Ecosystem and Species Habitat Modeling for Conservation and Restoration

Dr. Shalini Dhyani is a Senior Scientist with the Critical Zone Group of Water Technology and Management Division of CSIR-NEERI, India. She is a seasoned ecologist with two decades of experience. She uses observational, empirical, and modeling approaches to investigate and understand issues related to the environment, loss of natural and urban greenspaces, interlinkages between ecological, and social systems through sustainability science approaches. She is Asia Vice Chair member of CEM (Commission on Ecosystems Management) and also Steering Committee member. Dr. Dibyendu Adhikari is a Principal Scientist at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), India. He is a seasoned researcher with over 15 years of experience in ecology and environmental science. He is skilled in terrestrial ecosystem restoration, threatened plant conservation, forest carbon assessment, ecological data analysis and modeling. Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta is Assistant Professor at IIT Delhi. He was previously with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa, Japan. He holds diverse research interests in the field of landscape ecology and planning, which include Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), spatial quantification of ecosystem services, land change simulation, development of socio-ecological scenarios, participatory conservation, and social forestry. Dr. Rakesh Kadaverugu is a Senior Scientist associated with CSIR National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. He has more than 10 years of research experience in environmental systems modeling and his is work is focused to better understand the socio-environmental systems at multiple spatial and temporal scales using geospatial, soft-computing, and process-based modeling approaches.

• 1. Modelling tools and plausible scenarios in science-policy to improve evidence based decision making for human-well-being.- 2. Basic Introduction to Species Distribution Modelling.- 3. Machine Learning based predictive modelling approaches for better understanding evolutionary history, distribution and niche occupancy: Experience from Western Ghats.- 4. Mapping the impact of climate change on eco-sensitive hotspots using species distribution modelling (SDMs) – Gaps, Challenges and Future Perspectives.- 5. Approaches for modelling the climate change impacts on ecosystems.- 6. Developing a Bayesian Model of Climate-Induced Lake Overturn in Talisay, Taal Lake.- 7. Global sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of MaxEnt model: Implications in species habitat projections.- 8. Tree species diversity and richness patterns reveal high priority areas for conservation in Eswatini.- 9. Improving the conservation status of a threatened tree (Acer sikkimensis Miq. syn. Acer hookeri Miq.) through standardization of seed germination protocol and using ecological niche modeling.- 10. Ecological Niche Modeling of the endemic Himalayan near-threatened treeline conifer Abies spectabilis (D.Don) Mirb. in the Indian Central Himalaya.- 11. Modeling the distribution of a medicinal plant Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz for its conservation in Arunachal Pradesh.- 12. Habitat Suitability and Niche Modeling for Conservation and Restoration of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. in Temperate Himalayan Forest Ecosystem.- 13. Application of species distribution modeling for conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems.- 14. Habitat suitability analysis of Asiatic Elephants (Elephas maximus) in the Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest of Assam using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).- 15. Factors Affecting the Habitat Suitability of Eastern Swamp Deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi Groves, 1982) in Manas National Park and Implicationfor Terai Grassland Restoration.- 16. Evaluating Potential Habitats of Chital, Sloth Bear and Jungle Cat in Selected Areas of Central Indian Landscape.- 17. Habitat suitability modeling of Tor tor (Hamilton, 1822) in the Indian drainage systems using MaxEnt.- 18. Modelling the influence of Marine Fishery Advisories on the reduction of Carbon Dioxide emissions for Odisha under varying Climate Change Scenarios using CMIP models – an evidence-based approach for policymaking.- 19. Impacts of pollution on tropical montane and temperate forests of South Asia: Preliminary studies by post graduate students in India and Sri Lanka.- 20. Selection of strategic sampling sites for river quality assessments near mined areas as a policy handle for low-impact development and biodiversity conservation – a case study of River Godavari.- 21. Ecological niche modeling predicts the potential area for cultivation of Melia  dubia Cav. (Meliaceae): a promising tree speciesfor agroforestry in India.- 22. Proportions of change in the airborne particulate matter (PM10) concentrations across selected states in Peninsular India - a study of decadal, pre-pandemic trends for planning restoration.- 23. Decomposition of Sunflower Cuttings and its Impact on Soil Fertility of Rice Terraces (Payoh) in Banaue, Ifugao, Philippines.- 24. Forest ecosystem modeling for policy planning: A review.- 25. Ecological Carrying Capacity Modelling and Sustainability Assessment of the Seven Lakes of San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines.- 26. Assessment of the contribution of Fresh Water Ecosystem Services to the Hydropower Sector in the Kura-Araz basin.- 27. Eutrophication modelling of Chilika Lagoon using an artificial neural network approach.