Raktima Basumatary
- Project name: Conserving Ilex khasiana in East Khasi Hills: A study on distribution, threats and community awareness
- Project site: East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India
- EDGE species: Khasi Holly, Ilex khasiana
- Active: 2025 - ongoing
Biography
Raktima is a dedicated early-career conservationist from Assam, India, holding a Master’s degree in Forestry from NERIST and possessing a strong background in ecological fieldwork. She recently worked as a Research Consultant with Dakshin Foundation, monitoring Asian elephants in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape. Her previous experience also includes forest biomass estimation and contributions to carbon stock assessments in Assam.
Raktima is passionate about conserving India’s rich and threatened biodiversity, with a particular focus on plant conservation and community-based approaches. Her EDGE Fellowship offers an opportunity to deepen her scientific and social science skills while contributing to the recovery of a unique and irreplaceable species. She is especially motivated to amplify local knowledge and ensure community voices are at the centre of conservation efforts in Meghalaya.
EDGE Project
Raktima envisions a future where Ilex khasiana, a Critically Endangered tree found only in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, thrives in the wild and is safeguarded through collaborative conservation led by local communities.
Her EDGE Fellowship will focus on mapping the species’ distribution and threats, assessing its current population status, and fostering community-led conservation action. Through field surveys, habitat assessments, and awareness campaigns, the project aims to generate critical knowledge about I. khasiana and build lasting partnerships with stakeholders across the East Khasi Hills.
