Dr Barkha Subba

Dr. Barkha Subba is a Conservation Scientist at FOSEP (Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection), a non-profit organization in Darjeeling. Her work bridges science, communities, and policy advocacy in the Eastern Himalayan region. With over a decade of experience in biodiversity conservation, she focuses on restoring degraded ecosystems and safeguarding threatened amphibians, particularly the Himalayan salamander and the mountain wetlands. Born and raised in the Darjeeling hills, her research focuses on the Himalayan region, and she cares deeply for its ecosystems, flora, fauna and local communities. She is passionate about conserving the rapidly vanishing biodiversity and restoring the region's degraded landscapes.

Barkha holds a Ph.D. in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies from ATREE, Bangalore. Her academic and fieldwork background combines ecology, spatial modelling, and community-based conservation, allowing her to address complex challenges at the interface of people and nature.

She currently leads a project on Conservation of Himalayan Salamander, mountain wetlands in Darjeeling. She recently received a prestigious Whitley Award 2026, often known as the Green Oscar, for her ongoing project.