Anam Ahsan
M.tech Student, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun
Connection to central India: Development of forest type-density map,corridors for tigers and habitat suitability models for ungulates in Pench,Kanha and Achanakmar Tiger Reserves. Hobbies: Chess, Reading literature, Writing Poems.
Neha Awasthi
Ph.D. Student, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
Connection to central India: Study of Ungulate ecology In Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Hobbies: travelling and music. Website.
Debarati Chakraborty
Ph.D Student, University of Kalyani
Connection to central India: Written two reviews on tribal agricultural practices with insights from Central Indian tribes. Website
Ruth DeFries
Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University.
Connection to central India: I have been actively engaged in research on land use change, food security, and forests in central India, particularly around Kanha Tiger Reserve. I am president of the DeFries-Bajpai Foundation, which provides small grants for research on central India, and have supervised many students and post docs working in central India. Website.
Nitin Desai
Director-Central India, Wildlife Protection Society
Connection to central India: Assisting enforcement agencies on anti poaching.
Courtney Dunn
Executive Director, The Prusten Project
Connection to central India: I founded The Prusten Project in 2012 after completing an undergraduate research study with Bengal tigers residing at the National Tiger Sanctuary in Branson, Missouri. I also work at the Dallas World Aquarium as a Senior Mammal Keeper, where I care for the facility's Giant Anteaters, Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloths, various tamarin species, and a long list of neotropical birds. I serve on the Conservation Committee for the American Association of Zookeepers. I am currently working on my Ph.D in Quantitative Biology at the University of Texas at Arlington. I am studying the unique acoustic properties of Panthera tigris vocalizations in order to establish an acoustic monitoring network for the species in Central India. The acoustic monitoring network, in theory, would also be able to help collect vocalizations from a wide range of species in the landscape in addition to help monitor human activity in the area (i.e. poaching, illegal logging, etc). My educational background includes a Bachelor and Master of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas. Hobbies: I volunteer my time with a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing positive role models for at-risk youth in the United States. I often dress up in various superhero or character costumes to visit kids to teach about anti-bulling or visit children's hospital to help bring smiles to their faces.
Trishna Dutta
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Georg-August-University Göttingen
Connection to central India: I am a conservation biologist interested in large carnivore conservation in fragmented landscapes. I use a combination of field biology, non-invasive genetics, and spatial analysis to understand how large carnivores potentially use and move through the landscape. I conduct solution-oriented research that helps the conservation of species, habitats, and ecosystems. My current research focuses on the connectivity of brown bears in Europe. Website.
Forrest Fleischman
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Connection to central India: I conduct research on how foresters make land management decisions, and have conducted much of this region in Vidarbha & Telangana. Website
Ashis Gharai
Chief Program Officer & Head, Science & Technology Resource Centre (STRC), Gondwana University Gadchiroli under Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission (RGSTC), Govt of Maharashtra
Connection to central India: Currently working on Forest Based Resource Management and Livelihoods enhancement for tribal communities of Gadchiroli/ Chandrapur region. Working on creating Medicinal Plant and Bamboo based livelihood opportunities. Hobbies: Travel for life.
Kedar Gore
Director, The Corbett Foundation
Connection to central India: TCF works in the tiger reserves of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Sanajy-Dubri and Kanha-Pench and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Dubri corridors (short film on our work). Hobbies: Birding.
Jyotirmay Jena
Associate Coordinator, WWF-India
Connection to central India: I am a Wildlife Biologist working in the Central India Landscape since 2006 as a young researcher with WII and now with WWF-India. Most of my work focuses on large carnivores (specially tigers), corridor functionality, population recovery and human wildlife conflict mitigation. As a conservation professional and working with WWF-India I am currently involved in policy advocacy, addressing drivers negatively impacting the landscape, assuring community involvement in conservation and awareness among general public. Currently pursuing PhD from Amity University-India, which involves studying and understanding Tiger Population Recovery in one of the key site in Madhya Pradesh. Hobbies: I am a good cook of traditional Odia (Odisha, a state in eastern India) food, loves to go on trekking and fishing. Website
Sarika Khanwilkar
PhD Student, Columbia University; Director, Wild Tiger
Connection to central India: Socio-ecological research, educational programming in the U.S. based on work in central India. Website
Shekhar Kolipaka
Independent Wildlife Conservation Consultant.
Connection to central India: I conduct anthropological and animal behaviour research in Central India. I have a passion for tracking animals and i am involved in training rural citizens and park guides in identifying tracks and signs. I experiment with the concept of para-ecologists to develop skilled manpower in rural areas to support research and conservation activities. Hobbies: Cooking local recipes, making photo albums. Website
Suhas Kumar
Retired officer, Indian Forest Service
Connection to central India: I spent almost 23 years in the field of wildlife management within and outside the state. Honorary positions are - Member M.P State Wildlife Board, M.P State Biodiversity board, Chairman MEE team for Wetern region, 2016, MoEF, Chairman, MEE of Tiger Reserves, cluster1, 2017-18, NTCA. I attended the Kanha-Pench Landscape Symposium in 2014. Hobbies: Writing, Teaching, Photography.
Jennie Miller
Senior Scientist, Defenders of Wildlife
Connection to central India: I am a wildlife ecologist interested in the ecological and social elements of human-wildlife interactions that facilitate conservation in human-dominated landscapes globally. I received my PhD from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in affiliation with the Wildlife Institute of India. I carried out my dissertation research in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, studying the spatiotemporal patterns of tiger and leopard depredation on livestock and developing spatial risk models to examine hotspots of risk. I am now developing the application of risk models into decision support tools to help natural resource managers and stakeholders more effectively mitigate human-wildlife conflict in high-risk areas. Hobbies: Birding, kayaking, collecting chai recipes from across South Asia. Website.
Monoranjan Mohanty
Senior Scientist, Govt Department
Connection to central India: Climate Change impact studies in Agriculture. Hobbies: Badminton. Website
Indranil Mondal
PhD Student, Wildlife Institute of India
Connection to central India: I study tiger corridors and human-tiger conflict in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape.
Pinki Mondal
Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, USA.
Connection to central India: I am an environmental geographer trained in remote sensing and Geographic Information Science (GIS), and conducted my PhD research in and around Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. My current research examines impacts of weather variability on agriculture and food/nutrition security in India. I use remote sensing/GIS, statistics, and crop-climate models to identify how crop productivity will vary with different adaptation strategies for projected climate change scenarios. I use household surveys and linear programming tools to understand how agricultural intensification impacts food and nutrition security in smallholder farmer families, specifically in the central Indian landscape. Website.
Mariyam Nasir
Junior Research Fellow, Wildlife Institute of India
Connection to central India: I study behavioral ecology of Re-introduced Gaur in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Amrita Neelakantan
PhD Candidate, Columbia University
Connection to central India: I am carrying out my PhD research on the resettlement of people from national parks. My research focuses on human well-being, livelihood strategies and impacts on natural resources once forest dwellers have relocated outside protected areas. I am exploring patterns of forest resource use and food security at the landscape level. My study is based around Kanha National Park in the central Indian highlands.
Naveen Pandey
Deputy Director and Veterinary Advisor, The Corbett Foundation
Connection to central India: Being a Conservation Medicine professional and a vet, landscape epidemiology is my area of interest. I have been working for disease control between livestock and wild animals at the interface of their interaction around Protected Areas. Spreading awareness on animal husbandry, establishing regular immunisation programs and providing instant veterinary care to the livestock sustaining injuries from wild animals are some of the work which I'm coordinating under various projects of The Corbett Foundation in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Kanha-Pench Corridor. Hobbies: Travel. Website
Debojyoti Raha
Ph.D. Student, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University
Connection to central India: Currently working on "Evaluation of Carbon Cycling in Tropical Forests of Madhya Pradesh, India.
Vijay Ramesh
Ph.D. Student, Columbia University
Website
Upasana Sarraju
Research Consultant, India Institute of Science
Connection to central India: Elephant Conservation and Human-Elephant Conflict in central India. Hobbies: Musician and Writer.
Alark Saxena
Lecturer and Associate Research Scientist, Yale University
Connection to central India: Forest growth models, impact evaluation of conservation policies in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. Hobbies: Yoga Philosophy. Website
Sunny Shah
Landscape Coordinator, WWF-India
Connection to central India: Landscape ecology, conservation biology and corridor functionality assessment. Hobbies: Photography.
Asavari Sharma
PhD Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Connection to central India: I am currently working on my PhD which examines the governance of NTFPs in Maharashtra, both from the point of view of evolution of policy and institutional arrangement, as well as their impacts on ecological sustainability, state revenue, livelihoods and equity. I am also working on a joint project by the Maharashtra Forest Department and Tribal Department which looks at the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in Gondia district of Maharashtra. Before this, I have worked briefly on communities based conservation initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as well as a study on Forest Rights Act implementation in 3 districts of MP with WWF India. I have also worked on a study examining nature and extent of forest dependence in local communities in Gondia.
Hobbies: PADI certified diver, avid hiker, amateur bird watcher, will swim whenever and wherever there is an opportunity to.
Sandeep Sharma
International Research Specialist, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Connection to central India: Corridors and connectivity in Central India landscape, tiger conservation and research. Hobbies: Music.
Beependra Singh
Ph.D. Student, Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India
Connection to central India: My PhD research work aims to understand the variability of climatic drivers, vulnerability of the landscape, vegetation health, growth rhythm (Phenology) and impact of climate change on the natural vegetation and water bodies over time using Spatio-temporal satellite data and includes field world and ground verification. I have been working in the area of Remote Sensing & Geographical Information systems for forestry and ecological aspects since last five years. I want to explore the landscape in detailed working and collaborating with people and finding answers to issues, where I can contribute to the field of research and knowledge. Hobbies: Cycling, Making short video on nature, Photography, Trekking, Travelling to new places, Football, Volley ball and motivating people.
Kartikeya Singh
Partner, Wildlife And Forestry Services
Connection to central India: Translocations, conflict management, tourism. Hobbies: Horse Riding, Angling
D. P. Srivastava
Nature Education Officer, University of Delhi
Connection to central India: Research in Panna Landscape. Hobbies: Hiking, Travelling, Restoration Ecology, Wildlife Research.
Sudarshan Suchi
Program Head, Rural Transformation, Reliance Foundation
Connection to central India: The Program is engaged in holistic development initiatives in over 150 villages across Central India Landscape mostly in and around Panna; Kanha; Satpura and Pench National Parks. The work includes livelihoods, farming, rain water harvesting; supporting resettlement of villages around Satpura; Natural Resource Management. Hobbies: Farming; Long Distance Running, Meeting people, travelling and experiencing new places and reading
Bikrant Tiwary
Chief Executive Officer, Grow-Trees.com
Connection to central India: Planting trees in the periphery of wild life reserves (Like: Kanha, Pench). Hobbies: Hiking, Mentoring NGOs and social ventures
Vidya Venkatesh
Chief Executive Officer, Last Wilderness Foundation
Connection to central India: We work with communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict near tiger reserves - Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna. Hobbies: Butterfly watching, travelling to then wilderness & the mountains.
Vipul Gupta
Founder, Earth Focus
Connection to central India: Vipul's pilot project with Earthfocus is to work with 14 villages, surrounding the Mukki gate of Kanha National Park. Earthfocus has developed a unique holistic depth model that seeks to create sustainable livelihoods for forest dwellers, by providing education intervention , developing bio diversity sensitisation and capacity building for nature based livelihoods and employment skilling in the local context .
M.tech Student, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun
Connection to central India: Development of forest type-density map,corridors for tigers and habitat suitability models for ungulates in Pench,Kanha and Achanakmar Tiger Reserves. Hobbies: Chess, Reading literature, Writing Poems.
Neha Awasthi
Ph.D. Student, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
Connection to central India: Study of Ungulate ecology In Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Hobbies: travelling and music. Website.
Debarati Chakraborty
Ph.D Student, University of Kalyani
Connection to central India: Written two reviews on tribal agricultural practices with insights from Central Indian tribes. Website
Ruth DeFries
Professor, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University.
Connection to central India: I have been actively engaged in research on land use change, food security, and forests in central India, particularly around Kanha Tiger Reserve. I am president of the DeFries-Bajpai Foundation, which provides small grants for research on central India, and have supervised many students and post docs working in central India. Website.
Nitin Desai
Director-Central India, Wildlife Protection Society
Connection to central India: Assisting enforcement agencies on anti poaching.
Courtney Dunn
Executive Director, The Prusten Project
Connection to central India: I founded The Prusten Project in 2012 after completing an undergraduate research study with Bengal tigers residing at the National Tiger Sanctuary in Branson, Missouri. I also work at the Dallas World Aquarium as a Senior Mammal Keeper, where I care for the facility's Giant Anteaters, Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloths, various tamarin species, and a long list of neotropical birds. I serve on the Conservation Committee for the American Association of Zookeepers. I am currently working on my Ph.D in Quantitative Biology at the University of Texas at Arlington. I am studying the unique acoustic properties of Panthera tigris vocalizations in order to establish an acoustic monitoring network for the species in Central India. The acoustic monitoring network, in theory, would also be able to help collect vocalizations from a wide range of species in the landscape in addition to help monitor human activity in the area (i.e. poaching, illegal logging, etc). My educational background includes a Bachelor and Master of Science in Biology from the University of Central Arkansas. Hobbies: I volunteer my time with a nonprofit organization that focuses on providing positive role models for at-risk youth in the United States. I often dress up in various superhero or character costumes to visit kids to teach about anti-bulling or visit children's hospital to help bring smiles to their faces.
Trishna Dutta
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Georg-August-University Göttingen
Connection to central India: I am a conservation biologist interested in large carnivore conservation in fragmented landscapes. I use a combination of field biology, non-invasive genetics, and spatial analysis to understand how large carnivores potentially use and move through the landscape. I conduct solution-oriented research that helps the conservation of species, habitats, and ecosystems. My current research focuses on the connectivity of brown bears in Europe. Website.
Forrest Fleischman
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota
Connection to central India: I conduct research on how foresters make land management decisions, and have conducted much of this region in Vidarbha & Telangana. Website
Ashis Gharai
Chief Program Officer & Head, Science & Technology Resource Centre (STRC), Gondwana University Gadchiroli under Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission (RGSTC), Govt of Maharashtra
Connection to central India: Currently working on Forest Based Resource Management and Livelihoods enhancement for tribal communities of Gadchiroli/ Chandrapur region. Working on creating Medicinal Plant and Bamboo based livelihood opportunities. Hobbies: Travel for life.
Kedar Gore
Director, The Corbett Foundation
Connection to central India: TCF works in the tiger reserves of Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench and Sanajy-Dubri and Kanha-Pench and Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Dubri corridors (short film on our work). Hobbies: Birding.
Jyotirmay Jena
Associate Coordinator, WWF-India
Connection to central India: I am a Wildlife Biologist working in the Central India Landscape since 2006 as a young researcher with WII and now with WWF-India. Most of my work focuses on large carnivores (specially tigers), corridor functionality, population recovery and human wildlife conflict mitigation. As a conservation professional and working with WWF-India I am currently involved in policy advocacy, addressing drivers negatively impacting the landscape, assuring community involvement in conservation and awareness among general public. Currently pursuing PhD from Amity University-India, which involves studying and understanding Tiger Population Recovery in one of the key site in Madhya Pradesh. Hobbies: I am a good cook of traditional Odia (Odisha, a state in eastern India) food, loves to go on trekking and fishing. Website
Sarika Khanwilkar
PhD Student, Columbia University; Director, Wild Tiger
Connection to central India: Socio-ecological research, educational programming in the U.S. based on work in central India. Website
Shekhar Kolipaka
Independent Wildlife Conservation Consultant.
Connection to central India: I conduct anthropological and animal behaviour research in Central India. I have a passion for tracking animals and i am involved in training rural citizens and park guides in identifying tracks and signs. I experiment with the concept of para-ecologists to develop skilled manpower in rural areas to support research and conservation activities. Hobbies: Cooking local recipes, making photo albums. Website
Suhas Kumar
Retired officer, Indian Forest Service
Connection to central India: I spent almost 23 years in the field of wildlife management within and outside the state. Honorary positions are - Member M.P State Wildlife Board, M.P State Biodiversity board, Chairman MEE team for Wetern region, 2016, MoEF, Chairman, MEE of Tiger Reserves, cluster1, 2017-18, NTCA. I attended the Kanha-Pench Landscape Symposium in 2014. Hobbies: Writing, Teaching, Photography.
Jennie Miller
Senior Scientist, Defenders of Wildlife
Connection to central India: I am a wildlife ecologist interested in the ecological and social elements of human-wildlife interactions that facilitate conservation in human-dominated landscapes globally. I received my PhD from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies in affiliation with the Wildlife Institute of India. I carried out my dissertation research in Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, studying the spatiotemporal patterns of tiger and leopard depredation on livestock and developing spatial risk models to examine hotspots of risk. I am now developing the application of risk models into decision support tools to help natural resource managers and stakeholders more effectively mitigate human-wildlife conflict in high-risk areas. Hobbies: Birding, kayaking, collecting chai recipes from across South Asia. Website.
Monoranjan Mohanty
Senior Scientist, Govt Department
Connection to central India: Climate Change impact studies in Agriculture. Hobbies: Badminton. Website
Indranil Mondal
PhD Student, Wildlife Institute of India
Connection to central India: I study tiger corridors and human-tiger conflict in the Eastern Vidarbha Landscape.
Pinki Mondal
Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, USA.
Connection to central India: I am an environmental geographer trained in remote sensing and Geographic Information Science (GIS), and conducted my PhD research in and around Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra. My current research examines impacts of weather variability on agriculture and food/nutrition security in India. I use remote sensing/GIS, statistics, and crop-climate models to identify how crop productivity will vary with different adaptation strategies for projected climate change scenarios. I use household surveys and linear programming tools to understand how agricultural intensification impacts food and nutrition security in smallholder farmer families, specifically in the central Indian landscape. Website.
Mariyam Nasir
Junior Research Fellow, Wildlife Institute of India
Connection to central India: I study behavioral ecology of Re-introduced Gaur in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
Amrita Neelakantan
PhD Candidate, Columbia University
Connection to central India: I am carrying out my PhD research on the resettlement of people from national parks. My research focuses on human well-being, livelihood strategies and impacts on natural resources once forest dwellers have relocated outside protected areas. I am exploring patterns of forest resource use and food security at the landscape level. My study is based around Kanha National Park in the central Indian highlands.
Naveen Pandey
Deputy Director and Veterinary Advisor, The Corbett Foundation
Connection to central India: Being a Conservation Medicine professional and a vet, landscape epidemiology is my area of interest. I have been working for disease control between livestock and wild animals at the interface of their interaction around Protected Areas. Spreading awareness on animal husbandry, establishing regular immunisation programs and providing instant veterinary care to the livestock sustaining injuries from wild animals are some of the work which I'm coordinating under various projects of The Corbett Foundation in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Kanha-Pench Corridor. Hobbies: Travel. Website
Debojyoti Raha
Ph.D. Student, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University
Connection to central India: Currently working on "Evaluation of Carbon Cycling in Tropical Forests of Madhya Pradesh, India.
Vijay Ramesh
Ph.D. Student, Columbia University
Website
Upasana Sarraju
Research Consultant, India Institute of Science
Connection to central India: Elephant Conservation and Human-Elephant Conflict in central India. Hobbies: Musician and Writer.
Alark Saxena
Lecturer and Associate Research Scientist, Yale University
Connection to central India: Forest growth models, impact evaluation of conservation policies in Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. Hobbies: Yoga Philosophy. Website
Sunny Shah
Landscape Coordinator, WWF-India
Connection to central India: Landscape ecology, conservation biology and corridor functionality assessment. Hobbies: Photography.
Asavari Sharma
PhD Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Connection to central India: I am currently working on my PhD which examines the governance of NTFPs in Maharashtra, both from the point of view of evolution of policy and institutional arrangement, as well as their impacts on ecological sustainability, state revenue, livelihoods and equity. I am also working on a joint project by the Maharashtra Forest Department and Tribal Department which looks at the implementation of the Forest Rights Act in Gondia district of Maharashtra. Before this, I have worked briefly on communities based conservation initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh as well as a study on Forest Rights Act implementation in 3 districts of MP with WWF India. I have also worked on a study examining nature and extent of forest dependence in local communities in Gondia.
Hobbies: PADI certified diver, avid hiker, amateur bird watcher, will swim whenever and wherever there is an opportunity to.
Sandeep Sharma
International Research Specialist, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Connection to central India: Corridors and connectivity in Central India landscape, tiger conservation and research. Hobbies: Music.
Beependra Singh
Ph.D. Student, Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India
Connection to central India: My PhD research work aims to understand the variability of climatic drivers, vulnerability of the landscape, vegetation health, growth rhythm (Phenology) and impact of climate change on the natural vegetation and water bodies over time using Spatio-temporal satellite data and includes field world and ground verification. I have been working in the area of Remote Sensing & Geographical Information systems for forestry and ecological aspects since last five years. I want to explore the landscape in detailed working and collaborating with people and finding answers to issues, where I can contribute to the field of research and knowledge. Hobbies: Cycling, Making short video on nature, Photography, Trekking, Travelling to new places, Football, Volley ball and motivating people.
Kartikeya Singh
Partner, Wildlife And Forestry Services
Connection to central India: Translocations, conflict management, tourism. Hobbies: Horse Riding, Angling
D. P. Srivastava
Nature Education Officer, University of Delhi
Connection to central India: Research in Panna Landscape. Hobbies: Hiking, Travelling, Restoration Ecology, Wildlife Research.
Sudarshan Suchi
Program Head, Rural Transformation, Reliance Foundation
Connection to central India: The Program is engaged in holistic development initiatives in over 150 villages across Central India Landscape mostly in and around Panna; Kanha; Satpura and Pench National Parks. The work includes livelihoods, farming, rain water harvesting; supporting resettlement of villages around Satpura; Natural Resource Management. Hobbies: Farming; Long Distance Running, Meeting people, travelling and experiencing new places and reading
Bikrant Tiwary
Chief Executive Officer, Grow-Trees.com
Connection to central India: Planting trees in the periphery of wild life reserves (Like: Kanha, Pench). Hobbies: Hiking, Mentoring NGOs and social ventures
Vidya Venkatesh
Chief Executive Officer, Last Wilderness Foundation
Connection to central India: We work with communities to mitigate human-wildlife conflict near tiger reserves - Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna. Hobbies: Butterfly watching, travelling to then wilderness & the mountains.
Vipul Gupta
Founder, Earth Focus
Connection to central India: Vipul's pilot project with Earthfocus is to work with 14 villages, surrounding the Mukki gate of Kanha National Park. Earthfocus has developed a unique holistic depth model that seeks to create sustainable livelihoods for forest dwellers, by providing education intervention , developing bio diversity sensitisation and capacity building for nature based livelihoods and employment skilling in the local context .
