Kulesh Bhandari
Founder & Project Lead @Wild Food Forests In Tribal Jharkhand
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WORK HISTORY
Founder & Project Lead @Wild Food Forests In Tribal Jharkhand
Founder & Project Lead of Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand, a community-led conservation initiative focused on reviving wild edible plant diversity, strengthening traditional agroforestry systems, and promoting nature-based livelihoods in the tribal upland landscapes of Jharkhand.The initiative works at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, indigenous ecological knowledge, nutrition security, and youth-led grassroots action. Core activities include wild edible plant documentation, community engagement, demonstration plots, environmental education, and participatory conservation planning.Supported through international micro-grant funding, the project is developed in close collaboration with tribal communities, farmers, and youth groups across the Santhal Pargana region. The long-term goal is to build a scalable model of community-driven conservation that strengthens ecosystem resilience while supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.Alongside this work, I curate the Biodiversity Atlas of Santhal Pargana, a regional citizen-science initiative documenting species diversity across eastern Jharkhand through field observations and the iNaturalist platform.
EDUCATION
Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU), Dumka
Bachelors of Science , Zoology/Animal Biology
High School Ramgarh
Matriculation
Santhal Pargana College Dumka
I.S.c, Biology, General
Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU), Dumka
Master of Science - MS, Zoology/Animal Biology
ABOUT KULESH BHANDARI
I am a biodiversity researcher working at the intersection of ecology, traditional knowledge, and community-led conservation in the upland ecosystems of eastern India.My flagship research theme—“Wild Food Forests: Living Conservation Systems in Tribal Landscapes of Eastern India”—explores how wild edible plants, forest–grassland mosaics, and tribal agroforestry systems sustain biodiversity and climate resilience.I am the Founder & Project Lead of Wild Food Forests in Tribal Jharkhand and a Seed Grant Fellow of The Pollination Project (USA). My work focuses on documenting native species, mapping biodiversity patterns, and strengthening community-driven conservation initiatives across the Santhal Pargana region.My field research includes:• Upland biodiversity and rock–grassland ecotones • Wild food plants, ethnobotany, and agroforestry • Amphibian, insect, and macrofaunal behavior • Traditional ecological knowledge and oral histories • GIS-based biodiversity mapping and species documentationMy work has been recognized through participation and invitations to international conservation platforms and youth leadership initiatives linked to organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Earth Echo International, and Yale School of the Environment.I am committed to building conservation research rooted in community knowledge, indigenous food systems, and ecological resilience in tribal landscapes.Interests: Biodiversity • Agroecology • Tribal Landscapes • Conservation Science • GIS • Youth LeadershipOpen to collaborations: Biodiversity research, ethnobotany, community-led conservation, and wild food systems.
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