Articles & Stories

Landscape and Ecosystems Thematic Lead Interview -- Vishwas Chitale

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Name/Title
Dr. Vishwas Chitale, Remote Sensing Analyst - Ecosystems, Geospatial Solutions, Thematic Lead - Ecosystems
SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya

Dr. Vishwas Chitale

What is your educational background?
I have a PhD in Geoinformatics, specializing in “Application of Geospatial Tools for Biodiversity Conservation in Four Global Biodiversity Hotspots in India,” a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Botany, and a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Geoinformatics.

What do you do in your current position? What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a service entitled “Climate Resilient Forest Management System in Nepal.” The service aims to enhance the capacity of decision makers towards improved planning and management of forest ecosystems in Nepal. The system is being rolled out in six pilot districts in Nepal chosen based on altitudinal gradients. The system uses available geospatial datasets - meteorological data and data on plant distribution, species richness and biomass.

What are the biggest landscape/ecosystem challenges in your region? How can GIS and remote sensing technologies help address these problems?
The biggest gap or challenge that we have observed so far is a lack of capacity to effectively plan and manage forests in Nepal. While developing the district forest management and operational plans, the decision makers hardly make use of geospatial technology and most strategies depend primarily on field-based information. Relying primarily on field-based data does not provide a holistic picture of the districts and focuses only on known areas. We are trying to introduce the use of geospatial tools and remote sensing technologies in this planning and management aspect of forest resources. This will prove to be advantageous in the long run by incorporating data and information on the whole district at multi-temporal scales.

What specific tools and technologies are you using to solve these problems?
We have mostly been using datasets from Landsat, MODIS, and Bioclim. We aim to use Google Earth Engine (GEE) to streamline the overall process. We have used data mining techniques to understand and quantify the influence of climate variables on the functioning of forest ecosystems.

What do you find unique about your work with SERVIR?
SERVIR’s work stands testament to “Think Global, Act Local.” This really allows me to innovate and maximize the use of geospatial tools and techniques to understand the current condition of forest ecosystems. I am convinced that our application is very useful for the local beneficiaries and decision makers.

How will SERVIR and the wider GIS community benefit from the new services and applications you are developing?
We are trying to use new and innovative approaches in geospatial technology to support decision makers for effective planning and management of forests in Nepal. Once the system is piloted in the six districts in Nepal, we will publish the methodology framework to scale out this approach in other countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya and beyond.

What are some of the main achievements of your work so far in this thematic area?
Our work on assessment of climate change vulnerability and degradation of forest ecosystems aims to bring innovations in geospatial technology into planning and management of forests in Nepal. We have established a formal collaboration with the Nepal Department of Forests from the very beginning. We will ensure that the data products and narratives on ecosystem degradation due to climate change and anthropogenic drivers are incorporated into the district management plans for the pilot districts. We are also working towards a web-based decision support tool.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Outside of the office, I am an avid mountain biker and like photography, any and all outdoor sports, and eating!

This interview was conducted by Utsav Maden at SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya. It has been lightly edited for style and length by SERVIR Global.