhotra, Managing Director for South Asia at Conservation International, shares how the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas brings together science, mapping, and ground-up community voices on one platform.

By combining ecological data with lived experiences, the Atlas helps track progress, establish baselines, and build a holistic understanding of climate action across the region, creating an open-source tool for collaboration and real impact.

Data meets lived experience. Stories drive solutions.

ClimateInnovation

This project is supported by the UK government through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Funding for the Mountains to Mangroves Atlas is delivered through Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA), the UK’s flagship regional programme to build climate resilience in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands.

06/04/2026

05/04/2026

What if planting a few trees could bring water back to an entire hill?

In Kalimpong, water is scarce, and fragile springs are all some families have left. Poorna Rai and his community are taking matters into their own hands, restoring forests to revive the water sources they depend on. Will their efforts be enough to change the hills forever?

Watch the full story to find out.

Our Partners: .fellowship