Centre of Econics and Ecosystem Managementand, Eberswalde University of Sustainable Development | Germany
Ms. Yojana Adhikari is a dedicated researcher specializing in sustainable forestry, forest microclimate regulation, and climate adaptation strategies. With a strong foundation in forestry and geospatial science, she contributes to advancing ecological forestry practices through interdisciplinary collaborations, integrating field-based measurements with cutting-edge GIS and remote sensing techniques. Her research focuses on understanding how old-growth forests regulate microclimates, buffer against climate extremes, and foster biodiversity resilience. In her professional roles, she manages and analyzes large datasets, develops geospatial tools, and supports applied research to inform sustainable forest management and conservation strategies that align with global climate resilience goals.
Professional Profile
Education
Ms. Adhikari holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Nepal and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Tropical Forestry awarded through a joint Erasmus Mundus program at Bangor University, UK, and the Technical University of Dresden, Germany. This multidisciplinary academic background provided her with a strong grounding in forest dynamics, climate adaptation, ecological monitoring, and the application of advanced analytical tools for environmental research. Her academic journey has been marked by a focus on sustainable development principles, with a particular interest in the intersection of forest management, ecosystem services, and climate change adaptation.
Experience
Professionally, Ms. Adhikari serves as a Data Manager and Analyst at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in Germany, where she coordinates data exchange between project partners, manages and maintains measurement data, and oversees (geo)database systems. Her expertise encompasses GIS and remote sensing analyses, statistical data processing, scientific writing, and presentations at international project events. In addition to this role, she contributes as a GIS Analyst at the Econics Institute, where she engages in geospatial analysis and applied research focused on ecological and sustainable forestry. She has been actively involved in key research projects, including the PYROPHOB project, the UNESCO Beech Project, and initiatives on climate adaptation in working landscapes. Her contributions also extend to peer review activities, serving as a reviewer for prestigious journals like Nature Communications.
Research Interests
Ms. Adhikari’s research spans a range of interconnected themes that address urgent environmental challenges. Her areas of interest include forest stand dynamics and silviculture, focusing on self-thinning, size–density relationships, and growth modeling to optimize forest resilience. She investigates forest microclimates and their role in thermal regulation, with particular emphasis on the buffering effects of old-growth forests. Her work in tree growth and functional traits examines dendrometer data, tree ring asymmetry, and crown structure to understand growth patterns under changing climatic conditions. She is highly skilled in GIS and remote sensing, integrating tools such as land surface temperature mapping, NDVI, canopy height modeling, and GEDI–Sentinel data fusion to advance ecosystem-based adaptation and conservation practices. Furthermore, she actively explores the ecological impacts of road networks, habitat connectivity, and biodiversity within the context of sustainable forest management.
Awards and Contributions
While her work primarily focuses on research and applied forestry, Ms. Adhikari’s contributions have been recognized through involvement in leading international projects and publications in highly regarded scientific journals such as Scientific Reports and Ecological Indicators. Her research on the microclimate regulation of old-growth forests and their role in climate resilience has informed policy recommendations and practical strategies for sustainable forestry. By bridging ecological theory and applied geospatial science, she contributes significantly to conservation planning, ecosystem-based management, and the development of green infrastructure in working landscapes. Her professional memberships include affiliations with the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management and the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, strengthening her role in the academic and applied research community.
Publications
Adhikari, Y., Blumröder, J.S., Meier, C., Ibisch, P.L., et al. (2025). “Beech buffers: Microclimate regulation in temperate old-growth forests, surroundings and forest edge” in Ecological Indicators.
Schmehl, M.-T., Adhikari, Y., Balthasar, C., Binder, A., Clerc, D., Dobkowitz, S., Gerwin, W., Günther, K., Hartong, H., Heinken, T., et al. (2025). “Monitoring abiotic and biotic parameters of forest regrowth under different management regimes on former wildfire sites in northeastern Germany – data from the PYROPHOB project” (Preprint).
Jouy, F., Schüle, M., Adhikari, Y., Binder, A., Clerc, D., Gerwin, W., Heinken, T., Raab, T., Repmann, F., Rönnefarth, S., et al. (2025). “Factors impacting the variability of post‐fire forest regeneration in central European pine plantations” in Restoration Ecology.
Heinken, T., Blumröder, J.S., Balthasar, C., Binder, A., Birkhofer, K., Brosinsky, A., Bubner, B., Clerc, D., Djoudi, E.A., Francke, T., et al. (2024). “PYROPHOB – A post-fire ecosystem research project to inform management for resilient forest development” in Tuexenia 44.
Adhikari, Y., Bachstein, N., Gohr, C., Blumröder, J.S., Meier, C., Ibisch, P.L., et al. (2024). “Old-growth beech forests in Germany as cool islands in a warming landscape” in Scientific Reports.
Conclusion
Ms. Yojana Adhikari represents a new generation of forestry researchers dedicated to addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss. Through her expertise in forest microclimate studies, data-driven analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she contributes to shaping sustainable forest landscapes that promote resilience and ecological integrity. Her integration of field-based measurements with advanced GIS and remote sensing technologies enhances the understanding of forest ecosystems and their adaptive capacities. With her ongoing involvement in international research projects and her commitment to knowledge dissemination, Ms. Adhikari continues to build bridges between science and practice, fostering sustainable forestry practices that benefit both nature and society.