In 2011, Vanashakti initiated its environmental preservation efforts in the Tansa Valley, region of Wada Taluka of the Palghar district, approximately 70 km from Mumbai. This region, predominantly inhabited by tribal communities, holds cultural significance and is an integral part of the North Konkan region, featuring spurs of the ecologically crucial Western Ghats. Despite its ecological richness, Tansa Valley is under imminent threat from unregulated industrialization. The surge in hazardous industries, such as chemical factories and cement pipe manufacturing, poses a direct risk to the biodiversity hotspot. Additionally, the sale of topsoil for brick making and the conversion of agricultural lands for industrial purposes contribute to the depletion of natural resources, affecting both biodiversity and livelihoods. Vanashakti's program in the Tansa Valley is geared towards empowering tribal communities as custodians of the forests. By reinstating their role as protectors of ancestral heritage, the initiative aims to counterbalance the inadequate protection provided by the understaffed State Forest Department. Harnessing the knowledge and commitment of sensitized tribal communities can transform this endeavour into a community-based conservation effort, ensuring the sustainable coexistence of nature and tradition.