Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

Work Experience

Program Associate
June 2001– March 2002 ATREE Bangalore, Karnataka

Research Associate
April 2002– October 2007 ATREE Bangalore, Karnataka

Senior Research Associate
November 2007–till date ATREE Bangalore, Karnataka

Education

- June 2009 – Registered Ph.D in Rhodes University, South Africa

- April 2001 M.S Non-Governmental Organization Management (70.22 %, Madurai Kamaraj Universtiy,Madurai, Tamil Nadu

- April1999 B.Sc. Mathematics, Madurai Kamaraj Universtiy, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

Publication

Chapter in a book published

• Uma Shaanker, R., Gladwin Joseph, Aravind N.A., Ramesh Kannan and Ganeshaiah, K.N. (2009) Invasive Plants in Tropical Human-Dominated Landscapes: Need for an Inclusive Management Strategy. In: Bioinvasions and Globalization: Ecology, Economics, Management and Policy (Eds) Charles Perrings, Harold Mooney and Mark Williamson. Oxford University Press, pp 202-219.

• R.Kannan, G.Joseph and R.Uma Shaanker “Lantana Furniture: Value added Lantana products to conserve Bamboo and Rattan” published in Biodiversity Utilization and Conservation edited by A.Arunachalam and K.Arunachalam, Aavishkar Publishers, Distributors, Jaipur, 2008 Page 60-64

Extended abstracts in the proceedings of the conference

• Jojo T.D, Ramesh Kannan, Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan and Uma Shaanker. 2009. Alternative livelihood: Encage local communities to utilize an invasive weed Lantana camara in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Shifting Trajectiories of Ecology and Coexistence, Proceedings of the National Seminar on People and Tigers, pp 115-118

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. 2009. Managing Lantana camara and restoring native biological diversity in the Western Ghats, India. Asia and the Pacific Forest Health Workshop: Forest Health in a changing world. pp 95-97

Abstracts presented as main author

• Ramesh Kannan, R.P Harisha and Nitin Rai “Building community ownership for sustainable harvest and co-management of forest resources” presented and published in the proceeding of the ATREE Research Seminar on June 1-2, 2009 at ATREE Bangalore

• Ramesh Kannan, N.A. Aravind, Gladwin Joseph, K.N. Ganeshaiah and R. Uma Shaanker Promoting the utilization of Lantana camara to enhance the livelihood of the forest fringe communities in the Western Ghats, India: an approach to management? presented and published in the International Conference on Plant Invasives in the Tropics: Ecology, Management and Livelihoods, Bangalore, India from January 4-6, 2009

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph And Uma Shaanker. R., 2008. Managing Lantana Camara and restoring native biological diversity In the western ghats, india” Abstract Presented And Published In The Proceedings Of The International Conference Asia And The Pacific Forest Health Workshop – Forest Health In A Changing World, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1–3 December 2008

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R, 2008. “Conserving Rattan and Wrightia tinctoria:By utilising the invasive weed Lantana camara as a substitute” presented and published in the proceedings of the 22nd Annual conference of the Society for Conservation Biology, From the Mountains to the Sea, which held from 13–17 July 2008 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R. 2008. “Promoting the use of invasive weed, as an important bioresource, to enhance livelihoods of forest dwelling communities” Presented in the International Symposium on Entrepreneurship-perspectives and challenges with special focus on Social Entrepreneurship on 13th August 2009 at Jyoti Nivas Autonomous College, Bangalore

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R, 2007. “Lantana camara an invasive weed; indigenous tribes of south India are judiciously converting this weed into valuable products presented and published in the proceedings of the 21st Annual conference of the Society for Conservation Biology, One World One Conservation One Partnership, which held from 1-5 July 2007 in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R., 2007. An alternative livelihood for Forest Dwellers by prudent use of local resource and traditional skill” abstract published in the proceedings of the national conference on Management Science and Practice, at IIT Madras.

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R., 2007. “Lantana Craft Centre: A social enterprise based on weed utilization to enhance livelihood of Soligas” abstract published in the proceedings of the conference on biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing” at Osmania university, Hyderabad.

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R. and K.N. Ganeshaiah 2006. “Lantana camara: A realistic approach for alternative livelihoods” abstract published in the proceedings of the National seminar on Plant Resources of Western Ghats by Karnataka Biodiversity Board, Bangalore, Karnataka.

• Lantana camara: an invasive or resource for livelihood? Presented by Ramesh Kannan on ATREE Research Seminar 2007 - Governance and Policy May 30th and 31st 2007

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R., 2007. “Lantana Camara An Invasive Weed; Indigenous Tribes Of South India Are Judiciously Converting This Weed Into Valuable Products” abstract presented in the 21st annual conference of the Society for Conservation Biology at Port Elizabeth, South Africa from July 1st , to July 6th 2007.

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R 2005. Lantana furniture: Value added Lantana products to conserve Bamboo and Rattan” abstract presented in the conference on “Arunachal Pradesh: Tradition in Transition Linking Ecology, Economics and Ethics” at Nirjuli, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Organized by UNESCO and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. It was awarded as a best presentation of the conference

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph, R. Siddappa Setty and R Uma Shaanker. 2004. “Lantana commercialization: Linkages and conservation labeling for sustainable market” abstract presented in the workshop on Lantana camara: Problems and Prospects organized by Department of Science Technology Govt. of India

• Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph and Uma Shaanker. R. 2003 Conservation by substitution: Utilizing lantana as a substitute to bamboo” abstract presented on National Seminar on Eco restoration biodiversity conservation and Sustainable Development at Vishakapattam, Andhra Pradesh Dehradun.

Articles

• The use of the Lantana weed to benefit India’s wildlife sanctuaries by R. Uma Shaanker, Ramesh Kannan, Gladwin Joseph, N.A. Aravind and K.N. Ganeshaiah of the Ashoka Trust, Bangalore published in Rainforest Review Spring 2009 Newsletter of Rainforest Concern, London, United Kingdom

• Article on “Lantana Craft A Weed for a Need” Ramesh Kannan, N.A Aravind, Gladwin Joseph, K.N Ganeshaiah and R.Uma Shaanker published in Biotech News newsletter of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Volume III, No.2 April 2008

• “A new use found for invasive species in the Western Ghats” R. Uma Shaanker, Gladwin Joseph, N. A. Aravind, Ramesh Kannan and K.N. Ganeshaiah. Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, Bangalore, India and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India published in Rainforest Review, Autumn 2008, Newsletter of the Rainforest Concern, London, United Kingdom

• An article on “Weed in Need” by Ramesh Kannan and Srinivasan published in Deccan Herald 22 July 2003 issue

Awards/ membership

• Asia Pacific Forum for Environment Development (APFED) golden award 2009 for the project entitled "Promoting the ingenious use of a plant invasive, Lantana camara, to enhance the livelihood of the forest dwelling communities in India”.

• Best stall award in Krishi Mela-2005 and 2006 at University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, Karnataka

• Best presentation award for the presentation on “Lantana furniture: Value added Lantana products to conserve Bamboo and Rattan” in the conference on “Arunachal Pradesh: Tradition in Transition Linking Ecology, Economics and Ethics” at Nirjuli, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh Organized by UNESCO and Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi

• Membership in Society for Conservation Biology, Washington, DC USA (from 2007 to 2011).