M. R. Hari or Madathil Rajappan Nair Hari, popularly known Invis Hari is a visionary land restoration consultant and a leading advocate for sustainable urban specializing in Miyawaki model afforestation and eco-restoration techniques. Recognized as an Expert – Urban Forestry by the G-20 Land Initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Hari has been a pioneer in restoring barren landscapes since 2007 and has actively practiced the Miyawaki model since 2017.
Hari spearheads efforts to promote land restoration through his YouTube channel, Crowd Foresting (www.youtube.com/crowdforesting), with the support of Invis Pvt. Ltd. and Culture Shoppe Pvt. Ltd. Further advancing his mission, he established the Miyawaki Nature Lab at Puliyarakonam, Thiruvananthapuram, on January 5, 2024, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Ecosystem Management Group, a non-profit organization. This Nature Lab serves as a pioneering training center for land restoration, aligned with the G-20 Land Initiative’s vision of integrating Miyawaki forests into educational institutions worldwide, transforming campuses into living laboratories and outdoor classrooms.
As a consultant and practitioner, Hari focuses on implementing diverse land restoration programs, including Miyawaki afforestation, creating nature labs for educational institutions, establishing industrial green walls, promoting agro-forestry, and conducting training programs on barren land restoration.
Beyond his environmental initiatives, Hari has a deep passion for Indian culture, heritage, and responsible tourism. As the founding Managing Partner of Invis Multimedia, he produced Kerala: The Green Symphony, India’s first cross-platform CD-ROM, and Symphony Celestial, the first DVD series on Indian classical dances with English subtitles. He was also the founding Managing Director of Invis Pvt. Ltd., which launched India Video, the first YouTube channel dedicated to Indian culture and heritage.
In 2013, Hari collaborated with Guru Dr. Pali Chandra to initiate an online Kathak dance learning program, leading to the creation of Natyasutra Online, a digital platform for learning Indian classical dances.
An accomplished author, Hari has penned three books, including the Malayalam translation of Prof. Akira Miyawaki’s The Healing Power of Forests. He has also created hundreds of videos on topics such as culture, heritage, land restoration, and responsible tourism.
Born: March 31, 1963
