Rooted in friendship.
Driven by purpose.
A bond of 35 years
Bhuwan Seth and Rana Udayan Lahiry have shared a close friendship since their school days. Through different careers and life journeys, their love of forests and wildlife remained a common thread.
Bhuwan brings his background in the jewellery business. Rana spent 27 years in healthcare, including nearly 22 years leading hospitals and 18 years at Medica, concluding his tenure as Managing Director.
Rana’s work with Asia Heart Foundation and Eastern India Healthcare Foundation also gave him valuable insight into the responsibilities and workings of not-for-profit organisations.
After Rana stepped away from the healthcare industry, the two friends came together to establish WCCF as a Section 8 not-for-profit company, uniting their commitment to wildlife with better healthcare, practical skills and livelihoods for communities around forests.
Ravi Kant Sinha, IFS (Retd.)
Conservation Expert & Senior Advisor
A former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Head of Forest Force and Chief Wildlife Warden of West Bengal, Ravi Kant Sinha brings over three decades of experience in forest governance, wildlife conservation and protected-area management.
As Field Director of Buxa Tiger Reserve, he led Project Tiger work and the World Bank-assisted India Ecodevelopment Project, strengthening community participation and livelihood opportunities in villages bordering the forest.
His field experience spans the Sundarbans and other protected landscapes of West Bengal. His work includes elephant conservation in north Bengal and coordination between the Forest Department and Railways to help reduce elephant deaths on railway lines.
His guidance brings practical field experience and institutional knowledge to WCCF’s work with wildlife and forest-edge communities.
Conservation begins with communities
Healthcare, education and meaningful employment are central to lasting conservation. By strengthening opportunities outside the forest, we aim to give families more choices and support their role as partners in protecting the landscapes they call home.