Welcome Durga Poudel, Ph.D. to the Ei Advisory Council

On October 18, 2024 renowned Professor Durga Poudel, Ph.D. officially joined the Earth Impact (Ei) Advisory Council!

Durga & his family in NYC, May 2024

According to his official bio, Durga is the Professor and Coordinator of Environmental Science Program, Director of Ag. Auxiliary Units, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA. 

Durga's research focuses on water quality and nonpoint source pollution control, water quality modeling, climate change adaptation, soil erosion, soil development and productivity, sustainable agriculture, organic farming,  roadside vegetation and highway enhancement, waste water recycling, and farming systems. At the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Durga teaches several soil-science and water-quality courses.

Durga will serve as an invaluable Ei Advisor within the Nature Prevails, Soil Health, and Water Use | Toxicity Ei platforms.

LAI Global Webinar
Fellow Ei Advisor Charles Reith introduced Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore to Durga for the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Agriculture's Impact on Water Quality / Quantity and Land Economics Global Webinar slated for early 2025 broadcast. In addition to presenting on the global webinar, Durga will serve on the LAI Global Land-Water Series Group co-chaired by Holly and Jim Musbach.

In early October, Durga accepted Charles and Holly's co-sponsored LAI At-Large member nomination. On his next quarterly Lafayette visit, Charles will host a local meeting where he will formerly induct Durga into LAI membership; Durga will follow with a presentation on his important work. Charles is a LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member.

About LAI

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders 

in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by a LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

Asta-Ja Framework*
In June 2008, Durga published the pioneering article, Management of Eight 'Ja' for Economic Development in Nepal, in the Journal of Comparative International Management. From the article abstract:

This paper proposes a theoretically grounded Asta-Ja framework of Eight "Ja" ─Nepali letter "Ja", Jal (water), Jamin (land), Jarajuri (plants), Janawar (animals), Jungle (forest), Jadibuti (medicinal and aromatic plants), Jalabayu (climate), and Jansakti (manpower) and referred to as Asta-Ja in Nepali language for economic development and management of Nepal. More concretely, it identifies and analyzes key elements of the framework to derive its implications for theory and policy development. 

Subsequently, Durga published over a dozen referred journal articles that elucidated Asta-Ja principles, strategies, guidelines, and approaches to sustainable conservation, development, and utilization of natural and human resources for accelerated economic growth, fast-paced socio-economic transformation, and overall securities in Nepal.

The Inauguration of Asta Ja Abhiyan Nepal blog post announces the December 24, 2008 formation of The Asta-Ja Abhiyan Nepal, a non-governmental, non-profit organization co-founded by Durga in his native homeland, Nepal. According to the post:

The Asta Ja Abhiyan Nepal envisions an economically prosperous, environmentally sound, and socially just Nepal through sustainable development and management of Asta Ja. Also, the Asta Ja Campaign Nepal envisions Nepalese people and friends of Nepal recognizing, appreciating, caring, and sustainbly developing and managing Asta Ja for Nepal's prosperity, environmental quality, national pride and societal integrity in their respective capacities. 

Additionally, Durga is the Founding President for Asta-Ja Research Development Center located in Kathmandu, Nepal and Asta-Ja USA located in Hawaii; they are nonprofit nongovernmental organizations, work closely together as sister entities, and institutionalize Asta-Ja.

In January 2024, Durga published the acclaimed book, Asta-Ja for Prosperity, Pride, and National Integrity, as a compilation of his over-a-dozen articles and papers on the Asta-Ja Framework. At the October monthly Ei Regenerative Working Group (RWG,) Durga shared the Asta-Ja Framework featuring his book with his fellow Ei Advisors. By popular demand, the November RWG meeting topic is a Q&A with Durga.

Ei is honored to welcome Durga Poudel, Ph.D. to the Advisory Council and work with him on a variety of endeavors.

* unless otherwise referenced, the majority of this section was derived from the Asta-Ja for Prosperity, Pride, and National Integrity preface and back cover.

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About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 - June 2024). Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era focus areas carry over into the Era of Impact.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org.