More about Mathen 'Rajeev' Mathew

I am a wildlife consultant with skill sets to deal with man-animal conflict, eco-restoration, ecotourism and innovative livelihoods. I am CEO of a specialist store which deals with outdoor equipment that can be used for a range of activities which includes, but not restricted to ecotourism, livelihoods, patrolling of forests, setting up of mobile base camps and management of man –animal conflicts.

Participated in CoP11 held at Hyderabad, and held a side event there on Water in the Drylands.
I presented five papers on various issues in the CoP 11 summit.
I actively participated in discussions of Eco-restoration, wild animal release and the bushmeat
trade; its inherent impact on wild animal populations and conservation strategies in the several
main and side events at CoP 11.
I participated and presented a paper at the International Conference on “Natural History of Indian Biodiversity” my presentation being “the biological diversity of Andhra Pradesh – with special reference to sporadicity and endemicity” at Salar Jung Museum – Hyderabad, 4th and 5th October 2012.

I participated in the “National Consultation cum Workshop on People’s Biodiversity Registers” at Bangaluru 22nd and 23rd December 2011.
I participated in the ‘CBD’s Eighth Meeting of the Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing’, in November 2009.
I participated and presented a paper in Chennai on Eastern Ghats in 2009 on eco-tourism.

I have submitted several reports on the various aspects of Biodiversity to the APSBSB for necessary action. The reports submitted are on:
1. Fisher Folk of Kolleru – Mitigating loss of livelihoods through alternate employment and sustainable use of the biological diversity outside the Kolleru Bird Sanctuary.
2. Gorripudi Guava – saving this variety from extinction.
3. Report on Jonnagiri.
4. Invasive Alien Species – Report on the Red-bellied Pacu with recommendations.
5. Rollapadu – Report on the Indian Bustard Sanctuary with recommendations.
6. Timbaktu Collective – Report.
7. Status of the Gyps Vultures in Chenoor, Adilabad, A.P.
8. Report on wild boar menace.

1. The report on the Invasive Alien Species – Report on the Red-bellied Pacu: elicited a response from the NBA as well as from the Director, National Bureau for Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, U.P.
2. Brought to the notice of the State about the need to conserve the endangered fish – The Fringelipped
Carp (Labeo fimbriatus). An artificial breeding project was started at the Kadam Project, Adilabad District, under the then ongoing NAIP project.
3. Assisted in the creation of a Biological Heritage Site in Maharashtra – Glory of Allapalli in Allapalli Division of Gadchiroli District. The trees are primarily Teak (Tectona grandis) ranging in age from 300 to 500 years.
4. Assisted in the enumeration of the critically endangered Wild Water Buffalo in Sironcha Division of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra, the area since has been declared as a Reserve.
5. Mooted the idea of an inexpensive survey of fishes of the Rivers, Pranahita and Indravati and
which resulted in some very interesting species of fishes like Mahaseer and Bagarius.
6. Assisted in the laying out of a fossil park in Sironcha division of Gadchiroli District. The timeline of the fossils is from 20 MYA (Million Years Ago) to 200 MYA.
7. Actively involved in providing livelihoods through adventure activities in parks developed in remote areas of Gadchiroli, Sironcha and Allapalli of Gadchiroli District.
8. Mitigated man-animal conflicts in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Nagpur districts of Maharashtra.
9. Mitigated man-animal conflicts in Chevella of Ranga Reddy District od Telangana State.
10. Assisted in the rescue and successful re;lease of a Pangolin in Sironcha Division of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra State.
11. Have rescued and released several Bonelli’s eagles, Booted eagles, Shikras, Kestrels, Peregrine and Shaheen falcons and a Red-headed Merlin, Spotted owlet and Short-eared owl, Gadwall and Ruddy shellduck among several other birds around Hyderabad.