DGSS was strengthened by the active participation of women of the hill regions. Except for a few 'organized' events, the action of DGSS has essentially consisted of a string of spontaneous confrontations where none of the male leaders were present. Women's actions have not only been against contractors but also, more importantly, against their own 'cash-hungry men' who did not pause to think of the consequences of deforestation, while women had to walk for miles to collect fuel and fodder. In 1978, in the Bhyunder valley, the state department stealthily gave a village cooperative the forest-cutting contract. The Bhyunder valley women (Bhutias) stole the axes of the men and refused to return them. In 1980, in the Dungary-Paitoli village, the horticulture department negotiated with the male-dominated village panchayat to turn the nearby forest into a potato and sheep farm with the promise of a hospital, roads, and electricity. The women rose in protest. They needed trees for fuel and fodder, and refused to let the forest be destroyed. The battle was bitter, as it set wives against husbands, and mothers against sons. The women persisted and finally won.
Against the forestry department's propaganda that a forest is for timber, resin and export items, DGSS, through local songs and meetings, popularized the ecological principle of conservation; that, forests, more importantly, serve to preserve soil, water, and pure air. However, they also realized that 'Save the Forest' efforts were not enough, and tree planting should be undertaken to generate and maintain forests. Since 1977 DGSS has been organizing eco-development camps several times a year, the activities of which include environmental awareness, soil conservation and tree planting on a large collective basis. These camps also provide outside students, activists, and workers with the opportunity to know about DGSS and the local conditions, and to participate in the tree planting program. Initially, women's involvement in these camps was negligible, but later, DGSS made special attempts to include them. DGSS has also planned development programs such as bee-keeping, creches, promotion of solar cookers, and the introduction of small irrigation dams, or hydroelectric projects with the financial support of the Planning Commission and the department of environment of the Government of India.
DGSS's efforts have built on the legacy of forest movements in the region (described by Guha 1989) and have used the Gandhian technique of satyagrah based on pursuance of non-violent civil disobedience. It is a grassroots effort which has been responsive to the needs of the people and has largely remained uncorrupted. It has increased people's awareness and has brought together the various peoples of the region. For example, Bhutias (Tibetan-speaking Buddhists) who live above 7,000 feet, and Paharis (Indo-Aryan Hindus) who live below 7,000 feet. Various sections of society such as the youth, students, and teachers have been involved in the campaign to protect forests. However, the participation of the lower castes is minimal, and although women's involvement has been impressive, prompting some writers to call struggle a women's movement, most women who participate are order, widowed, or single. Young married women appear to be constrained by the patriarchal family set-up. Some women leaders such as Gaura Devi have been harassed by the cash-and employment-hungry men. Furthermore, women's participation in these struggles has not helped them raise women's issues of sharing power and decision-making otherwise: the leadership is still largely in the hands of men.