PHONE: +977-9841172095

EMAIL: Ljeevan9211@gmail.com

INSTAGRAM: @jeevan9211

PRONOUNS: He/Him/His

• Statistical ecologist, experienced wildlife researcher and conservationist with a track record of designing, leading, and completing successful conservation projects in Nepal.

• Strong background in community mobilization, with a proven ability to establish partnerships and work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, academic institutions, and international conservation organizations.
• Proficient in qualitative and quantitative data analysis, with experience in analyzing data related to wildlife populations, human-wildlife conflict, and community participation in conservation.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting gender and social inclusion in conservation, with experience in assessing and addressing gender and social inequities in community forest user committees and other conservation initiatives.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with experience presenting research findings to diverse audiences, including community members, government officials, and international stakeholders.

Education

M.Sc., Statistical Ecology, University of St. Andrews, UK, 2021

PGDip, International Wildlife Conservation Practice, University of Oxford, UK, 2019

M.Sc., Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 2017

Areas of Expertise

Statistical Ecology | Wildlife conservation | Project Management | Science Communications | Conservation Filmmaking | Community Conservation | Camera-trapping | R-programming | Writing | Monitoring and Evaluation | Geographic information system (GIS)

Professional Experience

Nature Conservation and Study Centre | Nepal              2019 – Current

Co-founded a conservation NGO with like-minded people to bring communities forward as conservation leaders. Our organization builds the capacity of university graduates and local youths with workshops and trainings. We collaborate with multiple organizations to mobilize communities in conservation and research projects.

Founder/Executive Director

• Built the capacity of university graduates and local indigenous youths with workshops and trainings on GIS, R, wildlife monitoring and different aspects of conservation.
• Established partnerships with national and international organizations for conservation and research projects. Collaborated with community forest, academic institutions, and conservation organizations to achieve project goals.

Wildlife Expert January – July 2022

• Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) and Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) Study of Marsyangdi Corridor 220 kV Transmission Line Project: Conducted impact assessment for the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in the Annapurna Conservation Area and surrounding landscape. Designed the study, which involved camera trapping, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews. Recommended mitigation measures to address identified impacts on wildlife.

Community Conservation Nepal | Nepal                  2020 – Current

Led the establishment of organization to work with indigenous communities in Nepal for conservation and fight back conservation colonialism. Based in Chitwan, Nepal.

Founding Member (volunteer)

• Established the policies and strategies to run the organization. Identified national and international partners to collaborate for conservation and community empowerment. Represented the organization in public events.

Team Leader/GIS Expert December 2021 – February 2022

• Addressing Gender and Social Inclusion through Evidence-Based Policy Reform for Sustainable Conservation: Conducted a comprehensive analysis of gender and social inclusion representation gaps in the buffer zone user committee and buffer zone community forest of Chitwan and Bardia National Park in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). Documented Indigenous settlements, their cultural practices/knowledge, and their relationship with natural resources and access restrictions.

Friends of Nature | Nepal                                 2014 – 2019

Partnered with communities to celebrate Nepal Owl Festival. Led a team for wildlife research in the mid-hills and mountains of Nepal. Successfully camera-trapped spotted linsang for the first time and Asiatic golden cat for the second time in Nepal. Designed and analysed wildlife research projects and conducted outreach programs.

Research Officer 2017 – 2019

• Mobilized and worked with local communities for three consecutive Nepal Owl Festival
• Led research design and data analysis for 4+ wildlife research projects. Conducted conservation camps throughout Nepal for owls, clouded leopards, small carnivores, and Asiatic black bears.
• Successfully developed, secured funding for, and completed a small carnivores conservation project in eastern Nepal.
• Go-to guy for GIS, data-analysis, research designs, website maintenance and conservation communication.

Researcher 2014 – 2016

• Baseline Wildlife assessment in Darchula and Mugu districts of Western Nepal (April-October 2016): Led a team to conduct wildlife assessment. Interviewed government officials, and locals about wildlife hunting and trade. Conducted survey for signs as well as sighting of wildlife. Recommended wildlife conservation solutions.
• Assessment of Snow Leopard Status and Distribution in Western and Arun Valley of Eastern Complex of Nepal (March – May 2014): Conducted transect survey and prey base survey. Collected scat samples for genetic analysis of Snow Leopards in the Western Complex of Nepal for WWF Nepal.

Nepal Participatory Action Network | Nepal                  2012 – 2015

Contributed to monitoring studies and impact assessments of various programs, including Earthquake Response, and Child Grants. Designed and conducted interviews, managed data, and organized discussions in the remotest parts of Nepal.

Research team member

• Monitoring Study of Emergency and family Support Cash Transfers for Scaling up Earthquake Response in Nepal-2015 (September – November 2015): Designed the study. Carried in-depth interviews and moderated Focused Group Discussions. Oversaw and translated qualitative data collected.
• Impact Assessment of Child Grant on Dalit Households (November – December 2014) & Effects of Child Grant on Social Inclusion in Karnali (May – June 2012): Conducted questionnaire surveys, identified and interviewed Key Informant, and facilitated Focus Group Discussions for monitoring and evaluation.

Freelance Researcher | Nepal                              2012 – 2013

Travelled the lowlands of Nepal collecting DNA samples and evidence of human-elephant conflicts, interviewing people, and capturing photographic and video evidence for a historical research project on environmental history.

• Genetic Study of Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) herds in Eastern Himalayan Region: Collected DNA samples from wild Asian elephant feces and conducted household surveys to gather evidence of human-elephant conflicts.
• Developing International Development: American Rural Development Programs in Nepal 1952-1980: Conducted in-depth interviews to gather qualitative data and collect evidence on the environmental history of the Terai. Translated and transcribed interviews for analysis. Collaborated closely with partners from Tharu, Mache, and other indigenous communities to ensure effective and culturally appropriate data collection.

Documentary Film

• Small carnivores in Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale, Eastern Nepal (2018, 6 minutes) – Director/cameraperson/script writer/editor – Screened at Kathmandu International Film Festival 2018. Story of a small carnivore conservation project in eastern Nepal. YouTube Link:  https://youtu.be/X-MZy965-SI?si=JHrlUEK0p3bbE_ue

Publications

Scientific article

• Ghimirey, Y., Acharya, R., Yadav, K., Rai, J., Baral, R., Neupane, U., Basnet, B., Gilbert, M., Poudel, S., Rensburg, B.J. 2024. Challenges and possible conservation implications of recolonizing dholes Cuon alpinus in Nepal. Oryx, 1-9
• Rai, J., Yadav, K., GC, S., Acharya, R., Thapa, K., and Ghimirey, Y. 2019. First Record of Asiatic Golden Cat from Tinjure-Milke-Jaljale Area, Nepal. CatNews 69: Spring 2019
• Ghimirey, Y., Yadav, K., Rai, J., Baral, R., and Acharya, R. 2018. Clouded leopard in Sikles-Bhujung landscape, Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. CatNews 68: Autumn 2018
• Ghimirey, Y., Yadav, K., Rai, J., Prasai, R., Rana, P. and Acharya, R. 2018. First Verifiable Record of Spotted Linsang Prionodon pardicolor from Nepal since the nineteenth Century. Small Carnivore Conservation 55

Book

• Rai, J., Yadav, K., Ghimirey, Y., GC, S., Acharya, R., Thapa, K., Poudyal, L.P., and Singh, N. 2018. Small Carnivores in Tinjure-Milke -Jaljale, Eastern Nepal. Friends of Nature, Nepal and Rufford Small Grants, UK

Thesis

• Rai, J. 2019. Priority landscapes for conservation in the Mid-Hills of Nepal. PGDip’s project, University of Oxford­­

Trainer

Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) workshop, Nepal, 17-20 September 2024

Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) workshop, Nepal, 17-20 December 2023

Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) workshop, Nepal, 30 April-3 May 2023

Geographic Information System (GIS) Training, Nepal, 24-29 November 2019

Boot Camp in Wildlife Study Design and Data Analysis, Nepal, 27 September-8 October 2018

Boot Camp in Wildlife Study Design and Data Analysis, Thailand, 13-24 August 2018

Scholarships/Awards

Recanati-Kaplan Foundation Scholarship, University of Oxford, UK, 2019

Rufford Small Grants, The Rufford Foundation, UK, 2017

National Federation for Development of Indigenous and Nationalities Scholarship, Nepal, 2014

Affiliations

IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (2021-2025)

Bird Conservation Nepal (Life Member)

Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (Life Member)

Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality -12, Nepal    

Last updated: 2024-May-30