Our research efforts seek to understand and uncover the ecological, socio-economic and policy dimensions of biophysical systems and their impact on human ecology. While we strive to conduct both basic and applied research in the fields of ecology and dynamics of biophysical systems, we also endeavour to foster integrated research and pay special attention to the human and policy dimension of natural resource use.
While we focus within the four main domains of:
- Sustainable Forestry
- Conservation Biology
- Water Resources
- Socio-Economic and Policy Sciences
We pay special attention to understanding climate change and associated impacts. We accord high priority on understanding climate and rainfall variability in the Himalayan ecosystems.
Proper use of forests and their ecological resilience can only be fostered through an in-depth understanding of forest ecosystems.
Our research efforts focus on understanding ecological as well as management and policy aspects of forest resources and lands.
Currently, we conduct research on:
- Forest use and livelihood dimensions in high altitude ecosystems of Bhutan (with the University of Montana)
- Community forests in Bhutan: their socio-economic and policy dimensions (with the University of Montana)
- Sacred groves of Bhutan: their biodiversity and cultural significance
There is increasing acceptance that biodiversity and wildlife have significant roles in maintaining and ensuring human welfare. Across the globe, increasing anthropogenic impacts have been shown to negatively impact biodiversity and wildlife.
Our research efforts focus on understanding patterns, dynamics and functions of natural landscapes.
Currently, we conduct research on:
- Carnivore population dynamics in montane ecosystems of Bhutan (with the University of Montana)
- Predator-prey dynamics with implications on understanding human-wildlife conflicts (with the University of Montana)
- Small carnivore distribution and diversity and its implications
- Takin habitat use and movement (with the University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales)
- Altitudinal migration of high altitude pheasants (with the Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology)
- Trans-Himalayan migration of the endangered Black-necked cranes (with the Max-Planck Institute of Ornithology)
- Bird diversity in montane ecosystems in Bhutan
Water is critical for life. As such, understanding water as a system stretching from the glaciers to the freshwater ecosystems supporting both wildlife and human industry will be crucial in ensuring the conservation of this precious resource.
Our research efforts focus on understanding ecological as well as management and policy aspects of water resources.
Currently, we conduct research on:
- Patterns of water use in Bhutan
- Biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems of Bhutan (with Naturalis, Netherlands & University of Montana, USA, WWF -Living Himalayas)
- Ecosystems services from forests and wetlands( with CIFOR)
- Snow cover mapping for the Himalayas and their impact on fresh water runoff (with Columbia University, NYC, USA )
- Climate change impacts on Water resources and possible adaptation measures in Bhutan (with the Institute of Global Environmental Strategies & Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan)
- Drought Stress tolerance and climate change adaptation potentials of two main forest ecosystems in Bhutan himalayas: Large Scale Throughfall Exclusion Experiment ( with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences( BOKU), Austria)
- Assessment and geomorphological mapping of the major Riverine ecosystems in Bhutan
- Impacts of developmental activities such as farm road national highway constructions, on water quality and sedimentation load to the river ecosystems
Humans shape land and resource use through direct consumption as well as through the formulation of policies to affect and dictate such use. The health and integrity of natural ecosystems is dependant on socio-economic conditions as well as policies framed to guide the use of such ecosystems. Ensuring sustainability of such natural ecosystems will require a thorough understanding of ever changing socio-economic variables and their related policy environments.
Our research efforts focus on understating the socio-economic and policy drivers of resource use in particular and development in general.
Currently, we conduct research on:
- High and mid-altitude nomadic livelihood and grazing systems of Bhutan (with the University of Montana)
- Development and livelihood change in Sakteng and Merak
- Community forests and their role in improving livelihoods
- Wildlife depredation as an agent of livelihood impoverishment and poverty