Dr Deepak Apte
Senior Principal Scientist
Deepak took over as BNHS Director in 2015, after serving the organisation for 22 years in various capacities. He has a doctorate in Marine Ecology. He also has to his credit post graduate certificates in Integrated Coastal Zone Management (AIT, Thailand) and Marine Ecology and Policy (Duke University, USA).
Deepak has been exploring marine life along the Indian coast for over 30 years now. He has authored four books, over 45 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals like Nature, Evolution, Systematic and Biodiversity and JMBA (UK) and several popular articles.
At present, he heads a number of research and conservation programmes in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar and central India.
In 2008, Deepak received the prestigious Whitley Award from the Shears Foundation for his contribution towards establishing community-managed marine protected area and saving Giant Clams in Lakshadweep. He also received Whitley’s Continuation Funding to carry out research and conservation of giant clams in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He is a Fellow of the Smithsonian Environmental Leadership Programme, LEAD-India, International Visitors Programme, USA and Duke University Marine Programme. He has travelled to over 50 countries and has undergone extensive training on sustainable development. Deepak is an excellent underwater photographer and Advance Open Water PADI diver with more than 5000 hours of dive log. He aims to popularize marine biodiversity through research, field expedition and publications. He has established a full-fledged Marine Conservation Programme in BNHS.
• Chairman – Environmental Appraisal Committee (CRZ and Infrastructure 1), MoEFCC, Government of India.
• Member – National Board of Wild Life, MoEFCC, Government of India
• Member (Ex) – Forest Advisory Committee, MoEFCC, Government of India
• Member – Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board Fauna Committee
• Executive Committee Member – CBD-NGO Alliance
• Executive Committee Member – UNDP-GOI East Godavari Programme
• Governing Council Member – Mangrove Foundation, Government of Maharashtra
• Executive Committee Member – Mangrove Foundation, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – Committee on Mangrove and Coral Reef Action Plan, Gujarat State
• Member – CRZ Committee, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – Wetland Committee, Government of Maharashtra
• Member – National Vulture Recovery Programme, Government of India
• Member – Research Advisory Committee, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai
• Executive Committee Member – Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)
• Member – Wildlife Institute of India Society
• Executive Committee Member – CAMPA, Maharashtra State
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Maharashtra
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Madhya Pradesh
• Member – State Wildlife Advisory Board of Andaman and Nicobar
• Member – Sarus Conservation Committee, Government of Utter Pradesh
• Member – Bird Control Committee, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India