Speaker

Dr Purnima Devi Barman

Popularly known and ‘’Hargila baido” and Stork Sister globally is conservation biologist of India based in Guwahati, Assam. She is the founder of all women army called “Hargila Army” of 10,000 rural indigenous women. Dr Purnima Devi Barman has recently received United Nations Highest environmental honour “Champion of the earth”2022 under “entrepreneurial vision” for her exemplary work towards nature conservation and ecosystem restoration, saving greater Adjutant stork from extinction and empowering 10,000 rural women on livelihood and conservation.
Purnima is the recipient of Whitley Award 2017/Green Oscar 2017 for her crusading conservation movement to protect the highly endangered Greater Adjutant Stork. Purnima has been also conferred with Nari Shakti Purashkar by President of India which is the highest civilian award for Indian women. she has been tirelessly working with communities and conducting research on the storks from last 15 years. Purnima was also awarded several other distinguished awards, including the UNDP India biodiversity Award 2016 from United Nations, World female ranger Award 2022 by How many elephants. the Royal Bank of Scotland RBS “Earth Hero Award” under save the species category 2016, World women ranger Award 2022 and the Balipara foundation “Green Guru Award” in 2016 She is also the recipient of Yamin Hazarika memorial award.
Her work has given the communities a voice and she has set up a model for community conservation by building strong ownership. Purnima is also a “green teacher” diploma holder carrying gold certificate in environment education.
She has completed her Ph.D from Gauhati University in 2018 under the topic ” Foraging ecology , breeding success and genetic status of Greater Adjutant stork in Kamrup district Assam . Purnima has also received an honorary Doctorate degree from Sri Sathya Sai University for human excellence in the year 2022 on her contribution towards towards society on social service and wildlife conservation.
Purnima is also a green teacher diploma holder carrying gold certificate in environment education under CEE.
Purnima has recently attended as a keynote speaker in American ornithological Society conference 2022held in Puerto Rico,USA. She was also invited as plenary and key note speaker in Vancouver International bird festival2019 and Vancouver International ornithological society2019. Purnimas work was also filmed and documented by Cornell University ,New York Times, National Geographic channel etc and she is also a Tedx speaker.
She represented India by attending and presenting lectures , research papers, popular talks etc in many international conference and training including China, Cambodia, USA, UK, France, Argentina, Mexico, Guyana,Malayasia,Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Thailand etc
Purnima is a wildlife biologist with Aaranyak is a leading wildlife NGO based in Guwahati, Assam. She also leads the Women in Nature (WiNN) chapter in India, is a TEDx speaker and was featured by National Geographic India. Purnima works with Rewilding Academy,a Netherland based organisation as India program coordinator.
Purnima hosted an International conference of women in nature network, January 2019 and chosen Guwhati, Assam where women conservationist from 13 countries participated. Purnima is committed to serve for nature for here country till her last breath.