Banrisa Warjri

Banrisa Warjri effectively grounds her Master’s degree in Biochemistry in the traditional ecological knowledge of her native Meghalaya. As a Project Manager at Dawn, she has engaged youth and communities through on-ground initiatives and projects like Sustainable Land Management, supporting organic farming certification (NPOP), building local capacity, and strengthening community participation through awareness, teamwork, and hands-on development efforts.  

Being an NYCC Climate Champion, her initiative - Protecting Biodiversity for Prosperity, has focused on reviving indigenous sustainability practices in Mawkneng village. Targeting local youth and community elders, Banrisa facilitated highly participatory dialogues to combat open waste burning and chemical-based fishing in local streams. She successfully mobilized 140 young people and engaged nearly 180 community members, driving the adoption of household waste segregation and organic farming alternatives. 

By building trust with village leaders and surfacing systemic environmental gaps, Banrisa offers a culturally rooted, community-driven framework ideal for stakeholders focused on indigenous biodiversity protection.