Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar | Environmental Conservation and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar | Environmental Conservation and Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Scientist – C | G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment | India

Dr. Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar is an accomplished wildlife biologist and conservation ecologist currently serving as Scientist–C at the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, India. His research focuses on landscape ecology, population genetics, conservation biology, and climate change impacts on biodiversity across the Indian Himalayan Region. With over 26 peer-reviewed research publications, 3 authored books, 6 book chapters, and multiple technical reports, his scientific contributions span reintroduction biology, large carnivore ecology, habitat connectivity modeling, and macro-ecological assessments using advanced geospatial and statistical approaches. Dr. Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar’s interdisciplinary work integrates molecular ecology, spatial statistics, and remote sensing to address conservation challenges for flagship species such as the tiger (Panthera tigris), common leopard (Panthera pardus), and red panda (Ailurus fulgens). His pioneering studies in PeerJ, Landscape Ecology, PLoS ONE, European Journal of Wildlife Research, and Global Ecology and Conservation have significantly advanced understanding of habitat fragmentation, dispersal corridors, and reintroduced species viability. He has successfully completed and led more than ten national and international R&D and funding projects, including those supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), ICIMOD, SBI Foundation, and DST–SERB. His ongoing projects address ecosystem resilience, biodiversity mainstreaming, and climate vulnerability across the Himalayas. Dr. Mriganka Shekhar Sarkar has earned 26 documents, 403 Scopus citations, an h-index of 12, and numerous recognitions including the Research Excellence Award (2020) and the prestigious Max Planck–India Mobility Fellowship (2022–2025). He also serves as Editorial Advisor for Cambridge Scholars Publishing (UK) and reviewer for several international journals. His scientific leadership, innovative modeling approaches, and conservation-driven fieldwork continue to shape biodiversity management and sustainability strategies in fragile mountain ecosystems.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | Sci Profiles | Scholar GPS | Academia

Featured Publications

1. Krishnamurthy, R., Cushman, S. A., Sarkar, M. S., Malviya, M., Naveen, M., et al. (2016). Multi-scale prediction of landscape resistance for tiger dispersal in central India. Landscape Ecology, 31(6), 1355–1368.

2. Sarkar, M. S., Ramesh, K., Johnson, J. A., Sen, S., Nigam, P., Gupta, S. K., et al. (2016). Movement and home range characteristics of reintroduced tiger (Panthera tigris) population in Panna Tiger Reserve, central India. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 62(5), 537–547.

3. Gour, D. S., Bhagavatula, J., Bhavanishankar, M., Reddy, P. A., Gupta, J. A., et al. (2013). Philopatry and dispersal patterns in tiger (Panthera tigris). PLOS ONE, 8(7), e66956.

4. Reddy, P. A., Cushman, S. A., Srivastava, A., Sarkar, M. S., & Shivaji, S. (2017). Tiger abundance and gene flow in Central India are driven by disparate combinations of topography and land cover. Diversity and Distributions, 23(8), 863–874.

5. Chaudhary, A., Sarkar, M. S., Adhikari, B. S., & Rawat, G. S. (2021). Ageratina adenophora and Lantana camara in Kailash Sacred Landscape, India: Current distribution and future climatic scenarios through modeling. PLOS ONE, 16(5), e0239690.

Musavir Anwar | Environmental Economics | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Musavir Anwar | Environmental Economics | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer, Sindh Agriculture University, Pakistan.

Mr. Musavir Anwar is an emerging scholar in Agricultural Economics and Environmental Economics, with a particular focus on sustainable development, low-carbon pathways, and the adoption of agricultural technologies. His research explores the intersection of economic development, environmental sustainability, and policy-driven incentives, emphasizing the role of electricity, agriculture, and financial systems in shaping environmental outcomes. A significant aspect of his work involves analyzing consumer behavior and adoption patterns in agricultural and environmental contexts. He has examined the diffusion of production and protection technologies in crops such as sugarcane, providing empirical insights into the factors influencing technology uptake in Sindh, Pakistan. His studies also address behavioral incentives for reducing environmental degradation, exemplified by his investigation into consumer responses to policies aimed at minimizing plastic bag usage. Methodologically, Mr. Musavir Anwar employs a diverse set of quantitative and statistical tools, including econometric modeling, survey-based data analysis, and environmental impact assessment. His proficiency with software such as SPSS, STATA, R-Studio, Python, and Eviews supports rigorous data-driven research, while his familiarity with multimedia and graphical design enhances the visualization and dissemination of complex findings. Mr. Musavir Anwar’s research contributions include publications in high-impact journals, notably the Journal of Environmental Management (SCI-Q1), where he analyzed Kazakhstan’s transition to a low-carbon future, highlighting the roles of energy, agriculture, and financial development on emissions. He has also contributed to international conferences on sustainable development and agricultural sciences, presenting empirical studies on crop management and environmental economics. Through his work, Mr. Musavir Anwar demonstrates a commitment to advancing knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices, environmental policy, and economic mechanisms that promote low-carbon and resource-efficient development. His scholarly impact is reflected in his publications, conference presentations, and research collaborations, establishing him as a promising contributor to the fields of agricultural and environmental economics.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | ResearchGate | Sci Profiles

Featured Publications

  • Anwar, M., Jamali, R., Hyder, H., & Wang, J. (2025). Kazakhstan’s path to a low-carbon future: Investigating the impact of electricity, agriculture, and financial development on emissions. Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127627.

  • Unar, A. U., Rustamani, M. A., Pahore, W. A., Chachar, I. B., & Amber, A. (2018, July 5). Effects of different salinity levels on wheat varieties at seedling stage. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Global Sustainable Development: Challenges and Solutions (ICGSDCS–2018).

  • Jogi, N., Shar, I., Chachar, I. B., Rustamani, M. A., & Gadani, S. A. (2018, July 5). Study of diffusion and adoption of production and protection technologies of sugarcane crop in Taluka Ubauro, District Ghotki of Sindh Province. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Global Sustainable Development: Challenges and Solutions (ICGSDCS–2018).