Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Shekhar Gaikwad: Nashik's Forest Man
Shekhar Gaikwad is a man from Nashik who has spent nearly 30 years planting trees and taking care of the environment.
He started by watering saplings planted by the city and later began his own projects to restore barren hills.
He has planted over 300,000 native trees and inspired many people to join his cause.
His work has turned dead forests into thriving ecosystems with many types of plants and animals.
He also teaches people about the importance of protecting nature.
Gaikwad believes that planting native trees is a simple but powerful way to fight pollution and leave a better world for future generations.
Shekhar Gaikwad has been transforming Nashik's ecological landscape for nearly three decades through tree plantation and conservation.
He started by caring for neglected saplings planted by the Nashik Municipal Corporation and later launched the Nashik Devrai Project to restore barren hills.
Over 35,000 native plants representing 250 tree species now flourish in the Devrai, attracting diverse wildlife and improving soil quality.
Gaikwad has also developed the Nashik Vanrai Project, creating a 40-acre green zone with over 13,500 native trees.
Through his Nature Interpretation Centre and organization Apla Paryavaran, he has educated over 300,000 students and citizens about environmental conservation.
- Who
- Shekhar Jayantrao Gaikwad, a mechanical engineer-turned-environmentalist
- What
- Transformed Nashik's ecological landscape through tree plantation and conservation
- When
- Over the past three decades
- Where
- Nashik, India
- Why
- To restore Nashik's green cover and promote ecological restoration using native species
Environmental Conservation
Urban Development
Land Use
Environmental Conservation
Gaikwad advocates for restoring native vegetation and creating urban forests to improve biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Urban Development
Urban developers may prioritize land for construction and infrastructure to accommodate population growth and economic activities.
- Name
- Shekhar Jayantrao Gaikwad
- Profession
- Mechanical Engineer-turned-Environmentalist
- Location
- Nashik, India
- Key Project
- Nashik Devrai (Sacred Grove) Project
- Trees Planted
- Over 3,00,000 native trees
- People Inspired
- Over 12,00,000 through awareness campaigns
- Biodiversity Impact
- Nearly 50 species of birds and various animals