My pronouns are she/her
Growing up in a village in Palpa, Nepal, surrounded by people with rich knowledge of plants and their medicinal uses, and occasional encounters with rare and wild animals, I developed an early fascination with plants and wildlife. I often wondered why these species, despite being so important to people’s everyday lives, received so little attention. After more than a decade working closely with communities in conservation, that childhood curiosity has evolved into a deeper question: how can we conserve species that are deeply embedded in people’s lives while ensuring that conservation does not overlook the people who depend on them? This question now drives my work—to better understand the complex relationships between people, wildlife, and trade, and to develop conservation approaches that protect species while strengthening the communities who have long lived alongside and cared for them.
Through my work with local plant trade actors, I have listened to their stories and witnessed how harvesting supports families, livelihoods, and children’s futures. I have also seen a persistent imbalance: those most involved in the supply chain often have the least influence and receive the smallest share of its benefits. Meanwhile, unsustainable harvesting and illegal trade are eroding the resources on which these communities depend and placing increasing pressure on species and ecosystems. Many of these less-charismatic species, however, continue to receive limited conservation attention and investment. These experiences have shaped my ambition to understand the social and economic forces underlying wildlife use and trade, and to translate that understanding into conservation approaches that work for both species and people. Ultimately, I hope my research can contribute to a broader shift in conservation from addressing visible threats in isolation to tackling the systems that drive them, creating interventions that are ecologically effective, socially equitable, and capable of lasting beyond individual projects. In doing so, I hope to contribute practical solutions for the communities who have long lived alongside and cared for our natural heritage.
Research and Program Lead at Greenhood Nepal
Member of IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group and IUCN SSC Medicinal Plant Specialist Group; Society for Conservation Biology Asia Board
