C M Venkatesh, a 53-year-old auditor and tax consultant, initiated a tree-planting campaign in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, after witnessing extensive tree loss from road-widening projects nearly a decade ago. Since starting in 2017, he has planted about 17,000 trees, including 8,000 along a seven-kilometre stretch in the city. His efforts extend over 160 km of roads linking various towns, involving local schools in the initiative. Venkatesh invests significant personal resources, spending between ₹300 and ₹2,500 per sapling and around ₹12,000 weekly for maintenance. Community support plays a crucial role, with residents sponsoring water tankers for the trees. The initiative not only enhances the local environment but also provides shade, improving the microclimate of Chamarajanagar. Local authorities, including M Malathi Priya, Conservator of Forests, have expressed willingness to collaborate on such environmental conservation efforts.