14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum Concludes with Focus on Green Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship
By Dalim Phukan
Guwahati/Assam, Nov 3 : The fifth and final day of the 14th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum (EHNF), organised by Balipara Foundation, concluded today at Assam Royal Global University (RGU), Guwahati, under the theme Green Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The day’s deliberations brought together experts and practitioners from organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Development Alternatives, TREE Foundation, WWF-India and the Climate-Smart Forest Economy Programme, among others, to explore how innovation, green technologies and sustainable enterprise models can contribute to resilient economies and ecological well-being across the Eastern Himalayan region.
A key highlight was the address by Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati, Head – UNEP India, who emphasised the need to look beyond financial commitments when evaluating the success of investments. He noted, “The success of an investment should not be judged only by the amount of money announced, but what it leaves behind — local enterprises, reliable suppliers, skills and sustainable livelihoods.”
The observation highlighted the importance of directing investments towards building local capacities, strengthening enterprises and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, ensuring that economic growth generates lasting value for communities.
Contributions from the participating organisations brought diverse perspectives on the role of environmental innovation, community-led enterprise, conservation, sustainable resource management and green economic transitions. The discussions reinforced the need to bridge the gap between environmental priorities and viable economic opportunities, while ensuring that local communities remain central to development processes.
The fifth day brought the five-day Naturenomics Week to a close, following deliberations across five thematic areas: Communities, Culture and Indigenous Futures at TISS; Forests and Biodiversity at Cotton University; Sustainable Water and Energy at IIT Guwahati; Sustainable Land Governance at Gauhati University; and Green Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Assam Royal Global University.
Since its inception in 2013, the Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics™ Forum has evolved into a regional platform connecting communities, policymakers, academia, businesses, development institutions and conservation practitioners. The 14th edition further strengthened this multi-stakeholder engagement, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, partnerships and collective action towards a sustainable future for the Eastern Himalayas.
As the Forum concluded, it reaffirmed that the transition towards sustainable development requires more than financial investments and technological solutions. It calls for strong local institutions, empowered communities, collaborative partnerships and economic models that place ecological integrity and human well-being at their centre.
