Nawa Raj Chapagain

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Professional Profile:

Current Engagement:

     Senior Specialist (Environment)

      NEA Engineering Company Limited

      Kathmandu, Nepal

Education:

  • PhD (Environmental Science): On-going on part-time basis since September 2014
  • Masters in Science (Environmental Management and Policy) from Kangwon National University, South Korea. 2009-2010.
  • Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Nepal. 1995-1999.

Major Trainings:

  • Environmental and Social Monitoring in Hydropower Projects: Module I. 22-26 March, 2021. International Centre for Hydropower (ICH), Norway.
  • Prevention and Administration of Social and Environmental Conflicts. Asia Regional Course, Module I Remote Series 2020. 23-27 November, 2020. International Centre for Hydropower (ICH), Norway.
  • International Training course on Geo-information Extraction with Laser Scanning. November 2-6, 2015. Sirindhorn Center for Geo-Informatics (SCGI), Space Krenovation Park, Thailand.
  • Application of Geo-informatics for Rangeland Resources Management. December 5–16, 2005. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu.
  • Application of Geo-informatics for National Park Conservation and Management. July 12–23, 2004. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu.
  • Digital Analysis of Aerial Photographs Using Erdas Imagine Orthobase. March 31–April 11, 2003. University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
  • Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring. March 10–21, 2003. UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK.

GIS Proficiency:         

  • Spatial/Geostatistical modeling, multi-spectral satellite image/aerial photo processing, LIDAR processing, geo-database development, GIS/GPS mapping, mobile GIS
  • ArcGIS (ArcInfo license), Erdas Imagine, QGIS, ArcView, Idrisi, CartaLinx, ArcPad, Point Cloud Mapper (PCM), CloudCompare.

Academic/Teaching Experience:

  • Visiting Faculty (Fall 2013, Spring/Fall 2014 Semester): Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Science, Kathmandu University – Taught “Forest Resource Management” to MSc, “Forest Environments” and “Conservation Biology” to BSc students.
  • Visiting Faculty (2013, 2000-2005): Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry, Pokhara – Taught spatial analysis and modelling to Masters (2013) and Bachelors (2000-2005) students as part of the course GIS Application in Natural Resources Management.
  • Supervised/Co-supervised 9 MSc and BSc Theses involving use of Geo-informatics.

Professional Experience:

  • Project Co-ordinator (September 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012): Hariyo Ban Program of NTNC Component funded by USAID through WWF US - Co-ordinate, monitor and supervise field implementation of NTNC part of the Hariyo Ban program, provide technical backstopping to the field teams located in five major protected areas of Nepal.
  • Senior Conservation Officer (April 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012): National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) - Technical backstopping to project implementation at field level, project development, preparation of technical reports, liaise with central/policy level stakeholders.

  • GIS Officer (April 3, 2001 to March 31, 2011): National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)

  • Developed and implemented GIS based (a) biodiversity survey and monitoring system – for a project funded by Darwin Initiative, UK, (b) forest/soil carbon inventory planning and data collection system – for a project with TDG of the University of Twente, the Netherlands, and ICIMOD, (c) conservation area management information system – for a project funded by UNDP/GEF.
  • Worked as GIS/Remote Sensing Expert in a team to prepare management plan of a total of 7 National Parks and Conservation Areas.
  • Served as GIS/Remote Sensing Expert to the biodiversity exploration teams that recorded 3 species (Equus kiang, Procapra picticaudata and Syrrhaptes tibetanus) new to Nepal.
  • Conducted (as a Trainer) 2 dozen trainings on the use of GPS, GIS, remote sensing, database management and statistical analysis.

 Selected Consultancies:

  • Publication Co-ordinator (February 14, 2014 to April 30, 2014): ADB Project “TA-7997 REG: Strengthening Knowledge-Driven Development in South Asia” for “International Conference on Invasive Alien Species Management”

  • GIS/Remote Sensing Expert (February – April 2014): WWF US Nepal Program for “Land use/land cover mapping of Banke and Bardiya National Park using Satellite Imagery”

  • GIS Trainer (September 26 to October 2, 2013): For “Strengthening Regional Co-operation for Wildlife Protection in Asia Project” funded by the World Bank and implemented by NTNC.

  • Consultant-GIS Development and Training (October 22 – December 31, 2007): ADB Project (RETA-6306) “Mainstreaming Managing for Development Results in Support of Poverty Reduction in South Asia”

  • Consultant GIS/Remote Sensing Expert (Various organizations during 2011-2015) for 5 research projects on forest, protected area management and wildlife biology, and preparation of a total of 8 District Forest Management Plans & 7 Watershed Management Plans.

Major Fellowships:

  • PhD Research Fellowship (September 2014 – December 2018): Provided by Norwegian funded SUNREM-Himalaya project under Kathmandu University.

  • BEST-KNU Fellowship (2009-2010): Provided by Kangwon National University (South Korea) to pursue MSc.

  • UNEP-Eco Peace Leadership Fellowship (2008 – 2009): Provided by UNEP-Eco-Peace Leadership Program, Korea to conduct research on “Modeling Mikania micrantha invasion in Chitwan National Park, Nepal”.

Involvement with Professional Societies:

- Nepal Geographic Information System (GIS) Society (NEGISS) - Life Member

- Nepal Foresters' Association (NFA) - Life Member

- Bird Conservation Nepal (BCN) - Life Member