Dr. Gopal Singh Rawat, Formerly Senior Professor & Dean at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun has over 42 years of research experience on the Himalayan Flora, Ecology and Management of Natural Resources in the Himalayan region (Alpine Rangelands, Bio-resources, Orchids and Medicinal Plants). He is a Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India (2004) and recipient of prestigious T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award. His served as Chief Scientist, Ecosystem Services at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu (2011 – 2014) and is a member of several professional bodies and expert committees.

He is in Himalayan Ecosystems especially Alpine Flora, Orchids and Medicinal Plants, and specialized in Himalayan Flora and the former Dean and Director at the Wildlife Institute of India Dehradun. He has been actively engaged in teaching, research and academic activities since last 40 years. His areas of specialization include eco-floristic studies in the Himalayan region, Ecology and Management of Alpine rangelands, Status survey of medicinal plants, and Wildlife Habitat Wildlife Ecology.  He has Ph. D. and D. Sc. degrees in Botany from Kumaun University Nainital and is the Fellow of National Academy of Sciences, India (2004). He is recipient of prestigious T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Award for 2019. He has over 300 publications including peer reviewed papers, books, reports and popular articles on a wide range of topics including plant systematics, habitat ecology and management of wildlife habitats in India. He has guided more than 35 Ph. D. and 15 Masters’ students. In the year 2004, he led an ecological expedition across alpine region of Western Himalaya from Indo-Nepal Border to Holy Amarnath and documented the status of alpine meadows, wildlife and high value medicinal and aromatic plants all along. His other experiences include working as Chief Scientist, Ecosystem Services at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) at Kathmandu (2011-14),  Member, Task Force on Mountain Ecosystems for the Planning Commission during (2006-08), Member of IUCN (SSC) Orchid and Medicinal Plant Specialist Groups and an expert member, Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Asia-Pacific region. Currently he is a member of the Planning Board for Union Territory of Ladakh and Member, Wildlife Board, Uttarakhand and member of expert committee for the management of Invasive Alien Species in India formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India. He served as a Chairman of the Committee for formulation of Rangeland Policy for the Union Territory of Ladakh.