In this episode, we have Ashish Kothari, a renowned environmentalist. He talks about the Forest Rights Act and discusses the way forward post Union Territory keeping in the mind the fragile environment of Ladakh. 

He is working on development, environment interface, biodiversity policy, and alternatives. He is one of the founders of Kalpavriksh, a Non-Profit Organisation in India which deals with environmental and development issues. He has been associated with peoples' movements like Narmada Bachao Andolan and Beej Bachao Andolan. 

Ashish Kothari has been a member of Steering Committees of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP) from 1998 to 2008. He has also been a co-chair IUCN Inter-commission Strategic Direction on Governance, Equity, and Livelihoods in Relation to Protected Areas (TILCEPA) from 1998 to 2008. Ashish Kothari has also served on the steering group or governing board of the CBD (Convention On Biodiversity) Alliance, the ICCA Consortium, and Greenpeace International. At present, he is the chairman of Greenpeace India’s Board.