Jodhpur is situated in the remote desert region of Rajasthan at the edge of the Thar desert. It is part of a vast desolate and arid land stretching from Jaisalmer in the west, to Bikaner in the north, and to the Marwar hills in the south. Jodhpur, the ancient kingdom of Marwar, traces its history to the epic Ramayana.In 1459, Rao Jodha built a new fort on the site of present day Jodhpur. Meherangarh, the palace-fort complex, is considered one of the best in India.

Marwar or marusthalitranslates as The Land of the Dead,a name it received because of its drought cycle and famines. Impoverished soil, acute soil erosion, deep saline water sources, and low annual rain fall challenge the villagers living this area. A growing population has put additional stress on the area's limited resources.

The Bishnoi have developed unique methods of conservation that enable them to live in this fragile ecosystem. Through conservation, Bishnoi villagers have sustained the natural habitats of many species while at the same time, reaping ever better harvests.

We visited two Bishnoi families near Jodhpur. View a photo essay of our visit to the Bishnoi families.