Team
Manu Bhatnagar, Principal Director
Manu Bhatnagar is an urban and environmental planner with over 30 Years of experience in the environment sector. He heads the Natural Heritage Division as Principal Director. He is an alumni of Cornell University with qualifications in Regional Planning. He also has qualifications in Strategic Management, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Ecology and Habitat Management, Environmental Law, Conservation of Rivers and Lakes, Ecosystem Services and Sustainable Development, Disaster Management from prestigious institutes. He has worked in India and in SE Asia on diverse projects ranging from urban-regional-environmental planning to cultural documentation, river conservation, lake management, water policy, sustainable agriculture, urban biodiversity.
Dr. Ritu Singh, Project Director
Ritu Singh Has 23 years of progressive experience in environment conservation, working with various national NGOs and research institutions. Her focus is lakes and wetland conservation, urban biodiversity, and traditional sustainable farming however, environment being a diverse subject she has worked in various aspects related to environment conservation. This include wetland conservation and management, green belt development, water conservation, national reporting to United Nations Conservation to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and interpretation programme execution. Her current focus is conservation agriculture for environmental and economic sustainability.
Ritu Singh earned a Ph.D in Forest Ecology from FRI University Dehradun and post graduate in Environmental Science from Lucknow University. She has also earned special post graduate diploma in Environmental Management of Human Settlements from HIS, Rotterdam, The Netherlands and certificate course in Ornithology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Sustainable Agriculture, Agro-ecology, Soil Conservation, Seed saving & production and Permaculture. She has on-the-job experience in environmental planning, training and outreach programmes, tree plantation and nature-culture documentation.
Sajid Idrisi, Conservation Biologist
Sajid Idrisi has working experience of 10 years in the field of biodiversity conservation, rivers and wetlands, high-altitude landscapes and various innovative pilot projects.
His educational credentials include B.Sc. Biotechnology from Jamia Millia Islamia (2008), New Delhi, M.Sc in Biodiversity and Conservation from G.G.S.I.P. University (2010), New Delhi, and M.Phil in Ecological Informatics from CUSAT, Kerala (2013)
During the span of his career, he took multiple courses from various international universities and institutions. Few of them are Science Writing from Stanford University, Cities and Climate Change from the United Nations, Climate Change in Developing Countries from University of Cape Town, International Water Law from University of Geneva, Biodiversity and Global Change from University of Zurich, and Climate Resilient Agriculture from World Bank Institute.
His major interest areas include Urban Environment (including Water Resources), Nature-based Solutions, Technological Applications in Environment, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Developing Countries.
In his free time, he prefers to do motorbiking, journal and read poetry.
Dr. Sumesh Dudani, Scientific officer
Sumesh Dudani has completed his doctorate in botany and has post doctoral experience focussing on biodiversity (including cryptogams such as lichens & pteridophytes) and ecology based studies in central Western Ghats of Karnataka. He has also worked on coastal ecosystems (focusing on mangroves) in Gujarat state, biodiversity surveys in Gujarat & Chhattisgarh and on Ganga river natural heritage documentation in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. He has several publications in the form of scientific research papers, book chapters, technical reports and popular e-articles. He has work experience of 10 years.
Abhishek Kumar, Urban Planner
Abhishek Kumar, an alumni of School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi, is an experienced urban and environmental planner with 8 years of experience in diverse projects relating to water sector, lakes, river front planning, tourism and legal advocacy. He is an “Associate Member” of Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) and has several training courses to his credit including “Sustainable and Affordable Sanitation Solution” from IIT Bombay.
Abhishek kr. Upadhyay, Environmental Specialist
Abhishek Upadhyay has working experience of 5 years with specialization in the field of environment. His educational credentials include B.Sc. Environmental Science from Patna Science College (Gold Medallist) and M.Sc. (Tech.) in Environmental Science from Banaras Hindu University. He has been part of various projects related to Landscape Restoration, Lotic and Lentic System Management, Hydrological Modelling, and Soil Quality Monitoring.
Aditya Gopal, Research Associate
Aditya Gopal has an M.Sc. degree in Environmental Science and Technology, from BVIEER, Bharti Vidya Peth, Pune and a bachelors degree in Environmental Science from Patna Science College, Patna University. He is working as a Research Associate and has an experience of 3 years in the field of Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture. His area of work includes Rivers and Wetland Conservation and Management, Biodiversity Assessment, Sustainable Agricultural Practices including Low Cost Framing and Soil Management.
Devendra Rawat, Group Support Executive
Devendra Rawat is the Group Support Executive. He manages administration and accounts and provide support to the team members. He keeps record on previous and ongoing projects and looks up the finance.
