Manisha Dhinde, a Warli cultural youth leader, and Rohan Shivkumar, an architect and dean of KRVIA, will present a 30-minute online talk on their collaborative project to map the Aarey Forest in Mumbai. This forest is home to the vibrant Warli community. The presentation will cover the interdisciplinary team’s efforts, including experts from India and neighboring countries, to understand the complex inter-relationship between the Warli community and the forest ecosystem. Dhinde and Shivkumar will discuss the methods used in this cultural and ecological mapping project, emphasizing the unique symbiosis between the community’s traditional practices and the forest environment. They will also highlight how the findings have been transformed into an immersive AR/VR experience, offering a virtual window into the cultural and natural heritage of Aarey Forest. The session will conclude with a 30-minute Q&A, inviting the audience to explore the challenges and insights of integrating technology with cultural preservation, and the importance of documenting and sharing indigenous knowledge systems.
