Ram Hattikudur Advanced Training in Conservation
Priyanka Iyer
Priyanka is passionate about wildlife conservation and have worked on aquatic systems, policy issues, education, and editing publications. Assisted with IUCN Red List assessments and the Assessment to Planning process as part of the Conservation Planning Specialist Group, South Asia. She is fond of creating art that creates awareness about threats faced by wildlife.
Curriculum Vitae
Academic Qualifications
Bachelors in Mass Media in the year 2007 from Mumbai University
M.Phil in Conservation Leadership in the year 2015-16 from University of Cambridge
Professional experience
Zoo Outreach Organization – NGO working on Research, Education and Conservation of Flora, Fauna and Fungi.
Position: Researcher
Duration: 21 February 2012 - till date
Sea Cucumber Wildlife Trade 2016-2018:
Understood illegal wildlife trade of Sea cucumbers from Tamil Nadu coastline through interactions with fishing communities and also explored their dependence on sea cucumbers. Interacted with the key players and subject experts to understand the context and explore possible solutions.
Freshwater fish Policy Project 2012-2014:
Worked on freshwater fish conservation policies, education and outreach related to aquarium trade and field studies in the Western Ghats, India. Includes networking, communication with government agencies at state and central level, analysing select policies with relevance to freshwater fish and developed a draft policy framework that is science-based, dynamic and implementable.
Indian Alliance for Zero Extinction species (freshwater fish):
Worked with six Indian Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species across the Western Ghats to determine their presence and collected preliminary data on the site and stakeholders unique to each site. AZE species are species that are on the verge of extinction (Critically Endangered or Endangered) and found in a single management unit.
Sanctuary Asia – Organisation working towards wildlife awareness and education
Position: Mumbai Coordinator, Kids for Tigers
Duration: 4 months
Profile: Co-ordinated with the educators of over 40 schools in Mumbai (ranging from municipal schools to international schools), Worked as a team member to develop content for a manual containing lesson plans in environmental science, botany, zoology, ecology, ecological services and other sciences aimed at teachers of schools affiliated with the Kids For Tigers programme across India.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) – Bird Migration Study Centre, Point Calimere, Tamil Nadu
Position: Research Assistant
Duration: 4 months
Profile: Three month study of wetland birds including species composition and abundance during spring return migration at Point Calimere. Was part of a team conducting a bird survey at Chilika lake, Odisha in east coast of India. Helped with preliminary studies for administering PTT tags and neck collars on Bar-headed Geese at Pond Dam, Himachal Pradesh in western Himalayas.
BNHS
Position: Editorial Assistant, Publications Department, Head Office
Duration: 2 years and 6 months
Profile: Worked on editing, layout and design of magazines, books and journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). Also compiled complete text and designed over 20 posters for the 125th year celebrations of BNHS and designed print advertisements for BNHS.
Publications:
Iyer, P., R. Raghavan, N. Dahanukar, N. Sood and S. Molur (2016). All that is green does not conserve: green certification of aquarium fishes in India Current Science Vol.110(11):2054-2056pp.
Raghavan R., N. Dahanukar, S. Philip, P. Iyer, B. Kumar, B. Daniel and S. Molur (2015). The conservation status of decapod crustaceans in the Western Ghats of India: an exceptional region of freshwater biodiversity Aquatic Conservation Vol. 25(2):259-275
