Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Empowering conservationists to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion in their practice. Through workshops and safe spaces, we help on-ground practitioners identify implicit biases, develop emotional intelligence, and redefine inclusive leadership in nature conservation across Northeast India.
Embracing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in nature conservation
Work we do
Onground and grassroots conservationists often work in remote locations with limited opportunities to exchange ideas on diverse cultures, and perspectives on conservation approaches/ practices. This may often result in perpetuation of our biases, beliefs, and practices, weakening the impact and reach of our work. In such situations, conservation efforts may become part of a system that reinforces negative attitudes, or even the exclusion of certain members from our teams and residents we work with.
The events organised by our working group aim to provide an opportunity for participants to understand what implicit biases are and how they can impact our decision-making processes. We hope to provide a safe space for participants to identify and self-reflect on implicit biases we may carry. It will also help participants to address and navigate through these biases. Ultimately, we hope to encourage each one of us to become emotionally intelligent conservationists who are able to embrace the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion when doing on ground conservation.
About us
GOALS
Our goal is to empower participants to think out of the box and redefine for themselves:
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How to be inclusive and think about gender, caste, class, region, religion, your privilege and understand your position
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The meaning of leadership in conservation
Our workshops aim to
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Provide an opportunity for participants to understand implicit biases, how they are formed, and their impact on the decision-making processes
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Create a safe space for participants to self-reflect and identify the implicit biases in their professional and personal lives
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Share simple tools to identify, address and navigate through one's implicit biases
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Encourage participants to become emotionally intelligent conservationists, who are able to embrace the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion when leading nature conservation initiatives.
Past workshop
October 27-29, 2024
Living Labs - In total a diverse group of 19 participants joined the workshop from 5 different states representing 11 organisations.
November 1-2, 2023
Living Labs - 19 participants from 9 different states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Nagaland.
TEAM
Team members
Neyi Jamoh
Working Group Coordinator
Neyi is the Sanctuary Nature Foundation’s Mud on Boots project coordinator and the project lead of this group. Based in Sikkim, she works on community-driven conservation, blending Indigenous knowledge with innovative solutions.
Priya Tamma
Team Member
Priya is an ecologist and faculty member at Azim Premji University. Her work focuses on conservation biology, animal ecology, and evolutionary biology. Her research explores species interactions, biodiversity conservation, and ecological adaptations, aiming to foster sustainable relationships between humans and wildlife.
Yamini Srikanth
Team Member
Yamini is an ecologist, science communicator, and writer whose work explores the intersections of gender, ecology, and education across multiple disciplines and ecosystems. With a deep interest in interdisciplinary approaches, Yamini views art, theatre, and education as powerful tools to engage communities, challenge dominant narratives, and inspire transformative change.
Rituparna Neog
Co-Facilitator
Rituparna is a queer rights activist and storyteller based in Assam. They are the Founder and Director of the Akam Foundation, which works on education and gender justice.
Akshay Poudel
Co-Facilitator
Akshay is a generalist who moves between Political Science, Urban Studies, and Behavioral Science. He finds joy in fiction, cinema, and long-distance running. The Brahmaputra River has always been his first love, inseparable from his identity. His meals are incomplete without his mother’s and grandmother’s homemade pickles.
Gallery
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Support and Funding
2024
Sanctuary Nature Foundation and Royal Enfield Social Mission
2023
A crowdfunding campaign by Green Hub and Sanctuary Nature Foundation
