Ishwar Narayanan
Executive Director, TNC-The Nature Conservancy Centre
Dr. Ishwar Narayanan Executive Director, TNCC © Courtesy of Ishwar Narayanan.
Areas of Expertise
Species Conservation Strategies, Forest Landscape Restoration, Coastal & Marine Biodiversity
Biography
Dr. Ishwar Narayanan brings over two decades of experience in designing and managing conservation projects and programmes. His interests and expertise span species conservation strategies, coastal and marine biodiversity, forest landscape restoration, and building partnerships with the private sector to advance sustainable environmental solutions.
He earned his Doctoral Degree in 2002 for research on the impact of rainforest fragmentation on reptilian communities in the Western Ghats. As part of this work, Ishwar and his colleagues were credited with the rediscovery and discovery of several rare herpetofauna species, including the Orange-lipped Forest Lizard (Microauris aurantolabium) and the Malabar Black Narrow-mouthed Frog (Melanobatrachus indicus), among other critically endangered species.
Since 2005, Ishwar has worked extensively with international agencies. At UNDP, he led the implementation of coastal programmes under the UN’s post-tsunami recovery efforts. Later, at IUCN, he directed diverse species and landscape projects across India and supported initiatives in South Asia. These included threatened species conservation, landscape restoration, economic valuation of vultures, mangrove conservation and restoration, and tackling illegal wildlife trade.
Between 2022 and 2024, Ishwar worked with UNCCD, supporting the Government of India in developing strategies to achieve the country’s ambitious Land Degradation Neutrality targets. He was also closely engaged with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on G20 priorities, particularly those related to land degradation and advancing India’s positions in global negotiations.
Most recently, Ishwar was with the Wildlife Trust of India, leading species recovery projects across the country and collaborating with the private sector to mobilize resources for conserving India’s natural heritage.
Throughout his career, Ishwar has worked closely with national and regional government agencies, local communities, and NGOs to address emerging conservation challenges. His approach consistently emphasizes the use of robust scientific evidence to inform policy and decision-making.