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“Rooted in Purpose. Growing Together.”
At GREENSAPIEN Foundation, we are more than a team — we are a family of changemakers, educators, healers, and nature lovers united by a single mission: to create a sustainable future for all.
Our work is powered by people who lead with heart, think with clarity, and act with conviction.
🌿 Mr. Manu Vijayanarayan
Founder-Director, GREENSAPIEN Foundation
Lecturer | Trainer | Naturalist | Researcher | Wildlife Educator | Academic Counsellor
A dynamic blend of academic excellence, ecological passion, and grassroots commitment, Manu Vijayanarayan is the founding force behind the GREENSAPIEN Foundation. With over a decade of experience in the field of biological sciences, Manu stands tall as a dedicated lecturer, a trained naturalist, a wildlife enthusiast, and an inspiring mentor to countless students, scholars, and nature lovers across Karnataka.
Currently serving as the Head of the Biology Department at a premier PU college, Manu’s classrooms are not confined to walls — they extend into forests, streams, apiaries, and community gardens. His teaching style is immersive and inquiry-driven, often guiding students through real-world learning, field studies, and scientific exploration.
🧠 Academic Leadership & Research
Manu is a passionate academic counsellor and mentor, guiding students in their pursuit of both examination success and ecological awareness. As a researcher in entomology, he is actively involved with Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, where he investigates insect diversity and ecosystem roles.
He has ventured deep into the Chikkaballapura forest landscapes, documenting and analyzing the rich flora and fauna under officially permitted research projects. His commitment to ethical fieldwork and conservation is reflected in every project he undertakes.
🌳 Certified Naturalist & Wildlife Educator
Manu holds multiple government-recognized certifications from the Eco-Tourism Department of Karnataka, having received formal training at both Bandipur Tiger Reserve and Kali Tiger Reserve. His designation as a Certified Local Naturalist for the Chikkaballapura Division is a testament to his hands-on expertise and local ecological knowledge.
He regularly conducts:
- Wildlife interpretation and forest education programs
- Guided forest walks and night treks
- Nature journaling and conservation storytelling sessions
Through these, he has trained numerous volunteers and students to transform into naturalists and environmental ambassadors, encouraging many to pursue careers in ecology, wildlife biology, and sustainability.
🐝 Apiculture & Sustainability Champion
A pioneer in bee conservation and apiculture training, Manu has led and participated in multiple beekeeping initiatives across Karnataka. From tribal women to urban youth, he has trained hundreds in scientific beekeeping, integrating livelihood generation with pollinator preservation.
His sessions on apiculture include:
- Bee biology & colony dynamics
- Hive management & honey harvesting
- Pollination ecology
- Bee-friendly farming practices
He continues to mentor scholars, researchers, and farmers alike, creating a ripple effect of ecological awareness and sustainable practices.
🌏 Heart of the GREENSAPIEN Movement
As the founder of GREENSAPIEN Foundation, Manu’s vision is to blend education with empathy, science with storytelling, and conservation with community. Whether he’s trekking through the dense canopies of Nandi Hills or guiding a child’s first forest walk, he leads with curiosity, humility, and deep love for the natural world.
🌼 Mrs. Gangothri Manu
Co-Founder, Director and Program Manager, GREENSAPIEN Foundation
Botanist | Nature Educator | Conservationist | Co-visionary
If GREENSAPIEN Foundation was a seed of hope, then Mrs. Gangothri Manu is the nurturing soil in which it took root. A professional botanist, devoted conservationist, and gentle force of nature, Gangothri has been the guiding light behind the Foundation’s mission to reconnect people with the green world around them.
Her journey began not in a classroom, but at the edge of the forest, where she spent her childhood surrounded by trees, birdsong, and the wild wisdom of the woods. Growing up in a family that lived close to the forest, love for nature was never taught — it was lived. This deep-rooted affection grew into a lifelong passion for plants and ecological balance.
🌿 Botanist by Training, Conservationist by Soul
With her academic foundation in botany, Gangothri brings scientific understanding, traditional knowledge, and a spiritual connection to her conservation work. Her keen eye for native plant species, ability to read landscapes, and sensitivity toward every living being make her an invaluable leader in fieldwork and nature-based education.
Her love for plants has not only shaped her identity — it has shaped the very vision of GREENSAPIEN Foundation.
🌱 Nature Walks, Eco-Education & Quiet Leadership
Gangothri has been actively involved in leading nature walks, forest immersion sessions, and community eco-awareness programs, especially for women and children. She has undergone multiple training sessions in forest ecology and interpretation, continuously expanding her ability to teach, guide, and inspire.
Known for her calm presence and deep knowledge, she encourages people to observe the small wonders — the unfurling of a fern, the curve of a vine, the whisper of leaves. Her field sessions often leave participants moved, transformed, and more mindful of the life that surrounds them.
Knowledge Sharing Partners
📚 Dr. (in progress) Mala Narayanaswamy
📚 Dr. (in progress) Mala Narayanaswamy
📚 Dr. (in progress) Mala Narayanaswamy
Academic Luminary | Language Alchemist | Core Support Pillar – GREENSAPIEN Foundation
When intellect meets empathy and language meets nature, you meet Mala Narayanaswamy — the invisible scaffolding that upholds the soul of the GREENSAPIEN Foundation.
A scholar of exceptional depth, Mala is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in English, with a mastery over literature, linguistics, and the art of communication. With decades of experience in educating students from kindergarten to post-graduation, she is fondly known as a “walking library” by those who have had the privilege of learning from her.
✨ The Silent Strength Behind Our Vision
Mala is not just an advisor — she is the intellectual spine and moral compass of the GREENSAPIEN Foundation. Her calm presence, vast wisdom, and courageous clarity have helped the team navigate complexities, make informed decisions, and maintain a balance between passion and precision.
She offers unwavering support in:
- Program ideation & content design
- Documentation, storytelling, and language curation
- Training module refinement & educational scripting
- Team mentoring, especially for younger volunteers
Even with a demanding professional schedule, Mala always finds time to stretch a helping hand, offer profound insight, and uplift the team’s spirit with her words and her wisdom.
🌿 Where Language Meets Conservation
With a deep love for nature and a fierce urge to protect it, Mala brings a rare and magical fusion of language and ecology. Her reflections on nature are poetic, yet precise. Her language carries the weight of academic insight and the softness of a dew-kissed leaf.
Through her role, she helps us:
- Frame compelling eco-literature and awareness materials
- Shape curriculum for nature-based education
- Translate scientific ideas into emotionally resonant stories
- Inspire eco-conscious thought through workshops and writing
🌿 Dr. (in progress) Ranjith Kumar H T
📚 Dr. (in progress) Mala Narayanaswamy
📚 Dr. (in progress) Mala Narayanaswamy
Botanist | Ethnobotanist | Field Research Expert | Resource Person – GREENSAPIEN Foundation
In every green whisper of a leaf and in the wisdom held by roots, Mr. Ranjith Kumar H T finds stories, science, and purpose. A deeply committed botanist, researcher, and field ecologist, he is a living encyclopedia of plant knowledge — a walking talent, as he is often called by peers and students alike.
With his academic foundation rooted in ethnobotany, Ranjith has devoted his career to understanding the intimate relationships between indigenous communities and the plant world — a domain where science meets culture and sustainability.
🌱 Master of Plants, Student of the Wild
Ranjith’s expertise stems not just from books, but from the forest floor, tribal trails, and native plant nurseries of Karnataka. Over the years, he has conducted extensive field studies, mapped native flora, and documented traditional plant uses with meticulous care and reverence.
He has been trained and mentored by multiple leading conservation organizations across Karnataka and India, sharpening his skills in:
- Field research methodology
- Taxonomy and plant identification
- Ethnobotanical data collection
- Ecological survey protocols
- Native plant propagation and seed banking
🌳 Guardian of Karnataka’s Green Heritage
Currently working with an esteemed conservation organization focused on preserving the native plants of Karnataka, Ranjith plays a crucial role in research, conservation planning, and botanical outreach. His work directly contributes to safeguarding rare, endemic, and culturally significant plant species that are rapidly disappearing.
Despite a packed professional schedule, Ranjith remains a dedicated resource person for GREENSAPIEN Foundation — offering his time, brilliance, and presence whenever nature calls.