We're thrilled to announce the successful completion of our Conference on Biodiversity Protection and Community Development & Eco-Restoration in the Western Ghats, held on October 21st, 2024, at MIT World Peace University (Chanakya hall), Pune. This collaborative initiative by Shashwat Trust, TERRE Policy Centre, and Global Nature Fund brought together experts, conservationists, and community leaders to share insights on sustainable development and conservation. The event featured welcome addresses by Dr. Vinita Apte (Founder & Director, TERRE Policy Centre) and Dr. Ram Boojh (Advisor, Mobius Foundation), followed by insightful presentations on biodiversity hotspots, traditional knowledge, agroforestry, community-led conservation, and cultural significance of biodiversity. The event featured insightfull presentation from Dr. Ankur Patwardhan (Head of Department Biodiversity, M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College), Dr. Rajendra Kadam (Rtd. Deputy Conservator of Forests), Mr. Viswadev V S (Senior Project Officer, BAIF), Mr. Dhruv Bhatt (Co-ordinator, TERRE Policy Centre , Karnataka-Site), Shri. Sanjay Patil (Chief Thematic Programme Executive, BAIF), Mr. Tushar Pawar (Shaswat Trust), Mr. Lahu Walunj (Former Sarpanch, Wandre Gram Panchayat) and Mr. Premsagar Mestri (President SEESCAP, Mahad). Key highlights included discussions on biodiversity conservation, research, policy, and governance, as well as sustainable agriculture. The conference concluded with a valedictory address by Ms. Katharine Gehrig (Project Manager, Global Nature Fund). We thank our speakers and participants for making this event a success, marking a significant step toward fostering sustainable community development initiatives and biodiversity conservation in the Western Ghats.
