Ashfaq Ahmed Mattoo
Assistant Manager

Ashfaq Ahmed Mattoo is an Assistant Manager in Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), with the primary responsibility of implementing the organisation’s Shahtoosh Workers’ Rehabilitation Project that provides alternative livelihood to former shahtoosh workers. He is also the regional facilitator for all WTI projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

An alumnus of the Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi, Ashfaq completed his graduation in Sociology in 1998 and post-graduation in Social Work in 2000. He also holds a diploma in Human Resources Management from the All-India Management Association (AIMA), New Delhi.

Prior to joining WTI, Ashfaq worked as a lecturer in the Department of Sociology and Social Work in the University of Kashmir. He played a major role in establishing the Masters in Social Work course in the University. He has also worked with Medicines sans Frontieres (MSF), and NGOs including Samar Foundation based in Bokaro, and Navjyoti Development Society based in New Delhi, among others.

He joined WTI in July 2006 as a Project Officer. “In 2006, I was looking for a change from my academic engagement, and I came to hear that WTI was searching for a local person to manage its Shahtoosh Worker’s Alternative Livelihood project. I found this quite challenging and exciting as such civil society interventions are hard to implement in conflict-affected areas like Srinagar. I was lucky to be selected among many other qualified applicants. Since then, there has been no turning back,” recalls Ashfaq, on his move to wildlife conservation as a career. 

Known for his liaisoning skills, Ashfaq was critical in the establishment of the Shahtoosh Workers’ Rehabilitation Project and creation of the Kashmir Handmade Pashmina Promotion Trust (KHPPT) under its aegis. The project established pure handmade pashmina traded under the brandname ‘Pashma-the warmth of Kashmir’ for alternative livelihoods for former shahtoosh workers. KHPPT is a body of former shahtoosh and pashmina workers, created to promote Pashma products produced by member artisans. He regularly interacts with KHPPT members and other former shahtoosh workers to keep them motivated in their new livelihoods and ensuring their welfare.

“In WTI, I have had several small successes, but I would count the formation of KHPPT as a major one. However, this achievement was not mine alone. All of these could not have been possible without the involvement of my colleagues, particularly Fayaz who is an extraordinary person,” says Ashfaq.

As the regional facilitator, Ashfaq oversees a number of WTI projects including Schaller Conservation Surveys on hangul and markhor, and Rapid Action Projects (RAP), among others. He interacts and networks with relevant local government and non-governmental agencies involved in wildlife conservation to generate support for WTI projects. He also fulfills the administrative requirements of WTI projects in J&K and was critical in working out a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Wildlife Protection for WTI’s work in the state.

“Before WTI, my knowledge in wildlife was negligible, as I was from the social work background. However, since joining WTI I have had opportunities to travel to many protected areas in the country and see animals which I had never seen before. I will always cherish these visits,” says Ashfaq.

On a personal note, Ashfaq is admired by his colleagues for his sense of humour and humility. “He is a kind of person who can get along with anyone and everyone,” says one.  Ashfaq enjoys travelling, hiking, photography, theatre & alternative cinema.  

He is the Honorary President of Jammu & Kashmir Association of Social Workers - a guild of more than 150 professionally trained social workers.