Biography
Dr. V. Balaji is a founder of OMCAR Foundation. (Organization for Marine Conservation Awareness and Research), He did his MSc., and M.Phil., at CAS in Marine Biology in 2000 – 2004. He completed his PhD at K.M. College Adirampattinam in 2009 in Seagrass ecology and associated fisheries. He has ten years of field experience as project leader and consultant in community-based mangrove restoration techniques for mitigating natural disasters and sustainable fishery in southeast coast of India. He has been a project investigator Coastal Resource GIS mapping research project funded by NRDMS, Ministry of Science and Technology. He is the member of IUCN CEC. He received National Geographic Conservation Grant in 2014 for studying dugong habitats in Palk Bay. He received IUCN Young Professional Award in 2012 during IUCN World Conservation Congress in 2012, and his organization received Tamil Nadu State Environmental Award in 2014 and India Geospatial Excellence Award in 2015. He visited Germany, Italy, Srilanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, USA and South Korea to share and learn marine conservation experiences. In 2018, he was invited by Government of South Korea to deliver a speech during World Conservation Leaders Forum for motivating youths from different countries. OMCAR has been organizing community-based conservation project in Palk Bay. Balaji believes conservation is successful, when there is economic benefit and incentives, so the community-based mangrove restoration is linked with donation of livestock to fisher women. During Gaja Cyclone in 2018 and Covid lockdown in 2020, his team has extensively donated relief materials to poor people living in remote coastal villages. Currently Balaji is working with District Forest Office for the establishment of Dugong-Conservation Marine Reserve, which is the primary goal of OMCAR Foundation. In 2021, he received IUCN-Blue Solutions - Blue Champions award for sustainable mangrove conservation efforts, ans in 2022 he was selected for Ambassador for Panorama Solutions
Speaking at
Guiding Restoration for Resilient Societies: Stepwise, Nature-Positive Approaches Linking Ecosystem Status and Species Selection in
Oct 10 2025 (15:00 - 16:00)
Room: IUCN Asia Pavilion