Advisor: Sustainable Development Himalayas

Bachelor – Sciences (Kashmir University), Bachelor Forestry, Msc -Forestry Sciences, and PhD Silviculture and Forest Management at Ludwig Maximilian University, Germany

Expert-Natural Resource based Research, and Sustainable Conservation, Development and Livelihoods with connect to mountain landscapes including strong focus on the Hindu Kush Himalayas, Leadership roles in several projects and programmes led to several international rewards (e.g. Transboundary Landscapes Work at International Centre of Integrated Mountain Development    Winner of the RNRF-USA Outstanding Achievement Award 2018)

Profile

Rajan Kotru is from Kashmir Valley currently living in Village Gadoral (Gadiara Panchayat) near Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Over a career span of 35 years, Rajan has proven his innovative, strategic and action-oriented skills as passionate international sustainable development expert bridging avenues of research and development. His work ranging from forestry, watershed management, agroforestry, agriculture, horticulture, sustainable tourism, governance and institutional development, climate resilience building, disaster management, value chains etc. covering policy, practice and capacity building design and delivery. He has travelled in more than 40 countries and worked across 20 countries across South Asia, Europe (German Alps), India and the USA. The initiation and development of ground-breaking transboundary landscapes and relationships in the Hindu Kush Himalayas while at International Centre of Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is a specialism (including Kailash Sacred Landscape between India, China and Nepal), founded on integrity, ethics, transparency and diplomacy, resulting in the mobilising of opposing national and local governments and private sector actors to form partnerships and the meaningful engagement for climate, conservation and development solutions and actions. Key advisor to national and international sustainable development policy and research platform, influencing and champion of climate smart, eco-friendly solutions including at “Landscape Scale” in a rural development and sustainable natural resource management context, dedicated to the resilience of local communities to climate change and restoration and sustenance of ecosystem services (Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry Value Chains) enablement of poor and disadvantaged rural-urban communities. As charismatic speaker and accessible leader has been involved in the design of academic/training curriculum at national and international universities including Guest speaker at Technical University of Munich, Germany.  He was involved at NITI Aayog for contributing to Five Key Documents on the sustainable Development of Himalayas. Design of Carbon sequestrating tourism and landscape approach in the Himalayan Landscapes are few resent accomplishments. Currently, engaged as International Chief Advisor under Indo-German Development Cooperation, and Lead Strategist at Trestle Management Advisors. As member of several environmental forums engaged in philanthropic work, and avenues of waste and forest fire management around Neugal River in Himachal Pradesh. He has more than 150 publications to his credit with numerous newspaper articles, project development reports and evaluations.

Member of Inner Circle of CLTS (Kolkata and Sussex) Alumni of Salzburg Global Seminar Austria, Daimler and Benz Foundation Germany and Previously Alumni of ICIMOD.