M. Firoz Ahmed has been associated with Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) since 1994, as a volunteer and subsequently started managing conservation projects of Aaranyak from 1999. He completed his postgraduate from the Gauhati University, Assam and his PhD from the Utkal University, Odissa.

Dr. Ahmed has received professional training in biodiversity research and conservation project management, an avid researcher and has discovered several new species of Frog. He and his team work across the Eastern Himalayas and the Northeast Hills of India on multiple taxa and community-based livelihood interventions focusing Natural Resources. Since 2000, he has managed over 70 projects with significant contribution to biodiversity inventory, livelihoods and conservation in the NE India that has secured key species, their habitats. Since 2015, he started focusing on sustainable livelihoods and participatory NRM with the Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) of NE India with impactful outcome on conservation and human wellbeing.

Dr Ahmed has received awards and honors in recognition to his contributions to nature conservation, viz. Sanctuary Wildlife Service Award 2006 and Carl Zeiss Wildlife Conservation Award 2010.

He has published books, field guides, technical reports and many research articles. Dr. Ahmed also served India’s statutory policy bodies like the Forest Advisory Committee and the National Tiger Conservation Authority of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Govt. of India as member during 2013-2016.