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Keyi Panyor district in Arunachal Pradesh is set to become India's first Bio-Happy District, integrating biodiversity conservation with human well-being. The initiative, led by the M. S.

Swaminathan Research Foundation in collaboration with local administration, aims to balance ecology, livelihoods, and public health. It focuses on traditional farming systems and biodiversity-rich landscapes.

Soumya Swaminathan emphasized the connection between environmental degradation and public health, highlighting methane emissions from waste as a significant climate issue. The Foundation will collaborate with IIT Madras and Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research to study health risks for communities near landfill sites. The project is part of a broader vision of biodiversity-led development that links environment, livelihoods, and health.