Rishi Kumar

As key member of IORA's Nature-based Solutions, Forestry, and Biodiversity portfolio, I play key role in designing and executing initiatives focused on Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation

• Evaluated hiring, firing, and promotions requests.
• Managed large-scale projects and introduced new systems, tools, and processes to achieve challenging objectives.

Noteworthy assignments include:

• Serving as Biodiversity Expert and Project Management & Monitoring Expert in the USAID project, "Strengthening Landscape Management and Conservation."
• Spearheading development of long-term project in collaboration with state governments and investors, focusing on Nature-based Solutions and Carbon markets
• This initiative aims to rehabilitate millions of hectares in degraded and deforested government, community, and private areas
• Offering support to Working Plan Officer of Tripura Forest Department in preparing working plans for eight districts under national working plan code of 2014
• Contributing to Working Draft on India’s Long-Term Low Emission Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) as Knowledge Partner, IORA Ecological Solutions Pvt. Ltd.) to Ministry of Forests, and Climate Change, Government of India
• Serving as crucial team member in GIZ-funded project, focusing on development of training needs assessment package and selected training modules for conservation and sustainable, climate-resilient management of fish and invertebrate stocks in northeastern states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Assam
• Playing key role in World Bank Project, "Landscape-based Approach for Sustainable Land Use," comprehensively reviewing technological innovations, livelihood linkages, and associated opportunities and challenges for effective implementation in multiple landscapes across North, Central, and Eastern India
• Managing Evaluation of Biodiversity Enhancement contributions under "Situational Assessment for Biodiversity Conservation Interventions by ITC’s Mission Sunehra Kal" across country
• Contributing to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Business and Human Rights in Asia (B+HR Asia), commissioned project with Dalberg to undertake research targeting business leaders, policymakers and multilateral actors
• Reviewing Development made under "Biodiversity Assessment for Tata Motors Pant Nagar Plant" at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand and recommending restructuring to achieve both biodiversity and environmental benefits
• Undertaking research and developing projects on Biodiversity, Carbon Finance, Landscape Restoration, Forest Management, and Evaluation proposals for Government of India, state, private companies.

• Coordinated conservation activities in Western India Landscape, Ranthambore-Ramgarh emphasizing community participation
• Conducted detailed assessments using camera traps and line transects at Madhav National Park
• Contributed to capacity development for Forest Departments on wildlife estimation methodologies, survey tools and ranging patterns of tigers.

• Provided technical inputs in training programs on Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation.
• Facilitated support to selected trainings under Indo-German Project on HWC Mitigation.
• Organized and coordinated online training for State Forest Services Probationers and Indian Forest Services Probationers.

Achievements

• Organized, facilitated and coordinated online training for State Forest Services Probationers for CASFOS, 7th to 11th June, Burnihat, Assam
• Indian Forest Services Probationers for IGNFA, 2020-2022 Batch from 29th to 1st of July 2021, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Field Studies and Training) in GIZ-WII Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Project

• Coordinated preparation of Standard Operating Guidelines for Human-Wildlife Conflict on seven species/groups
• Working as Lead Author of 3 guidelines -Rhesus Macaque, Wild Pig and Blackbuck
• Organized workshops and meetings of Forest Department, Experts, and stakeholders for preparation of Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Guidelines
• Collated information, wherever required and preparing updates on Standard Operating Guidelines preparation process
• Prepared HWC Management Action Plan for Rajaji-Haridwar-Dehradun landscape
• Collated information from State Forest Department, scientific research and reports
• Organized training and workshops for authors, forest department officials, frontline staff (Rapid Response Team)

Achievements

• Seven HWC Operating Guidelines submitted to Ministry-GIZ for pilot testing, including three guidelines as lead author
• Uttarakhand HWC Strategy and Action Plan and HWC Management Action Plan for Haridwar and Dehradun Divisions submitted to DFOs
• Organized six Training for frontline staff (RRTs) for enhancing skills in handling HWC cases and monitoring of species.

Long-Term Ecological Monitoring in Sikkim Himalaya, (NMHS project, Government of India)

• Planned and established Long-term Monitoring sites (1 hectare each) in Sikkim Himalaya along altitudinal and anthropogenic pressure gradients
• Created baseline of floral, faunal diversity, and protocols development for vegetation and faunal monitoring of sampled sites
• Collaborated with Forest Department and local institution for long-term monitoring

Achievements

• 26 Long-term monitoring plots (1 ha) established in alpine, sub-alpine, temperate broadleaved forest, and Tropical deciduous forests along human extraction pressure gradient
• Framework of Long-term monitoring mechanism with local institutions, national, and international institutions established and submitted to donor institution.

• Reviewed biodiversity profile of Meghalaya State
• Collated of information on threat to biodiversity of state
• Organized workshops and meetings with Forest Department, other Government Departments, NGOs, and local institutions for review of State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
• Prepared implementation and resource mobilization plan after discussing with institutions involved in biodiversity conservation in state

Achievements

• Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan submitted to Meghalaya Biodiversity Board.

• Reviewed and collated Quarterly, Biannual, and Annual monitoring and evaluation of all projects
• Supported preparation of Project Implementation Plans of all projects
• Organized organizing Planning meetings for new projects and mid-term planning of existing projects
• Developed and initiated new projects before handing over to project team

Additional Responsible for Garo Green Spine project Gibbon occupancy surveys under USFWL grant

• Organized surveys of Garo Hills landscape (Meghalaya) for gibbon occupancy

Achievements

• Reviewed 40 - projects and course corrections as needed for better project delivery
• Prepared Conservation Action Plan, monitoring protocol and Landscape management plan for conservation of Hoolock gibbon in Garo Hills, Meghalaya.

Deputation to Nagaland – Nagaland Conservation Project

• Conducted survey at sites to identify critical wildlife of protected areas and local communities' requirements and resource use
• Prepared management plan for protected areas based on goal and objectives of protected area for management of wildlife species, habitat restoration, and infrastructure improvement
• Preparation of detailed budget with Forest Department

Achievements

• Prepared and submitted management plans for three protected areas of Nagaland State, India.

• Coordinated data collection and preparation of REDD+ biodiversity component of Garo Hills
• Coordinated project activities related to forest landscape restoration, carbon sequestration and community-related alternative livelihood programs
• Established incentive mechanism for communities to declare Community Conserved Areas that link gibbon and elephant corridors and habitats under Autonomous District Council Laws
• Maintained nursery and plantations of native tree species in degraded habitats via Afforestation and Assisted Natural Regeneration
• Coordinated with Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Village heads for effective implementation of project

Achievements

• Established 14 Community Conservation Reserves in Meghalaya with Garo-Hills Team
• Gibbon corridors, and habitat identified for landscape conservation
• Conservation Action Plan for gibbon conservation submitted to District Council and USFWL
• Community initiatives for improving condition of livelihood launched in several villages with involvement of communities in livelihood schemes, community assistance programs etc.