Tarsh is a researcher-conservationist interested in more human inclusive models of nature conservation. He has a PhD from the British Open University, and an MSc from the University of Oxford. In addition to his affiliation with Dakshin, he is also associated with The Shola Trust and the National Centre for Biological Sciences. His area of research and intervention include work on Lantana camara – mapping it in Mudumalai, Bandipur and Wayanad, while also looking how communities can use the plant in various ways. His work also involves investigating how people and elephants share space, particularly in the Gudalur region in the Nilgiris, and finding ways to minimise negative interactions.