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When did you get bitten by the graduate and doctorate guide. BNHS nature bug? was the only institution in the city, which As my former boss at the BNHS, was offering a master’s degree through Dr. Asad Rahmani, often said, one must research and I signed up for it. Going be bitten by the nature bug in childhood. on nature walks with Isaac inevitably And so, it was for me. I remember makes you fall in love with butterflies chasing dragonflies and butterflies as and I had almost chosen them as my

a child, especially the slow-flying grass study subject, when my guide, a butterfly Vaylure S hubhalaxmi Dr. Courtesy: jewels and grass yellows, in a huge, open expert himself, said I should study moths ground with all varieties of wild plants as very little is known about them. I in front of our house at C.G.S Colony in heeded his advice and went on to study Mumbai’s Antop Hill. When the ground ecology of moths in the Sanjay Gandhi became flooded during the monsoon, we National Park (SGNP) for my masters would try to spot the odd snake among and doctoral research. This helped the fresh grass and make little pathways me secure a position as an education for ants to traverse. I feel that kind of officer at CEC in 1997. There were very exposure to nature at a very young age few women working in conservation is what developed my love for biology. education then and I was fortunate to ABOVE Dr. Vaylure (second from right) with a cohort of Hubert Humphrey Fellows at Boston University. How did your association with FACING PAGE The Bombay Natural History Society had a profound impact on this entomologist’s have the opportunity to pursue my understanding of natural history. She is seen here on one of her mothing expeditions in Bhutan. the BNHS begin? passion as a profession. CEC became I was sure that I wanted to pursue an open classroom for me. I surveyed fellows, trained about 150 individuals could liaison successfully between these something in the field of science, and the entire BNHS Nature Reserve on across India in non-profit organisational two sectors. My scientific knowledge back then it was a choice between either which the CEC was established, and it development. Back at the BNHS, I and environmental experience helped engineering or medicine. My hopes of had a great impact on my understanding was looking for more challenges to make Ladybird standout. Integrity becoming a doctor didn’t bear fruit, and of natural history. Winning a Fulbright and complex projects. In 2014, the and authenticity are values we hold though many of my friends pursued Fellowship in 2003 gave me the chance Government of India enacted the Indian close at Ladybird. All the companies Chemistry, I decided to follow the then to learn and imbibe new ideas, which I Companies Act, which prescribed a we work with are listed. I am yet to less-trodden path of BSc. in Zoology. It was able to implement at the Centre mandatory corporate social responsibility encounter a corporate that asked me to was during this time that I signed up at spend of two per cent of average net compromise or manipulate something the Society as a student member, began after I returned from the United States. profits for registered companies and for their benefit. I have realised that the volunteering and visiting the library. Conservation education programmes I immediately thought it was a great perception that corporates will take over Though I didn’t have enough pocket we launched such as Breakfast with money to go on BNHS-organised trips Butterflies, Brunch with Birds, Tour with opportunity for environmental NGOs. the execution of projects is largely a and had to take up odd jobs after my Trees, Bash with Bugs and Meal with I tried to convince the BNHS to pursue myth perpetrated by those who are not graduation, an innate passion took me Moths became extremely popular. We it but was unsuccessful. able to guide them efficiently. When I established Ladybird in 2014, back to the Society. Isaac Kehimkar, initiated volunteer-training programmes Was that the genesis of Ladybird my intention was not to start an NGO who was then the librarian at BNHS, and launched the first online course in Environmental Consulting? or do any work similar to what I did at encouraged me to come regularly for entomology in India. These events and I had been harbouring the thought of the BNHS. So we began specialising nature trails and walks. I was keen programmes not only transformed the becoming an entrepreneur for two years, on being surrounded by people who in the environmental corporate social way CEC functioned, but also helped and the time felt right with the new law discussed nature and wildlife all the responsibility sector. But soon, those glamourise the natural world. I had the in place. I also knew that corporates

hubhalaxmi Vaylure S hubhalaxmi Dr. Courtesy: time. I actively volunteered with the who knew me, began expecting me to freedom to execute my ideas and loved might be reluctant to put their money Society and when a vacancy for a post conduct nature education programmes my job. on wildlife-related environmental of an administrative assistant became as well. available for a Conservation Education When did you first feel the itch of projects, when there are so many human Is that why you founded the Meet Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi Centre (CEC) that was being established, starting something of your own? causes to be associated with. One of the iNaturewatch Foundation? I immediately applied. Though they were In 2009, I went to study non-profit reasons environmentalists are unable Yes, people often complained that Entomologist, ecopreneur and author looking for a commerce graduate who management at Boston University to generate funds is because we are they missed walks organised by me would be well-versed with accounting, after I was chosen for the Hubert H. unable to effectively demonstrate the and the online courses I conducted. I my prior experience working as a Humphrey Fellowship programme. On tangible outcomes of our projects. The After working for more than two decades at one of the oldest also felt that the culture of nature cashier at a branded jewellery shop, and my return, I wanted to move beyond my fact that environmental conservation outreach programmes was lacking conservation and research organisations in the country, the volunteering with the Society, worked in role as an environmental educator. We activities do not yield immediate results in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as an educator, this ‘bug my favour and landed me the job! were doing all kinds of nature education does not help either. Having worked with where I lived, and there was space for lady’ branched out to launch her own environmental consultancy And you went on to head the programmes at CEC, and there were corporates, I had a fair understanding an organisation to fill that gap. But I firm and a non-governmental organisation. Widely acknowledged CEC 13 years later! limitations to upscaling them. I won of their attitudes and approach, and a didn’t want Ladybird to get involved in After joining the BNHS in 1993, I was the U.S. State Department’s Alumni good understanding of the non-profit everything, which is why I decided to as the first woman in India to study moths, she speaks toAnirudh introduced to Naresh Chaturvedi, the Innovation Engagement Fund for India sector with my fellowship training and start an NGO to specifically conduct Nair about the inner purpose that drives her remarkable career. curator at the time, who was also a post in 2012, and I, along with four other experience with BNHS. I felt that I nature outreach programmes.

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What do you enjoy most about based applications iButterflies, iTrees, been able to focus my energies on it. nature conservation education? iNaturewatch Birds under iNaturewatch We have, however, submitted proposals I like to make people fall in love with Urban Challenge, a citizen science for some projects, and are hoping nature and I feel my purpose is fulfilled programme, which allowed us to work that funds materialise. Citizen science when they do. I get immense pleasure with schools in Mumbai, New Delhi, empowers and enables the layperson to when they tell me, “Oh, I didn’t know this Kolkata and Hyderabad to collect data be part of research. It is still at a nascent tree was so interesting or I never knew on their city’s flora and fauna. We also stage in India. There is a need to provide that this bug can do this.” It gives me joy developed another app eForestrails- citizen scientists with incentives and when they take these little lessons home SGNP, which guided visitors to the feedback to motivate and encourage and remember me when they see a bug. park. It was while developing these apps them. It helps if these projects are If I can transform people from being just that I first felt the need to establish structured well and are outcome-based casual observers into nature lovers, I the iNaturewatch Foundation, which and data is analysed properly. think that is something. could continue such projects and keep a Are conservation NGOs over record of all the collected data. Is there a growing interest for dependent on funding agencies? nature walks and programmes? How did the collected data I feel that every organisation, whether When we began conducting nature walks, contribute to conservation? an NGO or a private enterprise, should very few people turned up. We made When we started the iNaturewatch be making a profit. If a conservation an active effort to reach out through Urban Challenge, our aim was to NGO is receiving funds for a project, social media marketing, and now have a understand tree-flowering trends and which aligns with its mission statement, minimum attendance of 15 to 20 people bird migration patterns. We fed much then it should go ahead. But if it wants for every walk. Some are regulars, who of the data to portals such as India to execute a pet project, which might bring others with them, while some are Biodiversity Poral and eBirds so that not necessarily receive funding, it curious newcomers. This interest can it is available in the public domain. We must ensure that the project is self- be multiplied manifold if environmental received a great response in the first sustainable. We recently submitted a organisations make a conscious effort year but lost momentum when funding proposal to train nature guides from to create interest about nature-based stopped, and we couldn’t provide the Forest Department for mangrove activities, which is exactly why we incentives to the schools to collect data. awareness programmes. In this case, the received a tremendous response for our Nonetheless, we were able to provide beneficiary is the Forest Department, flamingo watch programme at the Thane a free resource to citizens to help we are the facilitators, but we can’t Creek Flamingo Sanctuary. Urbanites them identify the city’s flora and fauna, afford to train them for free. We need are looking for varied experiences and in without having to lug a heavy book on to be remunerated and that’s why we that sense, environmental programmes a nature trail! seek grants from agencies who believe AD are competing with other events held Citizen science is one of my in the project. In the case of the mobile over the weekend. Those who attend favourite domains, though I have not app we developed for SGNP, the Forest our walks often tell me that more than fauna sightings, it is the knowledge sharing, which they value. An increasing number of young parents now want their children to experience nature first hand and not fall victim to the mall culture. The iNaturewatch Foundation has been able to conduct events in

Bengaluru, which has several nature Vaylure S hubhalaxmi Dr. Courtesy: groups, only because we were able to successfully reach out to people, who had little exposure to nature-based activities previously. What kind of role do you envisage for technology in conservation? Technology-savvy conservation organisations have a competitive edge over others. Traditional nature education methods are changing. In fact, the After taking an entrepreneurial plunge in 2014, Dr. Vaylure has helped establish several butterfly first project that Ladybird undertook habitats, gardens and parks across India. She is seen here interacting with officials from the was the development of three mobile- Kanpur Zoo for creating one such park.

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Department thought it was a great idea but it wasn’t a priority for them. So, instead I presented it to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Environment Improvement Society, who liked and funded the project. There is nothing wrong in getting your ideas funded by

funding agencies, because ultimately Vaylure S hubhalaxmi Dr. Courtesy: your objective is social good. Are individuals and private organisations more willing today to pay for environment- based activities? I am a strong proponent of the idea, which is why we charge for almost all our programmes, unless it is supported by another organisation. But we ensure Dr. Asad Rahmani (second from right), former director of the Bombay Natural History Society, that the charges are not exorbitant, releases Dr. Vaylure’s book Field Guide to Indian Moths on May 1, 2018, in Mumbai. and people are gradually realising the value that we offer. There are certain How have you tried to bring very little about species such as moths sections of the society, who are not attention to the conservation and cicadas because they are difficult to able to afford our services and we status of lesser-known fauna observe and study. Nobody knows what reach out to them through funding such as moths, butterflies, the lifespan of a cicada is and we in India agencies. Even though I want to create and insects? are still following a reference, which was butterfly gardens in Mumbai’s municipal My approach has always been to use published in a foreign journal years ago! schools, I know that they wouldn’t be education to create awareness and dispel What message do you have able to maintain it once the funding myths. Fear of insects is a genetic problem, for young boys and girls, who which is passed on from one generation period is over. So we try to look at hope to pursue conservation- to the other. Insects are our greatest other ways to provide our services. related careers? competitors; they live where we live, eat You must have a passion for nature and Your book Field Guide to what we eat, and in fact, they are very follow your heart. Money should not be Indian Moths was released often after our blood. Those who have a motivator because I have met so many attended my programmes and online last month… burnt out professionals in the corporate AD It was after my doctoral research that courses often confess that I have changed world, who wish to do something more their perspective towards insects. We need I began collecting data for the book; meaningful. It is essential that you acquire to recognise that they are coexisting with so it’s been 15 years in the making! knowledge. Undertake small projects, field us, be more compassionate and understand Though taxonomy information on trips, internships, volunteer when you are that there is no need to kill every insect moths was available, information on in school and college. While a job is not their ecology was lacking when I was that we see. Insects play a very important role as plant pollinators and are a major a guarantee, I hope things will change in studying them. The book is therefore the next five years and the government a result of my travels across India. The source of protein for the animal world. If they disappear or their numbers dwindle, will create more jobs in the environment actual compilation began later, after I sector. When the Indian Companies Act left the BNHS and had more time to it will gravely affect the balance of the natural world and cause conflict. When was enacted, corporates were required spare. Considering that this is a first we were working to create habitats to hire environment officers, which was of its kind book on moths published in for pollinators across Mumbai through hitherto unimaginable. If you wish to independent India; the last being The Ladybird, I chose to call them butterfly become an entrepreneur, subject expertise Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon habitats, because they are beautiful and is an absolute must. and Burma, a series started in 1881 evoke positivity. And what we managed Though most of the researchers having five volumes on moths, I went to do is create habitats not only for studying moths in India are men, I am glad the extra mile to ensure that there butterflies, but also for bees and birds and a few women have taken it up. I remember are no errors in species identification boost the biodiversity of these locations during my doctoral research, the then Field by verifying them with Dr. Roger many times over. Director of SGNP asking me why I must Kendrick, Founder, Asian Lepidoptera Nobody knows if insects are going roam about the forests at night studying Conservation Symposium series. Many extinct before even being discovered. moths, when I could study butterflies, of the common names of the 700-odd Entomology research today is solely during the day. “Being a girl, it doesn’t suit moth species described in the book focused on agricultural pests because that you,” he told me. “Well, someone’s gotta do have been coined by me. is where the money lies. We still know this unpleasant, night shift,” I told him. b

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