KeyNote Submission
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Content for KeyNotes posts consist of land-economics topics and directly relate to a LAI member, chapter, or a global LAI event.
Chapter meeting synopses are perfect for KeyNotes posts as well as articles written by a LAI member or honoring a member.
Personal or business travel that ties in land economics within images and copy are interesting KeyNotes posts.
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Bringing Together
Foresight.
And Insight.
Durga Poudel, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus
June 18, 2025
Holly Elmore – LAI FL Suncoast President & LAI Global Water-Land Series Group Co-Chair
Holly’s eclectic career path includes multiple facets ranging from the corporate arena (Arthur Andersen Auditor & Trammell Crow Controller) to the foodservice industry (owner of a corporate catering business & restaurants) to sustainability-industry leader (Zero Waste Zones & Earth Impact Founder). In addition, Holly is an avid nature & documentary photographer and respected journalist with prominent articles and photographs featured in national publications.
LAI At-Large member Durga Poudel, Ph.D was granted the title of Professor Emeritus from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, in recognition of his lifelong academic contributions and service. In 2000, LAI FL Suncoast Chapter member, Charles Reith, Ph.D. then School of Geosciences Department Chair, hired Durga as a University of Louisiana, Lafayette faculty member. Charles says bringing Durga to the university was his “best hire ever” in his long academic career.
In Durga’s words:
“This moment is not an ending, but a meaningful transition—a renewed commitment to the Rastra Jagaran ra Utthan Abhiyan: a national awakening and upliftment movement grounded in the Asta-Ja Framework and a vision for Nepal’s sacred holistic development. My global service to environmental and ecological sustainability continues.
I extend heartfelt gratitude to my family, students, colleagues, and well-wishers who have stood by me throughout the years.
The time has come to turn experience into action, knowledge into policy, and vision into reality—for the brighter future of Nepal.”
On November 15, 2024, Durga was inducted into LAI by Charles at an impressive event hosted at University of Louisiana, Lafayette. After Charles’ introduction and his induction ceremony, Durga gave a superb presentation on A Journey to Ecological and Environmental Sustainability based on the Asta-Ja Framework he developed over the past decades.
The Regeneration in ACTION article, Asta-Ja: Nepal Vision 2040, celebrates Durga’s LAI At-Large-member induction and introduces the Asta-Ja framework. Links to Durga’s PPT presentation and video recording are included in the article.
Congratulations to Durga on his prestigious, well-earned Professor Emeritus status! The stage is set for LAI to play a significant role in implementing Asta-Ja 2040.
All images are courtesy of Durga Poudel, Ph.D.
KeyNotes are submitted by LAI members. Many submissions reflect the author’s professional opinions and views on relevant issues concerning the organizational mission and purpose of LAI. LAI, as an organization, does not take a position on Keynote submissions, and supports providing an open forum of ideas forwarded for thoughtful consideration. Submissions should not be construed as LAI endorsements.