Without trees, we will all cease to exist. However, the never-ending greed of humans has often come at the expense of nature. But a group of women in Punasia village under Bangiriposi of Mayurbhanj district have been on a mission to protect Mother Nature. For nearly two decades, the women of a self-help group (SHG) have been waging a war against deforestation. For them, preserving their local forest is their sole aim. Many years ago, the entire stretch of the Punasia forest was ravaged by the timber mafia. The continuous abuse had left the land barren rendering animals homeless. The tract of around 80 hectares was reduced to a bald patch of land with the trees, animals and birds were gone.