M. R. Hari brings over three decades of experience in digital media production and more than eighteen years in afforestation and land restoration. He is a leading advocate of the Miyawaki Model of afforestation, which promotes eco-rejuvenation and biodiversity as a response to climate change and urban degradation. Hari has been instrumental in the creation of over 200 urban micro-forests across India and abroad.
Through his YouTube channel Crowdforesting, he has produced over 200 informative videos in Malayalam (with English subtitles), focusing on environmental conservation and the Miyawaki method. His most recent initiative, the Miyawaki Memorial Live Nature Lab, is designed to instill ecological awareness in school children by introducing them to native vegetation and micro-ecosystems. The project restored a 12,000 sq.m. stretch of barren land, significantly enhancing biodiversity and soil quality.
Initially exploring conventional afforestation methods between 2007 and 2016, Hari shifted to the Miyawaki model in 2017, which showed lasting success. Since then, he has developed practical, cost-effective models to revive degraded land.
Hari holds postgraduate degrees in Mass Communication and Law. He is the Executive Chairman of Invis Multimedia and Director of Culture Shoppe Pvt. Ltd., both MSMEs. He also serves as Director of AGES (Agriculture and Ecosystem Management Group), an NGO dedicated to sustainable development.
A pioneer in digital heritage documentation since 1996, Hari has authored two books and has been a consistent voice in using media for ecological and cultural advocacy. His contributions earned him a consultant role for the G-20 Land Initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), specifically in the area of urban forestry.