Arati Kumar Rao

Arati Kumar-Rao is a South Asia-based independent photographer, writer, and National Geographic Explorer documenting environmental degradation. Her work covers depleting groundwater, habitat destruction, and industrial land acquisition impacts on biodiversity and communities. Named one of BBC’s 100 Influential & Inspiring Women of 2023, her book "Marginlands: India's Landscapes on the Brink" was published in June 2023 and awarded Book of the Year by PublishingNext in 2024. Her work appears in National Geographic Magazine, Emergence Magazine, BBC, and leading Indian newspapers. She splits her time between the Western Ghats and Bangalore, caring for her three rescued cats.