Ramya Nair

Ramya is a queer, non-binary conservationist from India, deeply committed to community-led conservation and environmental justice.

Since 2019, they have lived and worked with the Indigenous Yimkhiung Naga in Nagaland, co-leading bio-cultural research and bottom-up conservation efforts. Navigating fieldwork as an embedded outsider has shaped their ethos of care, humility and co-learning. They work to bridge research and grassroots realities, while striving to foster local leadership and resilience in conservation.

Outside of work, they enjoy birdwatching and learning about traditional handicrafts, which deepen their connection to place and people. Their practice is rooted in trust, cultural respect and solidarity. They believe in conservation that uplifts people, protects landscapes and creates space for multiple ways of knowing and being.