When the Indian government unveiled their plan to flood over 2000 acres of evergreen tropical forest by building a hydro-electric plant, Janaki Ammal sprung into action. Sometimes called the first Indian woman botanist, Janaki led a scientific movement in 1970 to successfully preserve this rich hub of biodiversity. By this time, she was already a seasoned veteran in the realm of botany, having made substantial contributions to the field.

An expert in cytogenetics, Janaki manipulated polypod cells by cross-breeding hybrids to create a high yielding strain of the sugarcane that would thrive in Indian conditions. In England, Janaki studied the chromosomes of garden plants, throwing light on the evolution of many species and varieties. For her preservation work in India, Janaki became recognised as a pioneer of indigenous approaches to the environment.