ATREE Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Ecosystems around the world are the result of the co-evolution of organisms over millions of years. Organisms in these ecosystems are adapted to their environment and to each other, and are interconnected through complex linkages – the exchange of energy and matter, pollination, dispersal, predation, competition, cooperation. All of this goes into the making of healthy ecosystems, which are dynamic but resilient, able to persist and bounce back from disturbance. The arrival of alien invasive species into such ecosystems can be a disruptive force. Invasive alien species can change ecosystem composition, affect the interactions between species, affect people who are dependent on services from natural ecosystems and also affect ecosystem resilience.  Let’s explore the answers to how and why this happens with our expert guests today.

In this episode we are going to explore a cryptic and important but lesser- known taxa- the land snail. We have Dr. Aravind Madhyastha, one of India’s best Malacologists with us to explore all things mollusc.

Tune in to listen to a riveting conversation with Dr Siddappa Setty, Dr Harisha and Sandeep Hanchanale as we discuss Lantana Camara, one of the top 10 invasive plant species in the world.

Lantana began its journey in Central America in the late 1660s and continues to wreak havoc in our wild spaces to this day. Find out from the experts how this affects our forests, what would happen if we don't intervene, and learn more about the interventions themselves! 

You can reach out to Dr Siddappa Setty with your questions at siddappa@atree.org.

In this episode we are in conversation with Dr Sarala Khaling, Regional Director of the NE Initiative at ATREE. We converse about biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services for human wellbeing, human-wildlife interactions, livelihoods, food systems, citizen science based biodiversity documentation. ATREE’s vision for the region to secure multi-functional landscapes in Northeast India that protect biodiversity, maintains ecosystem with integrity and promotes the well-being of its people.

In this episode we are in conversation with Dr. Aravind Madhyastha,  head of the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation at ATREE. We discuss the knowledge generated by the centre across various themes such as description of new species, One Health, hydrology, conservation genetics, population ecology, soil science, freshwater ecology, canopy science and bird migration.

In this episode we are in conversation with Dr. Veena Srinivasan,  Director of Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation at ATREE. We discuss inter-sectoral water allocation, impacts of multiple stressors on water resources, ground and surface water linkages, and sustainable water management-policy and practice. We delve into how CSEI Transforms Research Into Impact.