Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum Focuses on Forest Conservation and Biodiversity
The second day of the 14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum (EHNF) 2026 was held at Cotton University in Guwahati on Saturday, focusing on forest conservation and biodiversity across the Eastern Himalayan region.
Organised by the Balipara Foundation under the theme “Future of the Third Pole and the Himsagar”, the event brought together researchers, conservationists, forest officials, academics, policymakers and students to discuss the challenges of protecting forests and biodiversity.
The programme featured distinguished speakers, including former Environment and Forest Ministry Secretary Leena Nandan, Karmayogi Bharat Chairman S. Ramadorai, Prof. Toru Terao and Prof. Kazuya Ishii of Kagawa University, Japan, and Cotton University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ramesh C. Deka.
Discussions centred on biodiversity conservation, forest ecosystem protection, wildlife corridors and the role of indigenous and local communities in safeguarding natural resources. Speakers also stressed the importance of connecting scientific research with community-led conservation initiatives.
Highlighting the relationship between humans and nature, Prof. Toru Terao referred to Japan’s traditional concept of Satoyama, which represents the harmonious coexistence of human development and ecological well-being.
The discussions also underlined that forests are vital not only for biodiversity but also for sustaining livelihoods, cultural identities, water systems and ecological balance in the Eastern Himalaya.
The five-day forum is being organised across multiple universities in Guwahati. The programme will move to IIT Guwahati on November 1 for discussions on Water and Energy, followed by Sustainable Land Futures at Gauhati University on November 2. The concluding session on November 3 will be hosted by Assam Royal Global University, focusing on Green Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Through the forum, the Balipara Foundation aims to strengthen collaboration among academic institutions, government agencies, civil society and industry to address the environmental and developmental challenges of the Eastern Himalayan region.
