Recognised for advancing biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient food systems
Munish Sood
MANDI:
Dr Tara Devi Sen, a leading botanist and Head of the Botany Department at Vallabh Government College, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), has been honoured with the “Senior Scientist Green Award” at the 6th World Environment Summit held in Thailand from November 9-11. The award acknowledges her pioneering work in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and innovations in traditional food systems across the Himalayan region.
The summit, organised jointly by the Environment and Social Development Association (ESDA) and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, brought together more than 430 delegates and 50 keynote speakers from 27 countries, including the Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Australia, Ukraine and the UAE. The hybrid-format event facilitated participation from scientists, policymakers, institutions and global environmental organisations.
Dr Sen received the honour from Dr Amjath Ahmed, Minister of State for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Republic of Maldives, in the presence of distinguished guests such as India’s Ambassador to Thailand, Nagesh Singh, Amity University Vice-Chancellor Prof PB Sharma, and environmental experts from the United States and South Asia.
She was recognised for her extensive contributions to wild food plant conservation, eco-friendly food innovation and community-oriented environmental education. Her research and outreach initiatives focus on documenting Himalayan wild edible plants and promoting their domestication, value addition and integration into sustainable livelihood models. Through her digital platform HimalayanWildFoodPlants.com, multimedia outreach, and training programmes, she has helped expand public understanding of climate-resilient food resources.
Dr Sen works closely with self-help groups, farmers, students and rural vendors, and partners with regional organisations such as Rotary Club Mandi and Rise Up Mandi to strengthen food security, nutrition and income opportunities in Himalayan communities.
She dedicated the award to her parents, Man Singh Sen and Deepika Sen, her family, mentor Dr Chiranjeet Parmar and the people of Mandi, noting that the recognition reinforces her commitment to advancing climate-compatible food systems and ecological stewardship.
Professional background
Dr Sen currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Vallabh Government College, Mandi, a position she has held since 2010. Her earlier work includes serving as a facilitator in the Mid Himalayan Watershed Project (2006-2009), where she worked across agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and forest departments to build community groups, promote biodiversity conservation and support sustainable resource utilisation.
She has also served as Assistant Professor at SVPU, Mandi, and has led several major research initiatives as Principal Investigator, including:
• A DST-funded project on traditional processing of wild edible plants across six tehsils of Mandi district, focusing on their nutritional, medicinal, and economic potential and scope for modern processing technologies.
• A project supported by the National Medicinal Plants Board, Ministry of AYUSH, on promoting awareness, cultivation, and optimal utilisation of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) to boost health and immunity in the region.
With the Senior Scientist Green Award, Dr Sen’s work extends beyond regional boundaries, contributing to international conversations on ecological resilience, sustainable food systems, and the preservation of global biodiversity.
