14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum 2026 to Commence Tomorrow in Guwahati, Bringing Together Universities, Experts and Conservation Leaders

Dalim Phukan.
Hills Live News,Guwahati, October 29 .
The 14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum (EHNF) 2026, organised by Balipara Foundation, will kick off tomorrow, 30 October, bringing together academic institutions, policymakers, conservationists, researchers, entrepreneurs and community leaders for five days of dialogue and collaboration on the future of the Eastern Himalaya.
Themed “Future of the Third Pole and the Himsagar,” this year’s Forum will run from 30 October to 3 November across five leading academic institutions in Guwahati. The multi-university format will facilitate discussions on the region’s interconnected ecological, social and economic priorities, with a focus on translating knowledge and dialogue into actionable outcomes.
The announcement was made at a press meet held in Guwahati today, attended by prominent representatives from academia, conservation and environmental research, including Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University; Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka, Vice-Chancellor of Cotton University; Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia, Director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati; Prof. Anamika Baruah; Prof. Vinay Kulkarni; Dr. Rathin Barman of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI); Kyne U Mar, widely known as the “Elephant Lady of Burma”; and Dr. Sriparna Bhuyan Barua, Director, Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati.
The Forum will open on 30 October at TISS Guwahati, with discussions centred on Communities, Culture and Indigenous Futures. On 31 October, Cotton University will host conversations on Forests and Biodiversity. The programme will move to IIT Guwahati on 1 November for Water and Energy, followed by Sustainable Land Governance at Gauhati University on 2 November. The final day, 3 November, at Assam Royal Global University will focus on Green Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
By bringing together institutions and practitioners across disciplines, EHNF 2026 seeks to deepen regional cooperation and examine how ecological conservation, indigenous knowledge, resilient communities, responsible development and emerging technologies can contribute to a sustainable future for the Eastern Himalaya.
The Forum will also provide a platform for stakeholders to exchange perspectives, identify collaborative opportunities and develop policy-oriented recommendations addressing the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
Through the Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum, Balipara Foundation continues to advance its Naturenomics™ approach, which connects ecological sustainability with economic thinking and community well-being. The 14th edition aims to strengthen partnerships across academia, government, civil society and industry, reinforcing the importance of collective action in safeguarding the ecological and cultural heritage of the Eastern Himalaya.