Erica Udas

Intervention Manager - Sustainable Human Settlements
Resilient mountain economies and landscapes (SG2)
Transforming livelihoods and economies (SG2-AAC)

I work with the Ecosystem Services Thematic team and contribute my expertise to the adaptation and resilience building of mountain communities across the HKH region. I engage in the implementation of pilot projects to generate knowledge and science-based evidence to link with policy. This means my work provides an interface to link science, policy, and practice, which I enjoy from my heart and soul. It also provides opportunities to work closely and build networks with young and experienced researchers, experts, government line agencies, non-profit organizations, private sector actors and the grassroots communities to bring about transformative changes and to work together towards a resource-rich planet for future generations.

Erica Udas

Q:

How do you protect the pulse of the planet?

A:

I protect the pulse of the planet by doing small things like not wasting my food, turning the lights off when not required, carrying my own cloth bag to shopping, and using less paper at work. Bringing behavioral change is what I see as very important to save our planet earth and keep its pulse beating strongly!!

Q:

What is your favorite part of the work you do at ICIMOD?

A:

I enjoy the diversity that ICIMOD harbors in terms of multi-disciplinarity, nationalities, cultures, topical debates and discussions, which always give me space to learn and grow.

Q:

What are you passionate about?

A:

I am passionate about design thinking, which is a creative problem solving method. In a context of changing climate and larger future uncertainties, I try to connect the dots between ecosystem conservation (i.e. management and restoration) and the respective ecosystems services.

I’m a nature lover and I believe in simplicity – simple living with high thinking, a philosophy lived by many legendary people worldwide who are the true mentors in my life.

Q:

My qualifications

A:

I studied forestry as an undergraduate and later broadened my academic scope to landscape ecology and nature conservation with a Master’s degree. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. within the working group on landscape ecology and ecosystem dynamics at the Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, Germany.

Prior to joining ICIMOD, I worked as a scientific research assistant at the University of Greifswald and I have more than eight years of working experience in conservation and development organizations like WWF-Nepal and the Local Initiative for Biodiversity Research and Development, Nepal. I am an Alexander-von-Humboldt International Climate Protection Fellow and have also received research grants from several international foundations based in the US, UK and Japan.

 

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