Dr. Eklabya Sharma, Strategic Advisor and Senior Fellow at Bangalore based research organisation, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment has been honoured with the Padma Shri Award in the Science and Engineering category by the Government of India.
Dr Sharma has been working towards sustainable mountain development in the Indian Himalayan region, fostering regional cooperation through science diplomacy amongst 8 countries of the Hindu Kush region. He has contributed to global discourses shaping policy in the United Nations framework convention on climate change, United Nations convention on biological diversity and United Nations sustainable development goals processes.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Eklabya Sharma remarked, “I feel honoured to see the ecological work of the Himalayas being recognized by the Government of India. This is also a recognition of institutions with whom I was associated for the past 40 years on sustainable mountain development. This civic award is highly motivational towards more commitment on my part for mountains and people.”
His pioneering research in the field of nitrogen fixation, accretion and bio-geochemical cycle in the Eastern Himalaya is globally recognized. He further contributed to biodiversity conservation, natural resources management, transboundary landscape management, biogeochemical cycling in ecosystems including agroforestry systems, watershed management, climate change impact assessments, ecotourism, adaptation and ecosystem-based solutions in multi-functional landscapes and river basins, and resilience building in the Himalayan region.
This recognition resonates deeply with Dr. Kamal Bawa, who acknowledges Dr. Sharma’s lifelong dedication to sustaining the ecosystems of the Himalayas. Dr. Bawa states, “The honour recognises the tremendous importance of the Himalayas’ natural assets to our economy and wellbeing.”
Anita Arjundas, Executive Director of ATREE, adds, “Dr. Eklabya Sharma has been a passionate crusader of the mountains for over 40 years. ATREE is delighted by the recognition accorded to him for his work in the Himalayas and the important role he has played in the environmental stewardship of the Indian Himalayas.”
Dr. Sharma’s Padma Shri Award is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the ecological well-being of the Himalayas. ATREE congratulates Dr. Eklabya Sharma on this well-deserved honour and looks forward to continuing its mission of promoting environmental sustainability under his inspiring leadership.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Namratha Murali
namratha.murali@atree.org
About ATREE:
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) is a research institution dedicated to generating interdisciplinary knowledge for a sustainable future. ATREE’s work spans diverse environmental issues, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and environmental policy.
About Dr. Eklabya Sharma:
Dr. Eklabya Sharma is a renowned environmentalist and has devoted over 40 years to the conservation and sustainable development of the Himalayan region. His contributions have played a crucial role in advancing environmental stewardship in India.
