Regenerating Rainforests by Listening to Communities

Perspectives in Global Development Seminar Series: Fall 2021

COVID-19 has revealed the vital ties between human health and the health of animals and the planet. Beyond driving greater risk for emerging infectious diseases, the current collision of climate change and biodiversity loss matters profoundly to human wellbeing. To address these concerns, we must take heed of modern scientific methods as well as the knowledge of Indigenous peoples’.  Health In Harmony's disruptive planetary health model recognizes the inextricable link between human and environmental health and invests precisely in the wisdom of local and Indigenous rainforest peoples to reverse rainforest deforestation, reverse poverty, and improve human health. This seminar focuses on Health In Harmony’s planetary health model, the importance of community based interventions and the need to rapidly scale such interventions globally so we can achieve a healthier, more just, and sustainable world. 

About the presenter

Devika Agge is an entrepreneurial development professional with two decades of nonprofit and public-private partnership experience in the United States, United Kingdom, and India. Over the years, she has partnered with several highly successful boards and high level government offices to plan and execute development initiatives leading to significant revenue growth. This includes developing the country-wide disaster management plan with the Planning Commission of India for the 2004 Tsunami Crisis and the implementation of the Business Improvement District form of Public Private Partnerships with the Greater London Authority for the United Kingdom. She currently serves as the Director of Philanthropy at Health In Harmony where she leads and directs the grants, fundraising, blended finance, marketing, and communications efforts to accelerate the organization’s exponential growth to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. 

Devika holds a Master of City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts in Economics from Bombay University. Devika serves on the board of the National Federation of Business and Professional Working Women, a century old organization that develops the professional, business and leadership potential of women at all levels. 

Registration information

The speaker will present via Zoom. Guests are welcomed to join the session in-person in Emerson 135 or via Zoom. To attend via Zoom, use the registration link below.

About the seminar series

The Perspectives in Global Development seminars are held Wednesdays from 12:25 – 1:15 p.m. eastern time during the semester. The series will be presented in a hybrid format with some speakers on campus and others appearing via Zoom. Students, faculty and the general public are welcome to attend. The series is co-sponsored by the Department of Global Development, the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the School of Integrative Plant Science as part of courses IARD 6960, NTRES 6960, PLSCS 6960 and AEM 6960.