Dr V Anitha holds a Ph.D. in Forestry and has over 27 years in the field of socio-economics, market dynamics, and sustainable management of forest resources. She has a proven track record having undertaken numerous inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary projects funded by prestigious international bodies and key National organizations. Her expertise spans community livelihoods, economic valuation, policy and governance, and strategic program headship. Currently, Dr. Anitha leads the initiatives -Demand & Supply of Teak Resources and Wood Balance Studies, while also coordinating the Institute's research and academic programs. She has authored over 30 publications and possesses significant global exposure, including scientific contributions to the FAO's Core Group Technical Meeting on the Economics of Sustainable Forest Management. She has also served various State-level policy and expert committees, such as the Kerala State Expert Appraisal Committee and the State Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan, and SPB Working Group for 16th Finance Commission. Furthermore, she is actively involved in mentoring doctoral scholars and UG/PG students.