Dr.M.P.Shiva (Born 1932) obtained Master’s degree in Botany from Lucknow University in 1952, and Doctorate in Forest Utilization (Garhwal University) in 1982. He acquired a long experience of about 30 years as a scientist in Government on India at NWFP Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, till June 1990. He is the Advisor and Founder President of Centre of Minor Forest Products (for Rural Development and Environmental Conservation), Indirapuram, Dehra Dun, which is the only Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in India and possibly in the world working exclusively and specifically on Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)/ Non Wood Forest Products (NWFP)/ Minor Forest Products (MFP). His dedication in the field of NTFP Dr. Shiva has won several awards and International recognition in the field of NTFP. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award, 1998 from American Biographical Institute (ABI-Title) N.C., USA and also selected as accolade Man of the Year, 1998 by them. He was chosen International Who’s Who of Intellectuals of IBC, Cambridge, England (1999). He has been the resource person and NTFP specialist within the country and abroad. He has over 260 publications in his credit including more than 42 books on Forest Botany and Minor Forest Products on Different aspects. He has been elected as member of Research Advisory Committee of ICFRE, Dehra Dun.

Dr. Shiva has been the Founder Chairman of South and East Asian Countries NTFP Network (SEANN) established in 1995 and has 24 member countries. He has been FAO/ UN consultant and acted as contact person/Deputy coordinator and Research Group Leader of IUFRO Network Division, NWFP, till 2000. He was invited in 21^st IUFRO World Congress, held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during August 2000. He chaired two Group Sessions as moderator and co-chaired one sub plenary session on ‘Forest and Societies Need Non Wood Products Utilization’ and attended two business meetings on NWFP. Dr. Shiva has visited various countries of Asia and Europe. He has been involved in Ford Foundation Involve Project since 1992 while he has fulfilled Project Assignments on the ODA and other agencies. Report on National Forestry Action Plan (NTFP Part) was also prepared by him during 1995. He has also worked as FAO/UN expert in several countries including Bangladesh, Nepal and Vietnam for preparation on their master plan on NTFP.