By 1988, forests around Motia in Bharuch in Gujarat were almost depleted due to complicity between villagers, saw mill owners and wood traders. There was no grass left for grazing the cattle or wood for cooking. The same year, Vadgiyabhai Virjibhai Vasava, set up the Motia Forest Range Co-operative Society with the help of the villagers and together they afforested 666 hectares of land. A year later, the forest department also joined the initiative, and 320 hectares of land was afforested.