Obituary of Dr. Madhav Gadgil by Kalpavriksh

Kalpavriksh mourns the death of Prof. Madhav Gadgil, a huge influence for many of its members in the fields of biodiversity, ecological history, combining conservation with people’s rights, and more. He was amongst the few modern-day ecologists to question the legitimacy of the Forest Department’s claims on ‘scientific forestry’, to provide rigorous research of use to people’s movements against destructive projects including the Silent Valley project in Kerala, and to provide support to the struggle to reclaim community rights to govern and use forests. Some of our members worked with him on processes such as the framing of the Biological Diversity Act and the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. We will miss his presence but will continue to find inspiration in his work.