Mohd Gulfam

Mohd Gulfam is a dedicated indigenous leader from the semi-nomadic Van Gujjar pastoral community in Uttarakhand, committed to preserving traditional knowledge and advancing community-led climate action. Having previously taught out-of-school children and led native tree plantation drives, his work is deeply rooted in education, ecological stewardship, and pastoral rights.

Gulfam, as an NYCC Climate Champion, documented indigenous forest conservation practices and medicinal knowledge across six districts. He trained youth in oral history documentation and translation of native knowledge into written formats, addressing the erosion of intergenerational wisdom and turning the same into a knowledge booklet. His work, in collaboration with Van Gujjar leaders, Kalpavriksh, and the Forest Department, led to the creation of a community-owned knowledge archive.

He has also represented his work at the Justice Makers Mela, further amplifying indigenous voices. Building on this, Gulfam is now using the knowledge booklet developed through his project as an advocacy tool to strengthen recognition and protection of Van Gujjar indigenous knowledge and pastoral practices.