INDIAN INSTITUTE of FOREST MANAGEMENT(An Autonomous Institute of the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change,Government of India )

Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal

The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal is a premier sectoral management institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

 
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Faculty Profile

Dhanya Bhaskar
Designation Associate Professor
Faculty area Ecosystem and Environment Management
dhanyab[at]iifm[dot]ac[dot]in
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Dhanya Bhaskar  is  Associate Professor of Ecosystem and Environment Management and Chairperson of the Centre for Policy Studies at IIFM. She is deeply interested in exploring sustainability from the social-ecological perspective. Her work is located at the intersection of ecological and livelihood sustainability in forest, rural and urban landscapes. 

Prior to joining IIFM, Dhanya had worked with Azim Premji University, Bangalore as Assistant Professor of Sustainability (2014-2020) and with University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka as Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of  Environmental Science (2011-2014).  She currently leads the Indo- German research project  'Nature conservation in urbanizing landscapes' funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, in collaboration with University of Kassel and University of Gottingen, Germany. She is also involved in training diverse stakeholders  including  forest department officials, non-governmental organisations and local self-government  functionaries in  urban sustainability, agroecology/ agroforestry and biodiversity conservation and livelihoods.

Areas of interest

Urban ecology and sustainability, conservation and livelihoods, agroforestry, ecosystem services, environment and human health, policy and institutions in forest governance, systems thinking

Other administrative responsibilities

  • Chairperson, Centre for Policy Studies
  • Chairperson, Project Work Cell
  • Warden, Ladies Hostel

Awards and honours

  • Young Fellowship of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
  • Junior and Senior Research Fellowships of the University Grants Commission.
  • Merit Scholarship of Government of Kerala for pre-degree, graduate and postgraduate studies
  • Travel fellowships from International Union of Forest Research Organizations, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India and CIRAD, France
  • Member of National Technical Expert Committee of Department of Biotechnology, GoI on Energy, Environment and Forest Biotechnology

Academic Qualifications

  • PhD in Forest Ecology (Forest Research Institute, Dehradun)
  • PG Diploma in Environmental Law (National Law School of India University, Bangalore)
  • MSc in Environmental Science and Management (Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala)

Membership of Professional Bodies

  • Lifetime member of International Union of Agroforestry
  • Lifetime member of Indian society of Ecological Economics

Courses taught

  • Foundation of Sustainable Development
  • Urban Sustainability: Principles and Practice
  • Laws and Conventions of Forests and Biodiversity
  • Social-ecological systems Approaches for Ecosystem Management
  • Applied Agroforestry
  • Forest Landscape Restoration
  • Measuring Sustainability and Aligning sustainable Development Goals

Dhanya Bhaskar  has authored around 20 journal articles, several book chapters and popular articles. She has presented papers in prestigious international conferences including World Congress on Agroforestry, World Congress of International Union of Forest Research Organizations and World Conference of International Council for Science and World Climate Change Programme. Some of the important publications are listed below:

Peer reviewed journal articles

  1. Dhyani, Shalini; Santhanam, Harini; Dasgupta, Rajarshi; Bhaskar, D. ; Murthy, Indu and Singh, Kripal (2022). Exploring synergies between India’s climate change and land degradation targets: Lessons from Glasgow Climate COP. Land Degradation and Development. 2023, 34(1), pp. 196–206
  2. Kulkarni C and Bhaskar D. (2022). Paleoscience–policy "commons": Connecting the past to a sustainable future in a human-dominated tropical biodiversity hotspot. Past Global Chanes Magazine 30(1) 44-45 2022. https://doi.org/10.22498/pages.30.1.44
  3. Tobias Plieninger, Pramila Thapa, Dhanya Bhaskar, Harini Nagendra, Mario Torralba, Brenda Maria Zoderer (2022) Disentangling ecosystem services perceptions from blue infrastructure around a rapidly expanding megacity, Landscape and Urban Planning,Volume 222,104399, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104399.
  4. Shalini Dhyani, Dhanya Bhaskar, Harini Santhanam,Indu K. Murthy (2021). Post-pandemic recovery through landscape restoration. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13617
  5. Sheetal Patil, B, Dhanya, Raghvendra S Vanjari, Seema Purushothaman (2018) Urbanisation and New Agroecologies: The Story of Bengaluru’s Peripheries. Economic & Political Weekly, Review of Environment and Development: 53 (41):71-77
  6. B, Dhanya, Seema Purushothaman and Syam Viswanath (2016). Economic rationale of traditional agroforestry systems: a case-study of Ficus trees in semiarid agroecosystems of Karnataka, southern India. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 25:4, 267-281.
  7. Kiran. K. R, Ravi. M. V, B, Dhanya, Janagoudar. B. S, Umesh, M. R and Narayanarao, K. (2016). Do emissions from thermal power plants affect crop productivity? A study from the vicinity of Bellary Thermal Power Station, Karnataka, India. Journal of Environmental Biology, 37(5):949-954.
  8. B, Dhanya, Sathish B. N.,Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2014). Ecosystem services of native trees: Experiences from two traditional agroforestry systems in Karnataka, South India. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 10:2, 101-111, DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2014.918057  Impact factor-0.60
  9. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2013). Crop yield reduction in Ficus agroforestry systems of Karnataka, Southern India: Perceptions and realities. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 37(6): 727-735. DOI. 10.1080/21683565.2012.757266 Impact factor-0.719
  10. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2013).  Does litter fall from native trees support rainfed agriculture? : Analysis of Ficus trees in agroforestry systems of southern dry agroclimatic zone of Karnataka, southern India.  Journal of Forestry Research, 24(2):  333-338. DOI: 10.1007/s11676-013-0357-6.
  11. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2013). Decomposition and nutrient dynamics of decomposing litter of Ficus benghalensis L. in traditional agroforestry systems of Karnataka, southern India. ISRN Forestry, Volume 2013 , 7 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/524679
  12. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2012). Ficus trees in rainfed agricultural systems of Karnataka, southern India: An analysis of structure, benefits and farmers’ perceptions. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 50 (1-2): 59- 62
  13. Shanbhag, R. R., Jagadish M. R., Dhanya B. and S. Viswanath (2010). Assessment of termite infestation in six industrially important bamboo species in semiarid tracts of Karnataka, India. Journal of Bamboo and Rattan, 9 (3&4):109-113.
  14. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. (2010). Sandal (Santalum album L.) conservation in southern India: A review of policies and their impacts. Journal of Tropical Agriculture 48 (1-2) : 1-10
  15. Viswanath, S., B, Dhanya, and Purushothaman, S. and Rathore, T. S. (2010). Financial viability of sandal (Santalum album) based agroforestry practices in Southern India. Indian Journal of Agroforestry. 12(2):14-22
  16. Viswanath, S., B, Dhanya and T.S. Rathore (2007). Domestication of Dendrocalamus brandisii in upland paddy fields in Coorg, Karnataka. Journal of Bamboo and Rattan. 6(3&4):215-222

Semitechnical articles

1. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. and B. Suneeta (2012). Microclimate modification by Ficus trees in rainfed agroforestry systems of Mandya District, Karanataka My Forest. 48(3):223-229.

2. B, Dhanya, Viswanath, S., and Purushothaman, S. and B. Suneeta (2010). Ficus trees as components of rainfed agrarian systems in Mandya district of Karnataka. My Forest. 46(2):161-165.

3. Viswanath, S., B, Dhanya and T.S. Rathore (2009). Domestication of Sandal (Santalum album L.) in India: Constraints and prospects. APA News-Asia Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific No. 34:9-12.

4. Viswanath, S. and B, Dhanya (2007). Potential of Burma bamboo for integration with various farming systems in India. APA News-Asia Pacific Agroforestry Newsletter, FAO Regional Office for Asia and Pacific.No.30: 8-10.

Popular articles

  1. Parul Sharga, Dhanya Bhaskar and Bhimappa Kittur (2022). Trees outside forests:
    Suitable alternative for forest conservation, Van Darpan 2022 Issue-22, Forest
    Survey of India: 78-79. http://webline.co.in/fsi-result/van-darpan-sept2022-11102022.pdf
  2. Samudyatha Ramananda and Dhanya Bhaskar (2022). How Bengaluru’s Bannerghatta National Park changed the livelihood of this landless villager. Down to Earth: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/wildlife-biodiversity/how-bengaluru-s-bannerghatta-national-park-changed-the-livelihood-of-this-landless-villager-84394
  3. Dhanya Bhaskar and Charuta Kulkarni (2021). Creating green, sustainable livelihoods is the road to recovery post-pandemic. Perspective piece in The Newsminute, June 8, 2021https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/creating-green-sustainable-livelihoods-road-recovery-post-pandemic-150308
  4. Dhanya Bhaskar and Charuta Kulkarni (2020) Cinderella at the ball: Mainstreaming agroforestry for a resilient post-COVID India. Global South Development Magazine. Oct 18, 2020. https://www.gsdmagazine.org/mainstreaming-agroforestry-for-a-resilient-post-covid-india-2/
  5. Dhanya Bhaskar and Charuta Kulkarni (2020). Mainstreaming agroforestry for Atmanirbhar Bharat. Perspective Piece. Deccan Herald newspaper. July 28, 2020 https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/mainstreaming-agroforestry-for-atmanirbhar-bharat-66484.html
  6. Dhanya B. and Samudyatha R. 2019.  Indian story that needs revival: Ivory wood scarcity affects Channapatna's small scale toy making artisans: Down to Earth: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/economy/the-indian-story-that-needs-revival-68019
  7. B, Dhanya (2013). Janithakasankethikavidya Indian krishiyidangalail. Samayam (Malayalam). 5 (9): 25-28.

Book chapters

  1. Dhanya, B., Ramananda, S., Jain, R., Baghel, P. (2022). Peri-urban Protected Forests in Peril: Insights from Case Studies in Two Indian Megacities. In: Kumar, M., Dhyani, S., Kalra, N. (eds) Forest Dynamics and Conservation. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0071-6_11
  2. Dhanya, B., Harini, K.S., Chetan, H.C. (2022). Changing People-Nature Linkages Around Green Infrastructure in Rapidly Urbanising Landscapes: The Case of a Protected Area in Bengaluru Metropolitan Region of South India. In: Dhyani, S., Basu, M., Santhanam, H., Dasgupta, R. (eds) Blue-Green Infrastructure Across Asian Countries. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7128-9_12
  3. Dhanya, B., Ramananda, S., Dhyani, S. (2022). Mainstreaming Blue-Green Infrastructure in Policy and Planning for Urban Resilience in the Global South: Promises and Pitfalls. In: Dhyani, S., Basu, M., Santhanam, H., Dasgupta, R. (eds) Blue-Green Infrastructure Across Asian Countries. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7128-9_23
  4. Patil, S., Nguyen, T.T., Dhanya, B., Purushothaman, S., Hoffmann, E. (2021). Temporal Dynamics of Land Use Change and Spatial Urbanisation Indices in the Rural–Urban Interface of Bengaluru Over the Past Three Decades. In: Hoffmann, E., Buerkert, A., von Cramon-Taubadel, S., Umesh, K.B., Pethandlahalli Shivaraj, P., Vazhacharickal, P.J. (eds) The Rural-Urban Interface. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79972-4_2
  5. Shreelata Rao Seshadri, B, Dhanya, Sheetal Patil and Raghvendra S. Vanjari. 2021. Flourishing amidst ecological pressures: Insights from the experience of the Solegas of Karnataka, India. In: Joystu Dutta, Srijan Goswami, Abhijit Mitra (eds) ‘Multidimensional Approaches to Impacts of Changing Environment on Human Health’. CRC Press, Newyorkhttps://doi.org/10.1201/9781003095422
  6. S. Viswanath, B. Dhanya and Surinder Kumar (2017). Ficus trees in semiarid agro-ecosystems of Karnataka: An analysis of ecological, economic and socio-cultural values. Technical Bulletin No.15. Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore
  7. B, Dhanya, Purushothaman, S. and Patil, S (2013). Rural Collectives for Livelihoods and Conservation: Lessons from Malè Mahadeswara Hills, Karnataka. pp 109-133. In S. Purushothaman and R. Abraham (eds.), Livelihood Strategies in Southern India: Conservation and Poverty Reduction in Forest Fringes. Springer India. ISBN 978-81-322-1625-4

Blogposts

Raghvendra Vanjari, A R Shwetha, Sheetal Patil, Seema Purushothaman, Dhanya B. Green Carpet or Green Desert? The Other side of Development IV https://smallfarmdynamics.blog/2018/09/04/green-carpet-or-green-desert/

Visual outputs

Curated a photo-exhibition titled “The city and the farms: agriculture in peri-urban Bengaluru” showcasing stories and photos on agro-ecological changes in Bangalore’s peripheries , at the following venues

Full papers in conference proceedings
  1. Kiran K. R., Ravi M. V., Dhanya B. and Narayanarao K. (2014). Fly ash: A second generation mineral or pollutant? Perspectives from agricultural sector: Proceedings of the National conference on beneficial use of fly ash in construction, industry and agriculture, May 23-24 2014, UAS, Raichur pp. 57-61.
  2. B, Dhanya, S. Viswanath & T. S. Rathore (2008). What ails sandal (Santalum album.L) conservation in India? - An analysis of policy and legal issues in sandal bioresource governance. In: P. Natarajan, K.V. Jayachandran and Arun Augustine (eds.) Proceedings of International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Management (BIOCAM 2008), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi,  pp 382-388.
  3. B, Dhanya and Viswanath, S (2007). Policy and legal issues governing sandal conservation in Southern India: A comparative analysis. In: Gairola, S., Rathore, T.S., Joshi, G., Arun Kumar A. N. and Aggarwal, P. K. (eds), Proceedings of the National Seminar on Conservation, Improvement, Cultivation and Management of Sandal, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore. pp 207-219.
  4. Viswanath, S., B, Dhanya and T.S. Rathore (2007). Financial viability of sandalwood (Santalum album L.) cultivation practices. In: Gairola, S., Rathore, T.S., Joshi, G., Arun Kumar A. N. and Aggarwal, P. K. (eds), Proceedings of the National Seminar on Conservation, Improvement, Cultivation and Management of Sandal, Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore. pp 158-164.
  5. B, Dhanya and Purushothaman, S. (2005). Assessing the role of self-help groups in ensuring conservation linked livelihoods in M.M. Hills, Karnataka. Proceedings of Fourth Biennial Conference of Indian Society of Ecological Economics, IGIDR, Mumbai, June 3-5, 2005.

Available at http://www.ecoinsee.org/T. S. V A/dhanya_assessing.pdf

 

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Last Updated On:17 Mar ,2025

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