Dr. Amit Mallick is a distinguished conservationist and protection strategist with over 30 years of experience in wildlife policy, protected area management, and national-level conservation programmes. A 1992-batch officer of the Indian Forest Service (Kerala cadre), he most recently served as Inspector General of Forests at the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). In this role, he led the implementation of Project Tiger, steered the fourth and initiated the fifth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation, and played a key role in revising the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) guidelines. Dr. Mallick was instrumental in conceptualizing and operationalizing Project Cheetah and in the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). He coordinated bilateral cooperation with tiger range countries and represented India in collaboration with key institutions including CITES, SAWEN, UNEP-CMS, and the Global Tiger Forum (GTF). His field tenures across tiger reserves of Kerala, including as Field Director of Periyar Tiger Reserve and later as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, were marked by strong anti-poaching operations, participatory management, and the establishment of the HAWK (Holistic Activity Watch Kernel) system for wildlife crime analysis. He has contributed as a technical expert in national-level biodiversity and climate-linked projects such as BCRLIP and the India High Range Mountain Landscape Project. Dr. Mallick has authored several key national reports and technical manuals on the status of tigers, leopards, cheetah reintroduction, habitat monitoring, and protected area management. His contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including an award from the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the Earth Heroes Award for his leadership in anti-poaching and wildlife protection. He is also a member of several national committees, including the Steering Committee of Project Cheetah, and holds a Ph.D. in Agronomy with advanced training in wildlife crime and international conservation diplomacy.
