About me

♦ YADAV TARTE PATIL

Yadav Tarte Patil is a wildlife conservationist, environmentalist, master trainer including sustainable development goals, listener, author, and social development professional with more than two decades of engagement in biodiversity observation, wildlife conservation, environmental education, community participation, green administration, and capacity building.

He is the Founder and President of Disha Foundation, a Maharashtra-based organization working in wildlife and environmental conservation, environmental education, tribal youth empowerment, and social development.

His professional journey combines field-based wildlife experience, environmental communication, institutional training, scientific observation, and community-oriented conservation. He has contributed to tiger census activities in Melghat Tiger Reserve, wildlife crime prevention initiatives, biodiversity documentation, forest guide training, environmental awareness programmes and administrative training to government officers.

He has served as a Member of the State Board for Wildlife, Government of Maharashtra, and has been associated with government training institutions, including YASHADA, Maharashtra Police Academy, and Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Vidarbha Administrative and Development Training Institute (Prabodhini), Amravati.

Through Disha Foundation, he has supported initiatives that connect conservation with community development, particularly educational opportunities for tribal youth living in and around protected areas. His work also encompasses Green Governance, Green Journalism, water literacy, Forest Therapy, soft skills specially on The Art Of Listening, experiential learning, and nature-based education.

He is currently pursuing doctoral research on the rehabilitation of tribal villages from Melghat Tiger Reserve and studies in Yoga and Naturopathy.

His vision is to promote a society in which wildlife conservation, environmental responsibility, institutional capacity building, and community empowerment reinforce one another.

1. Professional Positions and Institutional Affiliations

Ex. Member – State Board for Wildlife, Government of Maharashtra.
Member – Critical Wildlife Habitat Sub-Committee, Government of Maharashtra.
Faculty – Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA), Pune, Maharashtra.
Faculty – Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA), Nashik, Maharashtra.
Faculty – Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Vidarbha Administrative and Development Training Institute (Prabodhini), Amravati, Maharashtra.
Faculty – Forest Training Institutes at Chikhaldara, Amravati; Pal, Jalgaon; and Jalna, Maharashtra.
Faculty – Regional Agricultural Extension and Management Training Institute (RAMETI), Amravati, Maharashtra.
Faculty – Unique Academy, Amravati, supporting preparation for MPSC and UPSC competitive examinations.
Former Vice-President – Alumni Association, Vidyabharati Mahavidyalaya, Amravati.
Life Member – Maharashtra Pakshimitra, a birding and bird conservation organization in Maharashtra.
Founder and President – Disha Foundation, Amravati, Maharashtra.
Member – Biodiversity Management Committee, Amravati Municipal Corporation.
Member – Divisional Committee, Green Army, Government of Maharashtra.
Member – District Environment Committee on Climate Change, Amravati, Maharashtra.

2. Educational Qualifications

Master of Social Work (MSW) – Passed with Distinction.
Ph.D. Research – Ongoing: Research concerning the rehabilitation of tribal villages from Melghat Tiger Reserve. University and formal research title to be added.
Diploma in Human Rights.
D.N.Y.S. – Ongoing: Studies in Yoga and Naturopathy.

3. Disha Foundation: Conservation and Community Development

Disha Foundation is a Maharashtra-based organization founded in 2011 to advance wildlife conservation, environmental education, tribal youth empowerment, and social development.

Its work focuses on connecting environmental protection with community participation, education, and capacity building. The foundation has undertaken initiatives involving wildlife awareness, forest guide training, competitive examination support for tribal youth, plantation drives, water literacy, environmental communication, and plastic-free campaigns.

Its activities have included work in and around Melghat, Pench, Navegaon–Nagzira, and Tadoba landscapes, alongside engagement with government departments, educational institutions, conservation organizations, and local communities.

Major areas of work

Wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
Sustainable Development Goals
Environmental education and public awareness.
Tribal youth empowerment and career development.
Forest guide training and professional capacity building.
Green Governance and Green Journalism
Water literacy and sustainable resource management.
Nature-based learning and Forest Therapy.
Community participation in conservation.
Eco-friendly lifestyles and environmental responsibility.

4. Contributions to Wildlife and Environmental Conservation

Participated in a workshop on endangered birds of India in Nagpur in 2005.
Participated in tiger census activities in Melghat Tiger Reserve from 2004 to 2017.
Participated in international conferences on arachnology in Amravati in 2010 and Solapur in 2012.
Completed training in Strengthening Wildlife Law Enforcement, organized by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, and the Maharashtra Forest Department.
Participated in Bird Race Nagpur in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Participated in wildlife crime prevention raids with the Forest Department in the Vidarbha region.
Contributed to tiger poaching investigations with the Wildlife Crime Cell, Forest Department, and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Gandai, Chhattisgarh, and Katni, Madhya Pradesh.
Contributed to the Dhakna tiger poaching investigation with the Wildlife Crime Cell of Melghat Tiger Reserve and to work concerning other wildlife poaching cases in Maharashtra.
Participated in the Eco-Friendly Clay Ganesha Campaign in Amravati.
Participated in the 27th Maharashtra Pakshimitra Sammelan in Nagpur.
Established a helpline for injured animals and birds in Amravati district in 2014.
Supported the preparation of competitive examination candidates, with more than 250 students reported to have secured positions in the Indian Forest Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Range Forest Officer (RFO), Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), and other administrative services through MPSC, UPSC, and other competitive examinations.

5. Programmes Organized and Major Initiatives

A. Wildlife Awareness and Community Conservation

Vidarbha Pakshimitra Sammelan – 2010

Organized the 11th Vidarbha Pakshimitra Sammelan in Amravati in April 2010.

Vasundhara Conservation Workshops – 2011

Organized conservation workshops in Amravati to promote environmental awareness and public participation.

Wildlife and Environment Awareness Camps

Conducted awareness programmes in collaboration with the Forest Department and Disha Foundation.

Wildlife Photography Exhibitions

Organized regular wildlife photography exhibitions in schools and colleges for more than 17 years to encourage nature appreciation and environmental awareness.

Water Literacy Mission – 2018 and 2019

Conducted water literacy programmes in Amravati to promote awareness of water conservation and responsible resource use.

Nature Camps for Green Army Members – 2018

Organized nature-based learning programmes in collaboration with the Social Forestry Department, Government of Maharashtra.

B. Water and Habitat Conservation

Waterhole Cleaning Campaign – 2016–2019

Conducted waterhole cleaning campaigns in Pohra Malkhed Reserve Forest.

Mission “Let’s Clean P.M.R.F.” – 2020

Initiated a plastic-free campaign in Pohra Malkhed Reserve Forest.

“Chala Talao Swachh Karuya” – 2017 and 2018

Organized lake-cleaning and plastic-removal campaigns, including activities related to sludge management and drainage.

C. Plantation and Green Initiatives

“Ek Zad Maz” Plantation Initiative

Implemented plantation drives through Disha Foundation in collaboration with various institutions.

More than 15,000 saplings have reportedly been planted to date, with a reported survival rate exceeding 50%.

D. Tribal Youth Empowerment and Career Development

Free Competitive Examination Classes in Pench Tiger Reserve – 2012–2016

Supported competitive examination preparation for tribal youth in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Pench Tiger Reserve, and Disha Foundation.

Free Competitive Examination Classes in Melghat – Since 2014

Continued educational support for tribal youth preparing for public service and other competitive examinations.

Competitive Examination Libraries in Navegaon–Nagzira – 2017–2018

Supported the creation of libraries for tribal youth to improve access to learning resources and career guidance.

E. Forest Guide and Institutional Training

Forest Guide Training – Melghat Tiger Reserve, 2016

Organized training workshops at Harisal and Akot.

Forest Guard Basic Training Programme – 2017

Conducted a basic training programme with the support of Prabodhini, Amravati.

Forest Guide Training – Forest Training Institute, Chikhaldara, 2019

Organized a training workshop in collaboration with the Forest Training Institute, Chikhaldara.

Tadoba Buffer Forest Guide Training Programme – 2026

Contributing to a forest guide training Programme in the buffer zone of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, with a focus on professionl and emotional development and field-based learning.

F. Green Journalism and Nature-Based Learning

Green Journalism Workshop – December 2020

Organized a workshop for journalists in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, with an emphasis on environmental communication and responsible reporting.

Nisargayan – January 2020

Organized a nature-based learning Programme for professors, doctors, and administrative officers associated with the Ministry of AYUSH, in collaboration with Prabodhini, Amravati, the Forest Department, and Disha Foundation.

G. Digital Outreach and Knowledge Sharing

Conducted more than 70 webinars and Facebook Live sessions addressing:

Wildlife and environmental conservation.
Biodiversity conservation.
Prevention of wildlife poaching.
Green Journalism and environmental communication.
Water literacy.
Career opportunities in forestry and the environment sector.
Soft skills and professional development.
The Art of Listening.
Work–Life Balance.
Forest Therapy and nature-based well-being.
Green Governance.
Sustainable Development Goals
Eco-friendly lifestyles.

6. Special Studies and Field Research

Yadav Tarte Patil has pursued field observations and biodiversity studies for more than 23 years, with particular interest in birds, snakes, butterflies, spiders, and the ecology of the Vidarbha region.

Areas of study

Observation and study of resident and migratory birds in Vidarbha since 2003.
Birds, butterflies, and biodiversity in Melghat Tiger Reserve and Pohra Malkhed Reserve Forest.
Rehabilitation of villages in national parks, tiger reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Studies concerning the Korku tribal community in Melghat.
Documentation of rare and noteworthy bird records in Amravati district, Vidarbha, and Maharashtra.
A reported observation of 957 Demoiselle Cranes, described as a first record of this scale in Maharashtra.
A reported first record of a tarantula spider in the Satpuda mountain range in 2008.
A reported first record of wild dogs in Pohra Malkhed Reserve Forest in 2012.

These observations reflect a long-standing interest in biodiversity documentation, field ecology, and the relationship between wildlife and its habitats.

7. Guest Lectures and Educational Outreach

Has delivered lectures and educational sessions in more than 250 schools and colleges and contributed to training programmes at government and private institutions.

Key lecture topics

Wildlife and Environmental Conservation.
Biodiversity Conservation and Awareness.
Prevention of Wildlife Poaching.
Green Journalism.
Water Literacy.
Career Opportunities in Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Soft Skills and Professional Development.
The Art of Listening.
Work–Life Balance.
Forest Therapy.
Green Governance.
Sustainable Development Gaols
Eco-Friendly Lifestyles.

Selected engagements

Nature Fair 2009, organized by Tadoba Tiger Reserve and the Bombay Natural History Society.
Nature Fair 2010, organized by Pench Tiger Reserve and the Bombay Natural History Society.
State-Level Tadoba Festival 2008, organized by the National Green Army and BNHS.

He also regularly delivers lectures on biodiversity, environmental conservation, and soft skills at Prabodhini, Amravati, and other training institutions.

8. Publications, Media and Environmental Communication

Yadav Tarte Patil has authored more than 350 articles on wildlife and environmental subjects in newspapers and magazines. His writing has contributed to public awareness, nature education, and environmental communication.

Selected newspapers

Loksatta, Lokmat, The Times of India, Divya Marathi, Sakal, Tarun Bharat, and Lokmat News.

Selected magazines and periodicals

Lokrajya, Bhatkanti, Melvyaghra, Vanraai, Sanvad, and others.

Book

Author of a competitive examination guide published by Yash Publication in 2010.

Television and digital media

Interviews, expert discussions, and contributions on wildlife and environmental issues have featured on ABP News, IBN Lokmat, NDTV, Saam TV, ETV News, Lokshahi, TV9, and various news websites and digital platforms.

Radio

Interviews and programmes have been broadcast on Akashvani Nagpur, Akashvani Amravati, Pruthvi Rakshan, Vividh Bharati, and Radio Mirchi.

Selected newspaper columns

“Yeh Duniya Hai Rangin” – A Marathi column on butterflies published in Lokmat.
“Nisargachi Khidaki” – A column published in Divya Marathi.
“Jungle Book” – A column published in Daily Hindustan.
“Jungle Wachan” – Published in the main edition of Tarun Bharat in 2018.
“Hirva Dola” – Published in the main edition of Tarun Bharat in 2019.
“Nisarg Gaan” – Published in the Belgaum edition of Tarun Bharat in 2021.

More than 350 wildlife and environmental articles have reportedly been published under his byline.

9. Awards and Recognition

Vasundhara Mitra Award – Kirloskar International Group and Satpuda Foundation, Nagpur.
State-Level Yuva Pratap Award for Wildlife Conservation – MSAGA.
Outstanding Wildlife Photography Award – JCI.
Wildlife and Environment Service Pride Award – Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar.

10. Professional Interests

His professional interests include:

Wildlife conservation and biodiversity conservation
Community participation in conservation.
Tribal youth empowerment and educational access.
Environmental education and experiential learning.
Forest guide training and professional capacity building.
Green Governance and Green Journalism.
Water literacy and habitat protection.
Forest Therapy and nature-based well-being.
Environmental communication and public engagement.
Sustainable Development Goals

Contact

Yadav Tarte Patil
Mobile: +91 97309 00500
Email: disha.wildlife@gmail.com