Determination, no fairytales

At just five years old, Marina Duarte was climbing trees to watch guava turn into a fruit; a young Hema Bhatt searched out rare sights of greenery in her urban surroundings; and a teenage Estefania Morales was noticing the replacement of diverse forest to monoculture plantations. These childhood interests sparked the curiosity that created the foundations for lives dedicated to restoring nature. Although they weren’t without their struggles, all our interviewees say it’s been worth it. We’re grateful to speak to five of our inspirational women, within Restor’s team, part of the restoration movement for taking the time to share the stories of how they became a part of the scientific community, and why today, with women making up under 30% of all STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workers, it’s still so important than ever for women and girls to take their places as scientists.

Marina Duarte knew from a young age that she wanted to work to save the environment, but it took her a while to find the spark to ignite her true passion: “It wasn’t until I discovered that planting natural vegetation along shorelines could significantly improve water quality that I fell in love with Restoration Ecology.” This led to a 15-year stint in academia, which despite her love of the subject began to take its toll. She believes the instability of relying on scholarships and the pressure to find a job after grad studies are major challenges. She also points out that “navigating the unfair and disappointing publication system, which unfortunately serves as the currency to be valued by the scientific community” is unsustainable. As a consequence, mental health issues are common in academia, a subject commonly unspoken. And we should talk about this to try to make the path for people in science, especially women, a little less difficult.

Estefania Morales in Costa Rica has encountered barriers herself as a woman turning her love of science into a career, being ignored or undermined because of her gender. It’s through seeing those who’ve gone before that she’s kept motivated: “Thanks to many women who are leaders of their projects and communities, we have become stronger”. Both role models and being surrounded by a community of women provide the support and inspiration needed to keep going. “Women that I have seen that even when things get difficult they can do it, and they give me the confidence to feel that I can do it too! I hope I can also generate this feeling in the little girls and young women who come near me.”

Finding spaces where she could share her passion for forest conservation and restoration helped Aditi Mishra to feel part of a movement. Aditi joined youth organizations like the International Forestry Students Association, where she was inspired to pursue her PhD in forest ecology. These groups enabled Aditi to build a network of scientists around her, so that when it came to confronting challenges - such as the physical, logistic and safety demands of fieldwork for women - she knew there was support available. Through her work she’s representing the women in local communities who are key in the restoration movement. “In the region where I work, a significant number of men have migrated for better opportunities, leaving women to shoulder multiple responsibilities—caring for their families, managing farms, and often serving as the primary stewards of the forests. Their deep connection to the land and their knowledge about its cycles and challenges are invaluable. Despite the burdens they carry, these women are incredibly resilient and deeply committed to preserving the forests. Their strength and determination inspire me every day.”

Although Hema Bhatt loved studying Environmental Sciences, it was knowing what to do with these theoretical foundations that made her feel stuck. “Discovering Restor was a turning point - it became the bridge between science and action I had been searching for.” Hema regained her agency by seeing that the restoration movement could succeed, but not through science on its own. Enabling a vibrant network of projects, owned by local communities taking real action, sharing their insights, and underpinning them with cutting-edge scientific research, is how we will ensure the success of the restoration movement. “I found purpose in empowering passionate communities striving to restore nature, whose incredible stories often go untold. Their unwavering dedication inspires me, driving me to ensure their voices are heard and their efforts recognized.”

Some of our scientists went through stages of feeling powerless to enact real change. When Mwizeere Ruth Edma realised the extent of the challenge facing the restoration movement she was initially overwhelmed. Ruth grew up surrounded by volcanic ranges, rainforests, and crater lakes in the beautiful and biodiverse region of Kigezi in Uganda, and then deepened her love for nature through her studies “I was amazed by how everything in nature is interconnected, working together in harmony. That sense of wonder and curiosity kept me hooked.” So finding ways in which she could have an impact was crucial, and that realization that “every effort, no matter how small, makes a difference” helped to prevent overwhelm. 

And when asked: has it been worth it? We heard a resounding yes: yes to inspiring and being inspired, yes to facing and overcoming challenges, yes to empowering local communities and sharing their stories, and yes to protecting and supporting themselves and other girls and women in science so that they can continue to meaningfully contribute to the restoration movement.

Thank you to our team of inspirational women in science:  

1. Aditi Mishra, Regional Engagement Lead - South Asia

2. Estefania Morales Morales, Regional Engagement Lead - Costa Rica

3. Hema Bhatt, Regional Engagement Lead - South Asia

4. Marina Melo Duarte, Regional Engagement Lead - Brazil

5. Mwizere Ruth Edma, Regional Engagement Lead - Africa