Surendra Shrestha
Senior Program Officer, GIS and Data Analytics for Nature-Based Solutions, Forests
Surendra Shrestha is a senior program officer on WWF’s Forest team, where he collaborates with WWF country offices to design, implement, and monitor high-integrity nature-based solutions (NbS) in priority landscapes. In this role, he builds data management systems and processes that ensure impact demonstrations are supported by complete, accurate, and up-to-date information. Surendra also leverages his expertise in field-based, remote sensing, and modeling approaches to develop versatile and scalable methodological frameworks that allow WWF teams to measure, compare, and improve the impacts of NbS interventions across diverse landscapes. His work bridges technical innovation with practical conservation, helping align local action with global climate and biodiversity goals.
Before joining WWF, Surendra served as a forest officer at Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment, where he designed and implemented a broad spectrum of conservation projects, drafted forestry sector policies, led forest and carbon mapping initiatives, and engaged stakeholders in advancing sustainable forest governance.
Surendra holds a Master of Science in Forestry from the University of Georgia and a PhD in Geography with a specialization in GIS and Remote Sensing from Clark University. Speaking English, Nepali, and Hindi, he brings international field experience to his role advancing inclusive and science-based conservation solutions.
Education
- Master of Science, Forestry, University of Georgia
- PhD, Geography, Clark University
Areas of Expertise
GIS, remote sensing, data analytics, NbS interventions, impact demonstrations, methodological frameworks