Bishwabandhu Acharya, Nepal
Goal: Model climate-related disturbance and integrate forest management strategies to develop nature-based climate solutions
Forest restoration through sustainable management practices in Nepal can advance nature-based climate solutions. Forest fires in the country, however, are altering composition and growth rates and making forests more vulnerable to disease. There were more than 5,000 wildfires in Nepal in 2024, and climate models predict the country will face more frequent drought conditions.
Bishwabandhu Acharya ’26 MFS is researching how disturbances such as fires impact the health and regenerative capabilities of forests.
“I was born and raised in the buffer zone of Bardiya National Park in Nepal. I had the opportunity to engage in various conservation programs early on. With time, these exposures built an interest in understanding environmental dynamics,” said Acharya, who earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry from Tribhuvan University.
As an intern for REDD Implementation Centre and a forest technician for Nepal’s Division Forest Office, Acharya assessed the effectiveness of community-based forest management in 20 forests. He also looked at how selective logging, thinning, and post-harvest operations impacted regeneration dynamics.
At YSE, Acharya hopes to gain knowledge he can use to develop sustainable forest management strategies to address the challenges posed by climate and land-use changes in Nepal and the Global South more broadly.
“By studying how disturbance regimes and micro-climatic variables impact regeneration dynamics along different management regimes and forest ecosystems, we can identify a context-specific approach that considers scientific understanding and interdisciplinary collaboration for regeneration promotion,” he said. “I believe understanding these dynamics is essential for creating effective nature-based climate solutions and bridging the gap between research and policy.”
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