Interview Summary
Starting with his individual efforts in Rajasthan, Krishen highlights India’s nascent restoration field, challenges with small habitats, lack of indigenous collaboration, and scepticism toward government restoration claims. He critiques the Forest Department’s inadequate knowledge of native species, resistance to external collaboration, and flawed restoration efforts, including misguided projects like those being undertaken in Delhi’s Central Ridge.
Reflecting on systemic challenges, Krishen emphasises the need for better forestry training, native species conservation, and adaptive restoration strategies informed by local conditions. He laments the policy-practice disconnect, especially the prioritisation of industry over conservation.
Krishen envisions a future where political decisions prioritise long-term environmental concerns, stressing the need for successful large-scale restoration models to drive meaningful change.
(00:00:27) Early restoration efforts and challenges
(00:03:07) Challenges in restoration and government involvement
(00:05:32) Government restoration claims and Forest Department challenges
[(00:05:59-00:06:03): Archivist's note: the correct figure is 26 million hectares of degraded land]
(00:09:47) Case Study: Central Ridge restoration in Delhi
(00:13:33) Government and lack of commitment to conservation
(00:15:52) Major successes and failures in conservation
(00:22:19) Some personal experiences with forest officers and the Forest Department
(00:25:59) Principles and strategies in restoration work
(00:30:30) Concern about degradation in hills, illegal mining, Roee, and future plans
(00:36:42) Systemic challenges and future of conservation
(00:38:48) Inspiration and hope for conservation and its future in India
Dates
- Creation: 2023-08-12
Creator
- Venkatram, Preeti Shree (Interviewer, Person)
- Krishen, Pradip (Interviewee, Person)
- Venkatram, Preeti Shree (Processing Archivist, Person)
Biography
Born in New Delhi 1949, Pradip Krishen is a well-known Indian filmmaker and environmentalist. He did his schooling in Nairobi, New Delhi and Ajmer and went on to study history at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, and modern history at Balliol College, University of Oxford.
He began his career as a professor at Ramjas College, University of Delhi. However, his fascination with cinema led him to transition to filmmaking in 1975, emerging as a prominent figure in India’s parallel cinema movement. He went on to direct three award-winning acclaimed feature films- Massey Sahib (1985), In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989), and Electric Moon (1991).
Despite his cinematic success, disillusionment with industry challenges prompted him to leave filmmaking and in 1993, Krishen shifted focus to field botany and ecological restoration. Starting in the Pachmarhi jungles in Madhya Pradesh, he immersed himself in identifying trees, later documenting Delhi’s flora and leading public tree walks. A pioneer in ecological gardening, Krishen spearheaded projects like the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and the Kishan Bagh sand dune restoration in Jaipur, opened as a public park in 2021.
Krishen’s books, including the bestseller Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide (2006), Jungle Trees of Central India: A Field Guide for Tree Spotters (2014), and Abha Mahal Bagh: A Garden of Wild Plants from the Thar Desert (2019), are celebrated for their accessible approach to India’s ecology.
His work continues with projects like creating a wildflower meadow in Gwalior and riverbank restoration on the Chambal River, combining science with sustainability.
Extent
51 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in