This is the inaugural episode of Imagine India Fireside Chats, a new monthly series that highlights how research and collaboration move from analysis to on-the-ground action. The episode features G. Ravikanth, Deepanjana Saha, and Sourya Das, and focuses on the theme of ecosystem valuation.

The conversation discusses what ecosystem valuation actually entails beyond abstract economic metrics, including how ecological processes, social values, and livelihood dependencies are identified and assessed, and where current valuation approaches fall short. It also examines how ecosystem valuation can be meaningfully integrated into policy and practice, drawing on examples from agriculture, land-use planning, and conservation decision-making, while recognizing institutional constraints and data gaps.