Qualifications:

• MSc Wildlife Conservation Action, Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research (2020-22)
• BA Philosophy, Ruia College (2017-20)

Email: nayantara@dakshin.org

Profile: Nayantara is a conservation and development practitioner from Mumbai, with an interest in cultural and political ecology, human-nature relations, and place-based education. She has previously worked in Northeast India, where she supported grassroots conservation efforts led by indigenous youth. She also has a background in nature education, and has written and contributed to children’s books and magazines on nature and wildlife. Having studied philosophy and wildlife conservation, Nayantara is interested in reimagining conservation practice and research through the critical social sciences and transdisciplinary perspectives. She hopes to contribute to and support grounded and locally-led initiatives that achieve conservation objectives through equitable governance, social development, and justice-oriented approaches. Aside from birding, hiking, tidepooling, and frolicking in the outdoors, she enjoys dancing, sketching, and attending live music concerts.

At Dakshin, Nayantara primarily coordinates the Ocean Stewards initiative, a project that aims to support youth from fishing communities to lead fisheries co-management efforts.

Publications: 

Siruguri, N., & Khedkar, Y. (2026, March 5). Adivasi women protect private forests as land conversions threaten livelihoods and culture [Commentary]. Mongabay-India.

Keystone Foundation (2024). Ozhudurukka Paradu Mekka. The Hidden Forest Creatures.. 

Canopy Collective, The Green Hub Project, & Changlangshu Biodiversity Management Committee. (2024). Rooted in place: Insights on ground-up nature education from Changlangshu, Nagaland (Version 2). Zenodo.