One doesn’t have to have unlimited resources in order to make difference. Odisha’s Soumya Ranjan Biswal a young climate activist has made climate safety and protection of the threatened habitat of Olive Ridley turtles his life’s purpose. A large part of Soumya’s time spent in patrolling the beach along the Olive Ridley nesting site at the Devi river estuary in Odisha, something he has been doing since he was 10.
26 year old Soumya from Astaranga village has been working in this direction for several years and has been actively involved in wildlife and climate conservation.
Soumya was chosen by the United nation as one of the 17 young men and women recognized for their pioneering work in India as a part of UN India’s climate campaign call the “We the Change” .
He also received the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award from the Meridian International Centre and the US Departmental of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for his project- Community Led biodiversity conservation and nature based solutions education for climate resilience at Devi river mouth.
He founded the Odisha Paryavaran Sanrakshan Abhiyan Trust (OPSA) in 2014, dedicated to marine turtle and mangrove conservation.
Soumya Ranjan Biswal at Dharitri Youth conclave 2021
“During every cyclone we have to evacuate from the area. It is important that safety of the marine ecosystem should be given paramount importance for the survival of people living in coastal areas“