BACKGROUND

Krishna K. Shrestha is a Human Geographer with core interests in the political ecology of participatory environmental planning, policy and management, and socio-environmental justice. He holds a PhD in Geography from The University of Sydney, a Master of Environmental Engineering Management (MEEM) from University of Technology Sydney and a BSc in Forestry (Distinction) from Tribhuvan University (TU) Nepal. He also completed a first year course-work towards an MA in Sociology/Anthropology from Tribhuvan University in Nepal.

Krishna joined the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning at The University of Sydney in 2007 as a Lecturer in Environmental Planning and Management. Before taking up this position, Krishna was with the School of Natural and Rural Systems Management (NRSM) at The University of Queensland where he co-ordinated undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Community Forestry, and designed and executed an interdisciplinary research program on decentralised natural resource planning and management and socio-environmental justice within a comparative context of Australia and Nepal. Previously he worked at the Department of Human Geography at Macquarie University and Division of Geography at The University of Sydney. He also worked with the Department of Forests in Nepal helping to implement the national community forestry program and projects.

RESEARCH

Krishna’s active research program is in the interplay between the processes and outcomes of participatory environmental planning, policy and management, focusing on the intersection between political and economic processes at various levels, and the socio-environmental justice at the local level. His current research projects investigate the state and effects of decentralized environmental and natural resource planning and management within a comparative context of Australia, Nepal and India. He uses a "critical realist" and “pragmatic approach” to environment and development planning and management problems in which rigorous explanation is generally balanced with the provision of policy alternatives. Most of his work has been based on empirical social science research or action-research, particularly in Australia and South Asia (mainly Nepal and India). His key areas of research interests are:

• Political ecology of participatory environmental planning, policy and management;
• Community-based natural resource planning and management;
• Socio-environmental justice.

Krishna’s research philosophy is to design and conduct innovative, interdisciplinary and policy-oriented research, driven by real-world problems, experienced by a range of stakeholders at the local level who are engaged in the research process from defining problems to interpreting results so as to ensure that the research is scientifically rigorous and socially contextualised.

TEACHING

Krishna’s teaching focuses on human-environmental interactions, particularly in relation to environmental planning, policy and management, and socio-environmental justice in the context of Asia-pacific. His teaching aims at maximising student learning and satisfaction within the constraints of the professional degree program by the provision of a supportive and participatory learning environment and a teaching strategy which encourages critical, independent and reflective learning.

Research students (As a member of the supervisory committee):

• Zeenat Mahjabeen (PhD Candidate)
  “Community participation in regional planning: A critical investigation of Sydney Metropolitan planning in Australia”

• Amit Bhattarai (PhD Candidate)
  “Ecological footprint analysis and its application to Kathmandu Valley: Past and present”

• Adrienne Keane (PhD Candidate)
  “The influence of natural World Heritage Areas upon the urban plans of cities”

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Krishna is actively engaged with a number of professional organisations. He is a voting member of Institute of Foresters Australia (IFA), a member of Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) and a life member of Nepal Foresters Association (NFA). He has an active engagement with government agencies, non-government organisations, and community and industry groups in Australia and overseas for collaborative research and teaching, particularly in the field of participatory natural resources planning, policy and management. He is also an active member of the “articles review panel” for a number of international journals.

Krishna’s interests are also in a range of administrative and community services. He currently serves as a member of eLearning Committee and Teaching and Learning Committee for the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning at The University of Sydney. He provides services for witnessing and certifying documents in the domain of the State of Queensland and Australia as a Justice of the Peace (Qualified) QLD. He is also a national member for Community Advisory Committee at Special Broadcasting Services (SBS), advising the national board on community issues, concerns and expectations in regards to the development, review and evaluation of multi-cultural and multi-lingual programs and polices. Previously, Krishna served as a Discrimination and Harassment Contact Officer for staff and students at The University of Queensland, and he maintains this interest.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS/ CONFERENCE PAPERS

Shrestha, K. K. & McManus (2007), “The embeddedness of community forestry in Nepal”, Journal of Small-scale Forestry, vol.6, no.3, pp.273-290.

Shrestha, K. K. & McManus (2007), “The politics of community involvement in conservation and use of forest resources: Lessons from community forestry in Nepal”, In The 2007 Institute of Foresters of Australia and New Zealand Institute of Forestry Conference proceeding, Growing Forest Values, 3 – 7th June 2007, Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia, pp. 345-360.

Shrestha, K. K. & Cramb (2007), “The politics of urban environmental planning and conservation: The case of Malabar Headland Sydney, Australia”, A paper presented at the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, Contemporary geography for Australia, 1-6th July 2007, Melbourne, Australia.

Shrestha, K. K. and McManus, P. (2006), “Collective action of local communities in forest conservation and utilisation: Critical reflections from Community Forestry in Nepal”, In Small-scale Forestry and Rural development – The intersections of ecosystems, economics and society, Proceedings of IUFRO 3.08 Conference (Ed. Wall, S.), 18 – 23rd June 2006, Galway, Ireland, pp. 458-477.

Shrestha, K. K. (2006), “The equity-equality paradox in decentralised natural resource management: reflections from Community Forestry in Nepal”, A paper presented at the International Geographical Union (IGU) 2006 Brisbane Conference, Regional Responses to Global Changes: A View from the Antipodes, 3-7th July, 2006, Brisbane, Australia.

Sarker, A., Shrestha, K. K. & Ross, H. (2006), “Commons in catchments: Opportunities and challenges for collaborative natural resource management”, Paper presented at International Geographical Union (IGU) 2006 Brisbane Conference, Regional Responses to Global Changes: A View from the Antipodes, 3-7th July, 2006, Brisbane, Australia.

Shrestha, K. K. and McManus, P. (2005), “Sustaining inequity? Rethinking the History of Nepalese Forest Policies”, In A Forest Conscienceness: Proceedings of 6th National Conference of the Australian Forest History Society Inc, Calver et al (eds.), Millpress, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 681-691.

Shrestha, K. K. (2003),“The embeddedness of community forestry: The history of forest policies in Nepal”, A paper presented at Geography Post-graduate Conference 3-4 Nov 2003, Division of Geography, The University of Sydney, Australia.

Shrestha K. K. & McManus, P. (2002), “Community Forestry and Sustainable Livelihoods in Nepal: who wins, who loses?” A paper presented at the Institute of Australian Geographers’ Conference, 9-12 July 2002, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

For further information and possible collaboration on research, teaching and services, please contact Krishna K. Shrestha in his email address - k.shrestha@arch.usyd.edu.au, or on + 61 2 93513668.