Kesang Wangchuk

Biodiversity Specialist
Resilient mountain economies and landscapes (SG2)
Ecosystem and landscape restoration (SG2-AAD)

My main responsibilities include biodiversity conservation, research, development of conservation strategies, and building policy recommendations to mainstream sustainable biodiversity management in the HKH. I am taking a lead on the topic of transboundary human-wildlife conflict, a prominent threat to conservation efforts in the HKH. I am prepared to go outside my domain and help whoever needs my service. In whatever I do, I firmly believe, it is through collective efforts and integration of scientific knowledge that we can make ICIMOD realize its mission and vision.

Kesang Wangchuk

Q:

How do you protect the pulse of the planet?

A:

Just as the pulse is an important measure of health and well-being in bodies, biodiversity is an important measure of the ecosystem health of the HKH. I contribute to biodiversity conservation and promoting robust biodiversity resources in the HKH, which is key to ensuring diverse ecosystem services for the well-being of mountain people. For this, I strive to put science into action.

Q:

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

A:

The pleasant working environment and friendly employees are the things that come to my mind first.

Q:

What are you passionate about?

A:

I have a strong passion for research in areas outside my own field of expertise.

Q:

My qualifications

A:

I graduated from Kerala Agricultural University, India and started off my career as Research Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture in Bhutan. I coordinated livestock research in Bhutan, focusing on forages before I pursued an MSc (Agriculture) at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Upon my return from Australia, I became a Project Coordinator of Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) in Bhutan. I completed a PhD in 2013 from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria. Since then, I worked as Deputy Chief Research Officer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan, prior to taking up the current post at ICIMOD.

Posts by Kesang Wangchuk