❖ Padma Shri awardee Tulsi Gowda, an environmentalist from Karnataka, passed away

❖ She is revered as the “tree goddess” by the Halakki tribal community.

❖ She is known as the ‘encyclopaedia of forest’.

❖ Gowda has been credited with planting and nurturing over 1 lakh trees across Karnataka.

❖ Her contributions have strengthened one community reserve, five tiger reserves, 15 conservation reserves, and 30 wildlife sanctuaries.