Can we emulate the work of Dr. Rajendra Singh?
Hart Hagan
Dr. Rajendra Singh (the Waterman of India) shows what is possible when we restore water cycles.
This is an inspiring video from Zach Weiss, featuring his friend Dr. Rajendra Singh, and showing what can be done to transform the lives of people when we set about to capture the rainfall, so that the streams and rivers reappear and set the stage for lush vegetation and abundant crops.
YouTube: Reviving Rivers with Dr Rajendra Singh - The Waterman of India
The video tells about how Rajendra Singh restored local water cycles in community-led projects in certain areas of India, and caused the following positive changes:
By 2001, 4,500 check dams (known as johods) had been constructed across 851 villages.
Multiple river systems that had been dry for decades—including the Arvari, Ruparal, Sarsa, Beani, and Jaw Walawi—began flowing year-round.
The return of water triggered a profound shift in community life:
Young people who had previously fled to cities for work returned to their villages
Female children, previously occupied with carrying water, were able to attend school
Villagers transitioned from having no water or crops to enjoying multiple harvests per year
By restoring vegetation (increasing cover from 2% to 48%) and groundwater, the region saw a 2-degree Celsius reduction in local temperature, leading to more stable and consistent rainfall
Shouldn’t we be doing this everywhere?
If you say yes, then check out the webinar below, and join us on Monday.
Date: Monday, May 18 — 7:00–8:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Water may be the most overlooked force shaping our climate. While climate discussions often focus on carbon and greenhouse gases, the movement of water through ecosystems plays a central role in regulating temperature, driving rainfall, and stabilizing climate systems.
In this webinar we will explore how water cycles through forests, farms, wetlands, and soils — and how those ecosystems actively cool the climate through evaporation and transpiration.
When ecosystems function properly, they store water in soils and vegetation, moderate temperatures, reduce extreme heat, and help generate rainfall. When ecosystems are degraded, these water cycles break down, leading to increased flooding, drought, and climate instability.
Understanding the relationship between water and climate gives us practical ways to address climate change locally — by restoring soils, forests, wetlands, and living landscapes.
Who Should Attend
Anyone interested in climate solutions, water cycles, forest protection, agriculture, or understanding how ecosystems regulate climate.
Recording
A recording will be available to everyone who registers.