Himlal Baral
Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science
The University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus
500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Email: h.baral@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Degree
PhD
Thesis title
Trade-offs among Ecosystem Services from Planted Forests: A case study of the Green Triangle Region, south-eastern Australia
Supervisors
Prof Rod Keenan (from Dec 2007)
Dr Sabine Kasel (from Dec 2007)
Prof Nigel Stork (from May 2008)
Dr Julian Fox (from May 2008)
Interests and Background
I am broadly interested in sustainable forest management, particularly plantation systems, managed forestry investment and ecosystem services from planted forest. I am also interested in use of GIS (and related technologies) in forestry, landscape visualization, spatial forest planning and optimization tools and techniques.
I received a Master of Forest Science from The University of Melbourne in 2004 and am involved with various forest resource planning and management roles in Asia and the Pacific. Previous to this, I received a BSc Forestry and Master Degree in Social Science from Tribhuban University Nepal and have worked for the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation mainly in Community, leasehold and private forestry projects.
Project Description
Trade-offs between Timber and Ecosystem Services from Planted Forests: A case study of the Green Triangle Region, Southern Australia
With the exponential growth in plantation estates and ongoing decline of natural forests, there is an increasing focus on the role of plantations in conserving biodiversity and other ecosystem services. It is often claimed that if managed properly planted forest can provide both timber and a range of ecosystem services. Managing forest plantations for multiple values require trade-off, given the realities of limited resources, and the competing demands of modern society. Trade-offs occur when there is a reduction in one forest use in favour of another – for example reduced timber yields for improved biodiversity values.
This research project aims to classify and map ecosystem goods and services in plantation landscapes, assign associated economic values, and analyze trade-offs by integrating bio-physical and socio-economic information using GIS and related technologies. Additional aims include an assessment of ways in which forest productivity goals can be integrated with protection of ecosystem services at the landscape scale. The outcome of this project will be useful for resource management planning and decision making in Green Triangle region and lessons can be applied elsewhere.
The major research questions to be addressed are:
- What is the role of plantation systems in providing and maintaining ecosystem services at a landscape scale? How are ecosystem services characterized and mapped accurately?
- How can ecosystem services be valued using the ‘spatially explicit value transfer technique?’ What are the associated ‘pros can cons’ of this technique?
- What are the trade-offs and synergies?
- How can such services be balanced?
Qualifications
2004 - Master of Forest Science (Research), Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, The University of Melbourne. Thesis: Applications of GIS in Community Based Forest Management in Australia (and Nepal) http://eprints.infodiv.unimelb.edu.au/archive/00001456/
Supervisors: Dr John Petheram, Mr Ian Wild
1998 - Masters Degree in Social Science, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Tribhuban University, Nepal
1994 - BSc. (Forestry), Institute of Forestry, Tribhuban University, Nepal
Publications
Baral H (2004). Potential uses of geographic information system (GIS) for various working groups of the Wombat Community Forest. Wombat News and Views (3), p.12-14.
Baral H, Petheram J (2004). “Participatory weed mapping: a GIS application in Victoria, Australia” Paper presented in MAP ASIA Conference 26-29th August 2004, Beijing International Convention Centre, Beijing, China. www.mapasia.org
Baral H, Petheram J, Liffman P (2004). A community-university-GIS partnership for weed mapping. Agricultural Research Network (AgREN), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), London, No.50. p. 9 http://www.odi.org.uk/agren/papers/newsletter_50.pdf
Professional Affiliation
Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA)
Society of American Forester (SAF)
Nepalese Foresters Association (NFA)
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