Chetan Kumar, PhD, is the Global Head of Forest and Grasslands at IUCN. A forester and geographer with deep expertise in environment, development, forestry management, and biodiversity conservation, he specializes in bridging the science-policy gap to advance evidence-based decision-making. Before joining IUCN, he held influential roles at DFID, CGIAR-CIFOR, and UNEP-WCMC, where he worked across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to integrate scientific research into policy and practice, shaping sustainable solutions for global environmental challenges.