Dechen Lham | PhD Student

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I am interested in population ecology, conservation biology, wildlife management and protected areas management.

Conservation of endangered species remains incomplete despite decades of research. In 2017, the snow leopard has been downgraded to a vulnerable species. Until a scientifically robust national population estimates are derived from all the twelve snow leopard range countries, it is still an endangered species. Serving several years as the national focal for snow leopard conservation in Bhutan and realising the information gaps motivated me to pursue research on this particular species. For my present research, I intend to re-estimate the population size of snow leopards in Bhutan and determining their environmental and anthropogenic drivers. Other aspects of my research will focus on understanding the predator’s feeding ecology, genetic variability and to understand human perception towards snow leopard. My research results will contribute to fill in the missing information on snow leopard ecology in Bhutan for an effective landscape conservation of the species locally and globally. Furthermore, this project will contribute to ‘Global Snow Leopard Ecosystem Protection Program’ (GSLEP) efforts.

My past work includes managing ex situ conservation area, species conservation management, protected areas management, developing national policies and regulations on nature conservation (including wildlife management) in Bhutan while ensuring the fulfillment of local needs as well as international conservation commitments.

CV

  • Present, PhD student, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland
  • 2013-2017, Senior Biodiversity Officer & Head, International Conventions, Wildlife Conservation Division, Department of Forest and Park Services, Thimphu, Bhutan
  • 2011-2013, MSc in Forest and Nature Conservation, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
  • 2008-2011, Park Manager, Royal Botanical Park Serbithang, National Biodiversity Centre, Thimphu, Bhutan
  • 2003-2007, BSc in Forestry, Major in Forest Biological Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Banos, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

Publications

Peer reviewed articles

  • Lham D, Cozzi G, Sommer S, Thinley P, Wangchuk N, Wangchuk S, Ozgul A. (2021 in press) Modeling distribution and habitat suitability for the snow leopard in Bhutan. Frontiers in Conservation Science.
  • Lham D, Cozzi G, Sommer S, Wangchuk S, Lham K, Ozgul A (2021) Ecological determinants of livestock depredation by the snow leopard Panthera uncia in Bhutan. Journal of Zoology 314:275-284.
  • Lham D, Wangchuk S., Stolton S., Dudley N. (2018): Assessing the effectiveness of a protected area network: a case study of Bhutan.Oryx Fauna and Flora International.
  • Dudley N et al. (2018) Priorities for protected area research. Parks Journal 24 (1): 35-50.
  • Wangchuk S., Lham D., Dudley N., Stolton S.(2017): Half-Bhutan. The Evolution and Effectiveness of Protected Areas in a Country Recognising Nature Needs Half. International Journal of Wilderness 23.1.
  • Benson E., Forbes A., Korkeakoski M., Latif R., Lham D. (2014): Environment and climate mainstreaming: challenges and successes. Development in Practice 24:605-614.
  • Van Grunsven R.H.A., Lham D., van Geffen K.G., Veenendaal E.M. (2014): Range of attraction of a 6-W moth light trap. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 152:87-90.

Government Reports

  • Lham D., Thinley P., Wangchuk S., Wangchuk N. (2016) National Snow leopard Camera trap Survey. Report to the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Department of Forest and Park Services. Thimphu, Bhutan.
  • Thinley P., Lham D., Wangchuk S., Wangchuk N., Tenzin, Lham K., Tharchen L. (2016) Results of the sign survey, prey base survey of snow leopards in the Northern Landscape of Bhutan. Report to the Wildlife Conservation Division of the Department of Forest and Park Services. Thimphu, Bhutan.
  • Lham D., Dudley N, Wangchuk S., Stolton S. (2016) Bhutan State of Parks. Department of Forest and Parks Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, Bhutan.
  • Dudley N., Lham D., Stolton S., Wangchuk S., Wangchuk S. (2016) Bhutan Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool Plus. Final Version. Wildlife Conservation Division and Equilibrium Research. Thimphu, Bhutan.
  • Thinley P., Lham D., Wangchuk S., Wangchuk N., Dorji S., Tenzin, Lham K., Tharchen L. (2015) Field Manual for Surveying and Monitoring of Snow Leopards in Bhutan. Department of Forest and Parks Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, Bhutan.
  • Department of Forest and Parks Services (2015) Counting Tigers in Bhutan: report on the National Tiger Survey of Bhutan 2014-2015. Department of Forest and Parks Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Thimphu, Bhutan.