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SANDEE Researchers

Nepal

Nepal's 27.5 million people (as of 2014) live among eight of the world's ten highest mountain peaks. The international border between China and Nepal runs across the summit of the tallest peak, Mount Everest. Nepal's 147,181 square kilometers are landlocked, and border China and India. Nepal has faced political instability for two decades. As a result, in 2014 GDP was $19 billion and GNI per capita was the lowest in South Asia at $700. Infrastructure is lacking: the road network is poor and electricity shortages create routine 16-hour load shedding. The country does have vast, untapped hydropower resources and a willing customer in India, but investment is lacking. Education is also an issue; only about one quarter of potential students attend secondary school. The country's biggest environmental challenges include deforestation, contaminated water and wildlife conservation. Severe thunderstorms and intense summer monsoons have caused flash floods in Nepal, bringing serious landslides. Climate change is expected to bring more extreme weather conditions of flooding and drought.

Mr. Arjun Kumar Baral
Associate Professor of Economics
Post Graduate Campus, Tribhuvan University
Address :
Old Airport, Biratnagar, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
15-09-2013 to 14-09-2015
SANDEE Publications :
Effectiveness of Pollution Control Certification(PCC) in Brick and Cement Industries of Eastern Nepal (Ongoing Research)
Other Publications:

  1. Baral, A. and R. Adhikari (2010), ‘An Econometric Analysis on Saving and Economic Growth: Evidences from Nepal’, The Economic Journal of Nepal.
  2. Baral, A. and U. R. Sharma (2011), ‘Performance of Cottage and Small scale Industries in Nepal’, Concept Publication, New Delhi, India
  3. Baral, A. and U. R. Sharma (2011), ‘Causal Links between Economic Growth and Consumption Expenditures in Nepal’, University of North Bengal, India.
  4. Baral, A., S. P. Acharya and C. K. Mukhopadhyay (2008), ‘Twin Deficit Hypothesis: An Empirical Investigation on Nepalese Time Series, 1964-2000’, in SAARC Perspective, Serials Publications, New Delhi.

Current Research Area/ Interests :
Policy Issue Relating to Greenery Growth
Time-series Econometrics, Environmental Economics

Mr. Arjun K.C.
Researcher
CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
Address :
Delhi, India
SANDEE Grant Period:
30-01-2003 to 30-01-2004
SANDEE Publications :

  1. K. C. Arun (2006),’Local Institutions and Forest Products Extraction: Evidence from Forest Management in Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 16-06
  2. K. C. Arun (2006), ‘Non-timber Forest Products and Community Forestry – A Tale of Two Villages’, SANDEE Policy Brief No.15-06

Mr. Bhim Adhikari
Senior Program Specialist, Environmental Economics
IDRC
Address:
Ottawa, Canada
SANDEE Grant Period:
21-11-2000 to 21-05-2002

SANDEE Publications :

  1. Adhikari, B. (2004), ‘Property Rights and Natural Resources: Socio-Economic Heterogeneity and Distributional Implications of Common Property Resource Management’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 1-03
  2. Adhikari, B. (2004), ‘Community Forestry in Nepal Management Rules and Distribution of Benefits’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 1-04

Other Publications :

  1. B. Adhikari, S. Di Falco and J.C. Lovett, 2004, ‘Household characteristics and forest dependency: Evidence from common property forest management in Nepal’, Ecological Economics, Vol 48 (2): 245-257.
  2. Adhikari, B. (2005), ‘Poverty, property rights and collective action: understanding the distributive aspects of common property resource management’, Environmental and Development Economics, 10 (1):7-31.
  3. Adhikari, B. and J. C. Lovett (2006), ‘Transaction costs and community-based natural resource management in Nepal’, Journal of Environmental Management 78(1): 5-15.
  4. Adhikari,B., A.Agrawal (2013),’Understanding the Social and Ecological Outcomes of PES Projects: A Review and an Analysis’,Conservation and Society, Vol.11, Issue 4, Pg. 359-374

Mr. Bishal Bharadwaj
Under Secretary
Nepal Administrative Service, Government of Nepal
Address :
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
01-03-2013 to 01-03-2015
SANDEE Publications :
Why the plastic bag ban decision works in one municipality and does not in another? (Ongoing Research Project)

Mr. Bishnu Prasad Sharma
Associate Professor
Patan Multiple Campus
Address :
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
20-02-2007 to 20-08-2008, 21-12-2010 to 21-06-2013
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Sharma, B.P., S. Pattanyak, M. Nepal, P. Shyamsundar and Bhaskar S. Karky(2015), ‘REDD+ Impacts: Evidence from Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 95-15
  2. — (2015), ‘Are Community Forestry Institutions Appropriate for Implementing REDD+? Lessons from Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 94 – 15
  3. –(2015), ‘Does REDD+ Work? Examining the Economic Impacts of a Pilot Programme in Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No.85 – 15
  4. –(2015), ‘Can Carbon be sequestered in Community Forests? Learning how to fulfill a global agenda through local institutions in Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 82 – 15
  5. Sharma B. P. ( 2011), ‘The Welfare Impacts of Leasehold Forestry in Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 61-11
  6. Sharma B. P. ( 2011),’Can Lease Hold Forestry in Nepal Benefit People and the Environment?’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 56 – 11
Other Publications :

  1. Sharma, B.P., and B. Jankari (2011), ‘Is current level of financing sufficient for managing protected areas? A case study of economic valuation of Bardia National Park, Nepal’, A Journal of Forest Information for Nepal, 22(1), 3-11.
  2. Sharma, B.P.(2011),’The Welfare Impacts of Leasehold Forestry in Nepal’, No 61-11.

Current Research Area/ Interests :
Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+)
Economic Valuation of Forest Environmental Services

Mr. Dipendra Bhattarai
Project Development Officer
Practical Action
Address :
Maharajgunj,Kathmandu
SANDEE Grant Period:
15-02-2012 to 15-02-2014
SANDEE Publications :
Is Nepal’s Renewable Energy Subsidy Policy Inline to Obtain it’s Objectives? (Ongoing Research Project)
Other Publications:

  1. Bhattarai, D. and N. Bhatta (2013), ‘Community forests: maximizing benefits’, The HimalayanTimes, Opinion
  2. Bhattarai, D. (2015, June 12), ‘Where there is smoke ?’, The Kathmandu Post accessed on July 1, 2015
  3. Bhattarai, D. (2015, March 25), ‘Cultural Barriers to the Use of Improved Cookstove‘, Kathmandu, Nepal accessed on April 22, 2015

Current Research Area/Interests:
Sustainable Energy for All, Energy Policy, Renewable Energy, Billing and Monitoring of Mini grids, Climate Change, Carbon, Clean Cookstove
Energy Economics, Environmental Modelling, Willingness to Pay for Environmental Services, Cost Benefit Analysis of RE, Solar PV Irrigation.

Mr. Khem Raj Dahal
Associate Professor
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rampur Campus
Address :
Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
Grant Period:
07-09-2010 to 07-12-2011
SANDEE Publications :
Organic Agriculture for cost effective production and for Climate Change Adaptation/Mitigation in Nepal (Ongoing Research)
Current Research Area/ Interests :
Farming system and sustainable agriculture (organic agriculture) in the context of changing climate

Mr. Kishor Atreya
Researcher
Address :
Chidika, Arghakhanchi, Lumbini
SANDEE Grant Period:
16-02-2004 to 16-02-2005
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Atreya, K. (2008), ‘Pesticide Use in Nepal: Understanding Health Costs from Short-term Exposure’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 28-07
  2. Atreya, K. (2008), ‘Pesticide Exposure – a Growing Problem for Nepal’s Farmers’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 27-08

Other Publications:

  1. Atreya, K. (2004), ‘A Pilot Study on Pesticide Use, Acute Symptoms and Willingness to Pay for Safer Pesticides in a Commercial Area, Nepal’, GDNet Document Store.
  2. Atreya, K. (2005), ‘Health costs of pesticide use in a vegetable growing area, central mid-hills, Nepal’, Himalayan Journal of Sciences 3(5): 83-86.
  3. Atreya, K (2007), ‘Farmers’ willingness to pay for community integrated pest management training in Nepal,’ Agriculture and Human Values 24:399-409
  4. Atreya, K.  (2007), ‘Pesticide use knowledge and practices: a gender differences in Nepal’, in Environmental Research, Vol. 104, Pg. 305 – 311, Elsevier Science Publication
  5. Atreya, K. (2008), ‘ Health costs from short-term exposure to pesticides in Nepal’, Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 67, 511-519
  6. Atreya, K. (2008), ‘Probabilistic assessment of acute health symptoms related to pesticide use under intensified Nepalese agriculture’, International Journal of Environmental Health Research, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 187-208

Mr. Krishna Prasad Pant
Project Design and Formulation Expert
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Pant, K. P. (2013), ‘Monetary Incentives to Reduce Open-Field Rice-Straw Burning in the Plains of Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 81 – 13
  2. Pant, K. P. (2013), ‘What Incentives Do Farmers Need to Stop Biomass Burning? – Examining the Results from a Reverse Auction Study from Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 75 – 14
  3. Pant, K. P. (2008), ‘Estimating Health Benefits when Behaviors are Endogenous: A Case of Indoor Air Pollution in Rural Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 34 – 08
  4. Pant, K. P. (2008), ‘Open Fires, Dirty Air and Respiratory Diseases? Examining Health Costs from Indoor Air Pollution in Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 31 – 08

Other Publications:

  1. Pant, K.P (2013), ‘Misuse of domestic resources increases import dependency: case of dung cake fuel and demand for chemical fertilizers in Nepal’, World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development Vol. 10 Issue 1, pp. 42-54.
  2. Pant, K.P.,G.Rasul  (2013), ‘Role of Payment for Environmental Services in Improving Livelihoods and Promoting Green Economy: Empirical Evidence from a Himalayan Watershed in Nepal’, Journal of Environmental Professional Sri Lanka, Vol 2, No 1 pp. 1-11.
  3. Pant, K.P.( 2012), ‘Climate change and food security in Nepal’, The Journal of Agriculture and Environment, Vol. 13, pp. 9-19.
  4. Pant, K.P (2012), ‘Cheaper Fuel and higher Health Costs among the Poor in Rural Nepal’, AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment Volume 41, Issue 3, pp. 271-283.
  5. Pant, K.P (2011),”Economics of Climate Change for Smallholder Farmers in Nepal: A Review”, The Journal of Agriculture and Environment, Vol 12, pp. 113-126.
  6. Pant KP 2010. More Profitable Rice Varieties Crowd the Beneficial Landraces Out, The Journal of9 Agriculture and Environment, Vol. 11, pp. 1-9.
  7. Pant ,K.P (2009), ‘Effects of Agriculture on Climate Change: A Cross Country Study of Factors Affecting Carbon Emissions’, The Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol. 10, pp 72- 88.
  8. Pant, K. P, G.Rasul, N.Chettri, K. R. Rai and E.Sharma (2012), ‘Value of Forest Ecosystem Services: A quantitative estimation from the Kangchenjunga landscape in eastern Nepal’, ICIMOD Working Paper 2012/5, Lalitpur
  9. Pant ,K.P, J.C.Gautam and E.Wale ( 2011),’Valuation of rice diversity in Nepal: a trait-based approach’,Chapter 3. In Wale E, A G Drucker and K K. Zander (edts) 2010 The Economics of Managing Crop Diversity On-farm Case studies from the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative, Earthscan, London

Current Research Area/Interests:
Food Safety
Biosecurity

Mr. Min Bikram Malla Thakuri
Project Officer
Practical Action South Asia Regional Office
Address :
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Malla, M. B. T. (2009), ‘Revisiting the Need of Improved Stoves: Estimating Health, Time and Carbon Benefits’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 44-09
  2. Malla, M. B. T. (2009), ‘Why tackling indoor air pollution makes sense – A study from Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No.38-09

Other Publications:

  1. Thakuri, M.B.M.(2011), ‘Revisiting the Need for Improved Stoves: Estimating Health, Time and Carbon Benefits, in Environmental Valuation in South Asia’, Cambridge University Press, Chapter XV, pp.348-379
  2. Malla M. B., Nigel Bruce, Elizabeth Bates & Eva Rehfuess (2011), ‘Applying global cost-benefit analysis methods to indoor air pollution mitigation interventions in Nepal, Kenya and Sudan: Insights and challenges’, Energy Policy Vol 39, Issue 12, Elsevier, December 2011

Current Research Area/Interests:
Economic evaluation of energy and health related projects

Mr. Nandakaji Budhathoki
Economist
Institute for Integrated Development Studies
Address :
Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
25-04-2014 to 24-04-2016
SANDEE Publications :
Nepalese Farmer’s Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change (Ongoing Research)

Mr. Narendra Chand
Researcher
Nepal Economic Association (NEA)
Address :
Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
01-04-2014 to 01-04-2016
SANDEE Publications :
Provision of ecosystem services and their trade offs and synergies in the watersheds of Nepal (Ongoing Research)
Current Research Area/Interests:
Ecosystem Service Modeling

Mr. Naveen Adhikari
Assistant Professor
Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University
Address :
Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
2007 to 2010

SANDEE Publications :

  1. Adhikari, N. (2012), ‘Measuring Health Benefits from Air Pollution Reduction in Kathmandu Valley’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 69-12
  2. Adhikari, N. (2013), ‘The Benefits of Making the Air in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley Safe to Breathe, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 72 – 13

Other Publications :
Adhikari Naveen et. al. (2014), ‘Effects of Migration and Remittance Income on Nepal’s Agriculture Yield’, Asian Development Bank, South Asia Working Paper Series, No 27, July 2014, ADB
KC, A., Koirala, I., & Adhikari, N. (2015), ‘Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Community Forest in Nepa’, Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 34(3), 199-213.
Pathak, A. B., & Adhikari, N. (2014), ‘Measuring Health Outcome and Economic Cost associated with Childhood Acute Respiratory Infections: Case of Squatter Settlements in Kathmandu Valley’, Economic Journal of Development Issues, 17(1-2), 1-18.
Current Research Area/ Interests :

Impact Evaluations
Cost Benefit Analysis

Mr. Prakash K Karn
Program Design Monitoring & Evaluation Manager
Heifer International, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Karna, P. K. (2014), ‘The Impact of Climate Change on Rice Production in Nepal, SANDEE Working Paper No. 85 -14
  2. Karna, P. K. (2014),’The Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: A Case Study from Nepal, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 79-14

Mr. Rajesh Kumar Rai
Environment Economist
South Asian Network for Development and Environment Economics (SANDEE)
Address :
ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
16-01-2011 to 16-07-2012
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Rai, R. K., M. Nepal, P. Shyamsundar and L. D. Bhatta (2014), ‘Demand for Watershed Services: Understanding Local Preferences through a Choice Experiment in the Koshi Basin of Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 88 -14
  2. Rai, R. K., M. Nepal, P. Shyamsundar and L. D. Bhatta (2015), ‘How much do local people value watersheds? A case study from Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 87 – 15
  3. Rai, R. K. (2012), ‘Valuing the Damage Caused by Invasive Plant Species in a Low-income Community in Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 74 – 12
  4. Rai, R. K. (2012), ‘Financing the Control of Invasive Plant Species around Chitwan National Park in Nepal – A Choice Experiment’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 66 -12

Other Publications:

  1. Rai, R.K. and Scarborough, H. (2014), ‘Understanding the effects of invasive plants on rural forest dependent communities’, Small Scale Forestry. doi: 10.1007/s11842-014-9273-7
  2. Rai, R.K. and Scarborough, H. (2014), ‘Nonmarket valuation in developing countries: Incorporating labour contributions in environmental benefits estimates’, The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, doi: 10.1111/1467- 8489.12071
  3. Rai, R. and H. Scarborough (2013), ‘Economic value of mitigation of plant invaders in a subsistence economy: incorporating labour as a mode of payment’, Environment and Development Economics 18(2): 225-244
  4. Rai, R.K.,H.Scarborough(2013), ‘Economic value of mitigation of plant invaders in a subsistence economy: incorporating labour as a mode of payment’, Environment and Development Economics18 (2): 225-244.
  5. Rai, R. and H. Scarborough (2012), ‘Estimating the public benefits of mitigating damages caused by invasive plant species in a subsistence economy’, (published online), Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society
  6. Rai, R.K., H.Scarborough, N.Subedi, B.R.Lamichhane (2012), ‘Invasive plants- do they devastate or diversify rural livelihoods? Rural farmers’ perception of three invasive plants in Nepal’, Journal for Nature Conservation 20(3):170-176.

Current Research Area/ Interests :
Non-market valuation
Ecosystem Services
Forest management

Mr. Ram Chandra Bhattarai
Professor
Address :
Department of Economics, Patan Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
20-02-2007 to 20-02-2009

SANDEE Publications :

  1. Bhattarai, R.C (2010), ‘Transactions Matter but They Hardly Cost: Irrigation Management in the Kathmandu Valley,’ SANDEE Working Paper No. 56-10
  2. Bhattarai, R. C. (2011), ‘The Impact of Transaction Costs on Agriculture in Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 51 -11

Current Research Area/ Interests :
Climate Financing
Climate budget coding
Impact of Climate Change in Agriculture

Mr. Ratna Kumar Jha
PPO
Government of Nepal, Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Directorate
Address :
Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur, Nepal
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Jha R. K. and A. Regmi (2009), ‘Productivity of Pesticides in Vegetable Farming in Nepal’, SANDEE Working Paper No.43-09
  2. Jha R. K. and A. Regmi (2009), ‘Pesticides and Productivity – a study of Vegetable farming in Nepal, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 37-09

Current Research Area/Interests:
Economics of Pesticide and Agroecology

Mr. Ridish K. Pokharel
Professor, Planning Chief
Tribhuwan University
Address :
Kirtipur, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
28-09-2005 to 28-12-2006
SANDEE Publications :

  1. Pokharel, R. K. (2008), ‘Nepal’s Community Forestry Funds: Do They Benefit the Poor?’, SANDEE Working Paper No. 31-08
  2. Pokharel, R. (2008), ‘Do Community Forestry Funds Target the Poor ? A Study from Nepal’, SANDEE Policy Brief No. 30 – 08

Other Publications:

  1. Pokharel, Ridish K. (2012), ‘Factors influencing the management regime of Nepal’s community forestry’, Forest Policy and Economics, 17: 13 – 17.
  2. Pokharel, R. K., Rayamajhi, S. and Tiwari, K. R. (2012), ‘Nepal’s Community Forestry: Need of Better Governance’, (Book Chapter), In C. A. Okia (ed.), Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management, INTECH Open Access Publisher:43-58. http://www.intechopen.com/books/global-perspectives-on-sustainable-forest-management/nepal-s-community-forestry-need-of-better-governance
  3. Pokharel, Ridish K. (2010). Generating income from Nepal’s community forestry: Does timber matter? Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 9 (1): 16 – 20.
  4. Pokharel, Ridish K. (2010), ‘Development of community infrastructure through community forestry funds: What infrastructure gets priority?’, Banko Janakari, 20 (1): 44 – 50.
  5. Pokharel, Ridish K. (2009), ‘Pro-poor programs financed through Nepal’s community forestry funds: Does income matter? ‘, Mountain Research and Development, 29 (1): 67 – 74.

Current Research Area/Interests:
Institutions and governance; climate change and household level adaptive capacity
Gender and equity; community fund mobilization; development of criteria and indicators for community-based resource management

Mr. Rishi Ram Katel
Assistant Professor
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science Tribhuvan University, Rampur Campus
Address :
Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
01-09-2011 to 01-09-2014
SANDEE Publications :
Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) Technologies and Rural Livelihoods: Evidence of Adaptation to Climate Change in Nepal (Ongoing Research)

Mr. Roshan Sherchan
Freelance Cosultant
Green Governance Nepal
Address :
Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
15-09-2014 to 15-09-2016
SANDEE Publications :
Financing measures and strategies against Human Elephants Conflict in Jhapa , Eastern Nepal: A Choice Experiment (Ongoing Research)
Current Research Area/Interests:
Human Wildlife Conflict
Biodiversity Conservation and
Forest Management

Mr. Y. B Thapa
Renaissance Society Nepal
Address :
Kathmandu, Nepal
SANDEE Grant Period:
22-09-2006 to 22-09-2008
SANDEE Publications:
Energy Policy and Economic Growth in Nepal: A CGE Analysis (SANDEE Research)

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