Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Delhi Man's Terrace Forest Draws Los Angeles Documentary Invite
A 23-year-old man in Delhi, India, named Aman Sharma turned the empty rooftop of his home into a small forest.
He planted more than 500 native plants with help from his grandmother.
Now lots of birds and butterflies visit his roof — more than 200 kinds of birds and 25 kinds of butterflies.
He started this during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he couldn't visit forests.
He thought, 'If I can't go to the birds, I'll make the birds come to me.'
He also runs a platform called Birds of India that many people follow to see Delhi's wildlife.
A filmmaker in Los Angeles saw his story online and asked him to appear in a documentary.
The story shows that even a small space in a city can help nature.
His rooftop forest may now be seen by people all over the world.
Aman Sharma, a 23-year-old Delhi resident, has grown an urban forest of over 500 native plants on his home's rooftop.
The terrace ecosystem has recorded visits from more than 200 bird species and 25 butterfly species, including sunbirds, kingfishers and parakeets.
The project began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when Aman decided to bring birds to him since he could no longer visit natural habitats.
A Los Angeles-based filmmaker discovered Aman's story through The Better India's social media feature and offered him a spot in an upcoming documentary.
Aman runs 'Birds of India,' a platform sharing Delhi's lesser-known wildlife that reaches nearly 900,000 followers.
- Who
- Aman Sharma, a 23-year-old wildlife photographer and conservationist in Delhi, and a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who reached out to him.
- What
- A Los Angeles filmmaker invited Aman to feature his rooftop urban forest in an upcoming documentary after The Better India shared his story.
- When
- The article gives no specific date; the project began during the COVID-19 lockdown and the documentary invitation came after The Better India's social media feature.
- Where
- Aman's family home terrace in Delhi, India, with the filmmaker based in Los Angeles, United States.
- Why
- The filmmaker was inspired by Aman's efforts to create a thriving ecosystem in a limited urban space; Aman started the forest because lockdowns kept him from visiting natural habitats.
- Conservationist
- Aman Sharma, age 23
- Location
- Delhi, India (rooftop of family home)
- Native plants
- Over 500
- Bird species recorded
- Over 200
- Butterfly species recorded
- 25
- Platform
- Birds of India (~900,000 followers)
- Project origin
- COVID-19 lockdown
- Film opportunity
- Upcoming documentary, filmmaker based in Los Angeles