A conservation leader, habitat restoration specialist, nature photographer and ecology catalyst with a decade of work experience in the public and private sectors to conserve forests, rivers, and wetlands, developing programmes while negotiating governmental affairs and policy. He has written five books on the lesser-known wild natural resources enabling the dissemination of knowledge to many stakeholders. His work focuses on biodiversity assessment, habitat restoration, spatial planning- analysis, and natural resource management. He has lead various conservation programmes in central India, the eastern and north-eastern regions of India as well as capacity-building programmes at different levels of government and communities. He has also elevated and converted scientific inference into workable conservation intervention strategies with success.
Linkedin : www.linkedin.com/in/ashok-biswal
Insta: ashokbiswalindia
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM so far?
A. My journey has been exceptional since I came to IIFM in the MRM course. It was a great experience to connect my work experience with the academic & theoretical frameworks in IIFM classroom and field trips. It allowed me to better theorize my experience in my MRM studies.
The adventure has been on since graduating from IIFM and I am very grateful for the many opportunities that have allowed me to grow professionally.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. There has been many small and big milestones I contributed to, and they will be going on as my professional journey continues. Some of the key landmarks are the publication of my books on the Riparian vegetation of the Narmada River, Macrophytes of Eastern India and Aquatic plants in Bhoj wetland, which has now gained widespread recognition and acceptance from all stakeholders. All of this has been incorporated into Madhya Pradesh’s state-level policies.
One of my most important takeaways is the ‘continuous’ learning; it should never stop. The deciding factor should be remaining focused and concentrating on our goals. There is a great deal of room for expansion and development. The environmental sector is ripe with opportunity, and that potential is only going to increase in the years to come.
Q. What is the most satisfying part in your career?
A. The most satisfying part of my work has been traveling to different landscapes, documenting the natural resources of different states, and then actively participating in the conservation and restoration of those ecological landscape.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. The time I spent at IIFM had a profound impact on my life. One of the great things about our IIFM is the way it uses a multidisciplinary approach in teaching management principles with the technical parts of managing natural resources. When combined, they offer something fresh and different, which is very useful for exploring and completing our work in Professional life.
Q. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles.
A. Devotion to the purpose that we choose in life along with the conviction are the two main forces that propels a career forward. These are two traits that students must have in order to thrive in the conservation or environmental sustainability professions. For the best outcome, it is important to always seek complete clarification for responsibilities and roles so that there is no confusion in moving forward with full force. And keep learning, it should never stop.
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. IIFM is like a dream…. The memories stays with us forever. Most of my days at IIFM were spent sitting in the grassland areas, enjoying the sunrise and sunset, and photographing and watching birds.
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. I gained as much knowledge as I could from everything, and all of it was first grade 🙂 Many of my Professors and classes, particularly those dealing with sociology and biodiversity conservation, had a significant impact on my professional development. My work and love for this field have been greatly influenced by all Professors including Prof. Yogesh Dubey, Prof. Advait Edgaonkar, Prof. Omprakash Madguni, Prof. Ashish David, Prof. Sandeep Tambe, Prof. C. S. Rathore, and Prof. Ujjal Sharma.
Q. The best buddies / seniors /faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share?
A. Everyone that was there on our field exposure trips deserves a lot of the credit because we had a blast.
Q. As an alumni, what’s your advice to freshers or those are joining IIFM to get best out of the 2 years there?
A. Get a good grasp on the complexities, and make the World a green place.
Use IIFM to your full potential; it is the one piece of advice I can give to young IIFM’ites looking to advance their careers.
At IIFM, focus on learning as much as you can in class as well as all field trips as it is a special place that provides a blended course to shape us before we get into a professional career. Take full advantage of every chance that comes your way.
Q. What was your typical day at the work? And how does it look like while you are on a break?
A. Mostly I travel a lot for my work. On a regular basis, I complete a number of chores at work. I start my early morning by going through my inbox and make the necessary updates to my to-do list. Strategic planning, problem-solving, and regular meetings with clients, partners, and project stakeholders are all part of the ongoing initiatives in which I participate.
Q. And how about weekends, hobbies, family and anything else you want to add?
A. Whenever I get a complete break from work, I love nothing more than to spend time with my loved ones. I also enjoy reading a wide variety of genres, viewing a wide variety of movies, and engaging in wildlife photography, with a focus on flora and birds.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors?
A. I love to read books related to nature, climate, and philosophy. In movies, it is mostly a historical genre. I recommend the book Tribe of Mentors by Timothy Ferriss, which is a must-read for all students. It’s about short-life advice from the best in the world.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni, students?
A. The institution’s support has been crucial to my professional development, and I would be happy to return the favor. New students at IIFM may count on me for career guidance, guest lectures, and the infusion of fresh perspectives on the wildlife and forestry industries.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there?
A. Graduates who form deep bonds with natural environments are a hallmark of IIFM‘s educational history. An encouraging step toward preserving industry leadership is the launch of the new course on Sustainability Management that corresponds with the present market’s dynamic nature. The institute’s flexibility and vision have been on full show during the years of transformation, the majority of which have paralleled the rapid development of modern and greener India.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. I would suggest name of Sushil Rai, Vivek Jain, Himanshu Kumar, Dhaval Negandhi, Sushil Saigal, Sunpreet Kaur, Mradul Choubey, Aditya Mandloi, Abhinav Sen, Pankaj Kumar, Miloni Mishra, Kunal Sharma and Sipra Mathur.