MARGAO, May 10 -- Team Herald

In the quiet forested village of Maloli, in Goa's northern Sattari taluka, 28-year-old Sandhya Mahadev Gaonkar grew up with nature as her closest neighbour. "I was born and raised in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary," she says. "I've seen first-hand how people live alongside wildlife-not in conflict, but in harmony."

This rare relationship with nature drew her to the Goa Water Stories project, where her research explored the deep interconnections between the Mhadei River, the sanctuary's biodiversity, and the villagers who depend on both for survival.

A master's degree holder in Konkani, Sandhya viewed the project not as a mere academic exercise but as a homecoming. "Our communities have always depended on na...