Gauhati University hosts 13th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum on sustainable land futures

 Guwahati, December 10: With the fragile Eastern Himalaya at a defining ecological crossroads, Gauhati University on Tuesday hosted the 13th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum 2025 on “Sustainable Land Futures”, organised by Balipara Foundation. The forum brought together leading voices from conservation, science, policy, industry and community action to reimagine regenerative pathways for one of the world’s most climate-sensitive regions, often referred to as the “Third Pole” 

Delivering the welcome address, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, placed institutional responsibility at the centre of climate action. “Before placing blame on others, meaningful change must begin with ourselves. The journey must start at an individual and institutional level. Each of us must strive to be the agent of change we wish to see in the world. Guided by this philosophy, Gauhati University has adopted this model and remains committed to protecting and promoting it. We believe that even a single institution can set an example and initiate meaningful transformation,” he said.

The forum is being held simultaneously at IIT Guwahati, Cotton University and Royal Global University, creating a rare multi-university climate platform across the city and reinforcing Guwahati’s growing stature as a hub for sustainability discourse in the Northeast.

In his address at the 13th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum, Sourav Roy, CEO, Tata Steel Foundation, observed that planetary debates often become mere “repair conversations”, stressing that real progress requires dismantling hierarchies and engaging as equals within an interconnected system.

Key discussions during the day focused on regenerative land use, restoration of degraded and waste landscapes, circular economy pathways through waste-to-wealth models, wetlands conservation, and the growing challenge of human–elephant coexistence. A major institutional highlight was the launch of the Asian Elephant Secretariat, signalling renewed momentum for long-term elephant conservation in the Brahmaputra and Eastern Himalayan landscapes 

Youth and community engagement formed a parallel pillar of the forum, with creative sessions using music, art and storytelling to connect conservation with culture, identity and lived experience.

The Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum 2025 will continue on December 11 with sessions on regenerative livelihoods, climate justice, community leadership, and the convergence of traditional knowledge with modern technology for sustainable land futures.