Forest rights activist and Goldman Environmental Prize recipient Alok Shukla asserts that the Hasdeo Aranya forests in Chhattisgarh, home to endangered species and medicinal plants and the source of livelihood for 15,000 tribal people, can be conserved without compromising on India's coal demands. However, the government continues to allocate mining projects in the region, spurred by a desire to favor certain corporations. Shukla highlights the widespread community protest against such actions, fueled by broken promises and distrust towards the government and corporations. With 5,000 million tonnes of coal reserves available elsewhere, Shukla calls for the protection of the biodiverse Hasdeo forests and support for the livelihoods and cultural identity of the local community.