India, July 26 -- Conservation is not just ecological but also social, and there can be no capacity-building in this field without gender empowerment. Across India, women are playing a leading role in conservation. Mehreen Khaleel studies endangered species such as the Himalayan grey langur and trains young Kashmiri women in conservation. Khaleel's work emphasises environmental education and human-wildlife conflict resolution, particularly addressing the challenges wildlife face due to habitat changes.

This dual focus on ecology and capacity-building is ground-breaking in Kashmir, where conservation has often been male-dominated. Her approach ensures the creation of a new generation of women leaders in environmental stewardship. The valu...