Centre for International Relations

Tribhuvan University

Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal


Assoc. Professor (Forestry)
Sony Baral
Institute of Forestry
Female
sony.baral@iof.tu.edu.np

Name: Sony Baral

Position: Assoc. Professor

Unit: Institute of Forestry

Other Appointments: Assistant Dean-Planning

Email: sony.baral@iof.tu.edu.np

 

Research Identifiers

 

Research Impact (Google Scholar)

h-index: 15 

Total citations: 672 

 

Download CV

 

Research Interest/Expertise

Wetland and Forest Valuation; Fire Management; Socio-Ecological Dimension; Forest Ecosystem and Health; Green Economy

 

Teaching

Research Methodology, Green Economy, Natural Resource Economics, Forest Ecosystem and Health

 

Key Awards/Honors/Recognitions

Women in Science and Technology Award from Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in 2025

PhD: University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, completed with Distinction. Thesis on Towards a Green Economy: An analysis of Community Forestry in Nepal, 2019

Master's Degree: University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria, 2008

Bachelor's Degree: Tribhuvan University, Institute of Forestry (IOF), Pokhara Campus, Nepal, 2001

Professional Affiliations

  • Board member- South Asia Institute of Advanced Studied (SIAS)

  • General member of Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources Nepal

  • Executive committee member, Nepal Gender Professional Network (NGPN)

  • Life member, Nepal Forester Association (NFA) and General Member

  • Female Forester's Nepal (FFN) General Member

  • Member, Gandaki Technical Education & Vocational Training Academy, Gandaki Province, Nepal

 

Selected Recent Research Projects

  1. Master of Science in Forestry Curricula at Institute of Forestry in the Context of Changing Scenario- 2026. Role: Principal Coordinator. Funding: Nurturing Excellence in Higher Education Program (TU NEHEP), UGC/ World Bank, Nepal.
  2. Socio-Ecological Dimensions of Community Forestry in the Changing Context of Nepal. (Excellent Research Grant-National Priority Area Research Project)-2025-2027. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: Research Coordination and Development Council (RCDC), Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
  3. Asia's Linear Infrastructure Safeguarding Nature (ALIGN) Project- 2023-2024. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: World Wide Fund for Nature Nepal.
  4. Community-based Forest Management as a Climate Resilient Approach in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region - 2023-2025. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: University Grant Commission, Nepal.
  5. Economic Use of Invasive Plant Species for Combating Climatic Shocks   A study from Kathmandu Valley   2023- 2024. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: Australian Volunteers International, Impact Fund, Australia.
  6. Circulating and Ecological Sphere Concept: Path Making for a Sustainable Transformation through Translating Global Goals into Local Actions  2022-2023. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan.
  7. Developing Strategy for Restoration of Degraded Land in DCRL Project Area- 2022-2023. Role: Co-Principal Investigator. Funding: Developing Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Vulnerable Watershed in Nepal (DCRL/UNDP), Nepal.
  8. Assessment of Moringa Cultivation on Building Climate Change Resiliency in Chure Region of Nepal   2022-2025. Role: Co-Principal Investigator. Funding: Research Coordination and Development Council (RCDC), Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
  9. Economic Efficiency of Forest Restoration Programme in Nepal: A case Study of Leasehold Forests  2021-2023. Role: Principal Investigator. Funding: The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)/ ICIMOD, Nepal.
  10. Tracking of Households Affected by the 2015 Nepal Earthquake  2020-2025. Role: Co-Principal Investigator. Funding: University of Tokyo, Nepal.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Ojha, H., Shrestha, K. K., Paudel, N. S., Karki, R., Khatri, D., Baral, S., ... & Nuberg, I. (2025). Restoring Forests and Improving Livelihoods in Nepal: Four Decades of Community Forestry. DOI: 10.4324/9781032705613
  2. Baral, S., Subedi, S., Ford, R., Rai, R. K., Chhetri, B. B. K., Ojha, S., ... & Rai, D. (2025). Resilience pathways through community-based forest management for navigating the triple planetary crisis. Trees, Forests and People, 100972. DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100972
  3. Baral, S., Paudel, S., Basnyat, B., & Rai, R. K. (2025). The Economics of Forest Restoration: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Leasehold Forestry Programme in Nepal. Trees, Forests and People, 100785. DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100785
  4. Baral, S., Neumann, M., Joshi, K. P., Basnyat, B., & Vacik, H. (2025). Exploring the Implications of Selective Harvesting for Forest Dynamics: A Longitudinal Analysis of Sal Dominated Community Forest. Trees, Forests and People, 100832. DOI: 10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100832
  5. Baral, S., Regmi, A. R., Joshi, K. P., & Atreya, K. (2025). Methodological Accounting of the Ecosystem Services Benefits of Community-based Restoration: A Systematic Review. Ecology, Economy and Society the INSEE Journal, 8(1), 99-131. DOI: 10.37773/ees.v8i1.1169
  6. Baral, S., Gaire, N. P., Giri, A., Maraseni, T., Basnyat, B., Paudel, A., ... & Vacik, H. (2022). Growth dynamics of Shorea robusta Gaertn in relation to climate change: a case study from tropical region of Nepal. Trees, 36(4), 1425-1436. DOI: 10.1007/s00468-022-02300-5
  7. Baral, S., Neumann, M., Basnyat, B., Sharma, R. P., Silwal, R., Shrestha, H. L., ... & Vacik, H. (2021). Volume functions for Shorea robusta Gaertn. in Nepal. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. DOI: 10.1093/forestry/cpab050
  8. Baral, S., Chhetri, B. B. K., Baral, H., & Vacik, H. (2019). Investments in different taxonomies of goods: What should Nepal's community forest user groups prioritize? Forest Policy and Economics, 100, 24-32. DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2018.11.006
  9. Baral, S, Gautam, A.P and Harald Vacik, H. "Ecological and economical sustainability assessment of community forest management in Nepal: A reality check." Journal of Sustainable Forestry (2018): 1-22. DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2018.1490188
  10. Baral, S., Basnyat, B., Khanal, R., & Gauli, K. (2016). A Total Economic Valuation of Wetland Ecosystem Services: An Evidence from Jagadishpur Ramsar Site, Nepal. The Scientific World Journal, 2016. DOI: 10.1155/2016/2605609