Vijay Raj Singh Rawat, VRS for all of us, is an expert on issues faced by the world on Climate Change. He is specialized in Forest Ecology and Environment and has a rich experience of almost 35 years in structure and functioning of forest ecosystems, Clean Development Mechanism, REDD+,Capacity Building in Climate Change and the list is endless. To add to his promising achievements, Vijay was a member of India's Core negotiating team at UN Climate Change negotiations at the UNFCCC continuously for 10 years from COP 14 in 2008 to COP 23 in 2017. He Was also a member of highlevel Indian delegation headed by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh for UNFCCC negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 and by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Paris Climate Agreements in 2015. Owing to his strong foundation in the matter, he was also made a member of the team for drafting Reference Document on REDD+ in India and .India’s National REDD+ Strategy

In the CDM sector, he hasbeen instrumental in developing ICFRE’s expertise on forestry mitigation projects (CDM and REDD +), knowledge products and policy papers,initiated a massive capacity building programme at ICFRE on forest and climate change which resulted in India becoming leading CDM (Afforestation and Reforestation) country in the world. He also worked for accreditation of ICFRE as Designated Operational Entity (DOE) for CDM as its Executive Officer. Acknowledging its contribution in forest and climate change, ICFRE was awarded ‘Observer’ status by UNFCCC. At UN Climate Change negotiations worked on various methodological aspects of Afforestation/Reforestation CDM Projects. He was the Thematic Coordinatorfor the Group of G-77 and China to steer Group’s position for inclusion of additional land use based activities under CDM.

To quote few more accolades, Vijay played a pivotal role in preparing India’s second and third National Communication (NATCOM) to UNFCCC, preparing India’s first,second and third Biennial Update Reports to UNFCCC on forestry mitigation actions, coordinated the mammoth task of reassignment of forest types of India, was nominated by Honble Lt. Governor of Andamans and Nicobar Islands as member of High-Power Committee of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, for finalization of Working Plans ofBaratang, Mayabunder and Little Andaman Forest Divisions of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has organized capacity building programmes on various aspects and forest and climate change to the Officers of Indian Forest service, Scientists and Technologists working in Government Sector and ICFRE. He was a regular faculty at FRI (Deemed to be University), visiting faculty at Indira Gandhi National Academy, Wildlife Institute of India, Forest Survey of India and Central Academy for State Forest Services, Dehradun on ‘Forest and Climate Change’ related issues.

He also was the Project Directorof ICIMOD supported REDD+ Himalaya Trans-boundary Project contributed for capacity building on REDD+ in North East India with special focus on Mizoram and of the World Bank financed Ecosystem Services Improvement Project (ESIP) worked for upscaling of Sustainable Land and Ecosystem Management (SLEM) best practices in the Project areas of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. He also Implemented the ISO 9000-2008 Quality Management System at ICFRE Hqs and was the first Management Representative of ICFRE. He prepared ‘Quality Policy’ for ICFRE, Quality Manual and Procedure Manuals for efficient working at ICFRE Hqs. by maintaining quality standards.

All his hard and creative work culminated in him being awarded ‘ICFRE award for Excellence’ for outstanding contribution in the field of ‘Forest Conservation’ for the year 2005-2006.

He was the Assistant Director General of Biodiversity and Climate Change when he superannuated from ICFRE. His expertise however did not let him be free of the Council and he continued to provide his guidance as Policy-cum-knowledge management consultant, a role in which he prepared various manuals for estimation of Carbon in Forest Ecosystems and also assessed forest carbon stocks of ESIP project areas of Madhya Pradesh.

He continues to actively engage in several programmes related to forest conservation, climate change, CDM, REDD+, etc. and is the most sought after consultant. He now passes his free time, which he rarely gets, in his wonderful home he built in his village farms on the outskirts of the Doon Valley. There he jovially entertains his guests and old friends, engages in fruitful discussions, encourages youngsters to further their careers with his inspirational talks over tea and welcomes everyone who wants to learn with an open heart and mind.