Dr.G.Vanaraj

M.Sc (Botany)., M.A.(Biological Sciences)., PhD. (Environmental Sciences)

Member

Contact: vanarajganapathyg2@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) (2015)

Program Associate, USAID project.  Population ecology of selected NTFPs species in the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wildlife Research and Action Trust (WRAT), Thirupur, Tamil Nadu, India (2014)

Working as a conservation ecologist at Wildlife Research and Action Trust. Working on common langur projects. Raising awareness to high school students about rare endangered plant species. 

Om Shantidham, Bangalore, India (2013), Short-term assignment Fodder Project.

Coordinator

Established selected fodder plant species such as Luceana lecocephala, Cloris gyania and Panicum maximum on private lands. Set up nursery for three fodder plants species, Luceana lecocephala, Cloris gayana and Panicum maximum, involved in site preparation and transplanted fodder plant species in field. 

Institute for Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Bangalore, India (Nov 2012- Feb2013)

Ecologist

Short term Assignment/ Sustainable collection, Marketing and Value Addition of Selected Medicinal Plants across 14 JFMCs in Karnataka. Assessed population structure, regeneration, marketing structure, value addition method of harvesting, processing of selected medicinal plant species. Prepared feasibility report for 14 JFMCs and 18 targeted medicinal plant species of the project. 

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Normal, Alabama, USA (2009)

Forestry/Botany Program Assistant

Assisted with a long-term research project examining the response of ground layer vegetation cover and richness to four treatments: burning, thinning, thinning and burning, and an untreated control, in the Williams Bankhead National Forest in northeastern Alabama. Identified and preserved plant specimens.

Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA (2004 – 2007)

Assessed the effect of density on survivorship or potential invasiveness of non-native Impatiens glandulifera species. Compared the germination behavior of both native Impatiens capensis I. pallida and non-native I. glandulifera under greenhouse conditions; investigated the influence of seasons and climatic factors on the germination of native and non-native species of genus Impatiens; and  assessed the density, survival and mortality of both native and non-native Impatiens species in the field.

 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, Karnataka, India (1998 -2004)

Research Associate: Managed field work related to risk under the Forest Ecology program.  Set up experimental work, processed samples, collected data, and ensured accuracy of data. Established permanent plots for vegetation sampling in hectare grid. Measured tree structure and composition. Measured anthropogenic pressure such as fire, wood removal and minor forest products collection. Set up herbarium, identified plant species, and preserved specimens. Used BIOTA database.

Project Titles:

1. Assessing impact of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity of tropical ecosystem in India.
2. Mapping rare, endangered and threatened resources in medicinal plant conservation areas (Karnataka).
3. Impact of invasive species on diversity, health and productivity of ecosystems: A study in the tropical forests of South India.
4. Joint influences of climate, litter quality and soil fauna in regulating above- and below-ground decomposition processes (pan-tropical study).
5. Invasive species in Indian dry tropical forests: experiments in restoring native biodiversity (Karnataka, India).

Foundation for Ecological Research Advocacy and Learning, India

Research Assistant. (1997 – 1998): Project: Waste land in Mangrove Ecosystem, Pondicherry. Collected propagules, set up nursery, measured propagule growth rate, and collected tide level data.

Botanist  Project: Integrated Pest Management.  Inventoried potential bio-pesticide plant species and identified pest prone plants in different habitats. 

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India (1996 – 1997)

Field Assistant:  Project: An Ecological Study of Kalakad-mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats: an Eco-development Approach. Identified and counted plant species.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Nature Classroom Institute of Wisconsin, Mukwonago, WI

Instructor (Aug –Nov. 2008): Worked as an Environmental science Instructor, work included teaching environmental science, Yoga, field group and large group activities, and team building for 4-12 grade students.

Smith College, Department of Biological Sciences, Northampton, MA

Teaching Fellow (Jan. 2005- Aug 2007): Set up laboratory for plant systematics course (Bio 356) for undergraduate students. 

Teaching Fellow (Sep. – Dec. 2004): Set up laboratory, for Introductory biology Course Bio 111) including photosynthesis chemical preparations, for undergraduate students. 

PUBLICATIONS

Vanaraj G. 2001. Observations on debarking of tree species by elephants in Biligiri Rangaswamy, Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka. Zoos’ Print Journals 16(5): 484-486.

Vanaraj G. (2001). Road map to species recovery of important medicinal plant species. Saraca ATREE Newsletter 2:1, p. 5

Vanaraj, G. (2001). Nagarahole has the highest density of Asian Elephants. Fragmentation of this habitat poses serious threat to the species, says VANARAJ G. Deccan Herald, 23 November.

Vanaraj, G. (2001). Beneficial Killer. Deccan Herald, 25 September.

Aravind N. A., Vanaraj G, Dinesh Rao D, Ganeshaiah K.N, Uma Shaanker R and Poulsen J.G. 2002. Impact of Lantana camara on floral assemblage at Malè Mahadeshwara Reserve Forest, South India. [Abstract] In: XII Annual conference on Indian association for angiosperm taxonomy and National seminar on plant taxonomy in nation development September 26 -27, 2002. Goa University, Panjim.

Uma Shaanker, R., K. Ganeshaiah, B. Chinnappa Reddy, V. Krishnan, R. Rajagoplan, J. Aravind, A. Kumar, G. Vanaraj, and D. Rao. 2002. Enhancing the role of forest fruits in sustaining livelihoods of forest margin communities. Technical report submitted to Department for International Development, London, UK.

Uma Shaanker R, Ganeshaiah K.N, Smitha Krishnan, Ramya R, Meera C,  Aravind N.A, Arvind Kumar, Dinesh Rao, Vanaraj G, Ramachandra J, Remi Gauthier, Jaboury Ghazoul, Nigel Poole, Chinnappa Reddy B.V. (2003). Livelihood gains and ecological costs of NTFP dependence: assessing the roles of dependence, ecological knowledge and market structure in three contrasting human and ecological settings in south India, in Conference on Rural Livelihood, Biodiversity and conservation; 2003 June 19-23; Bonn, Germany. p 1-125.

Uma Shaanker R, Ganesaiah K. N, Smitha Krishnan, Ramya R, Meera C , Aravind N.A, Aravind Kumar, Dinesh Rao D, Vanaraj G, Ramachandra J, Remi Gauthier, Jaboury Ghazoul, Nigel Poole. (2004). Livelihood gains and ecological costs of non-timber forest product dependence: assessing the roles of dependence, ecological knowledge and market structure in three contrasting human and ecological settings in south India. Environmental Conservation 31:3, pp. 242-253.

A. Aravind, J. Manjunath, Dinesh Rao, K. N. Ganeshaiah, R. Uma Shaanker and G.Vanaraj. (2005). Are Red listed species threatened? A comparative analysis of red listed and non-red list species in Western Ghats, India. Current Science, 88:2, pp. 258-265.

Barve N,Kiran M.C, Vanaraj G, Aravind N.A, Dinesh Rao D, Uma Shaanker R, Ganeshiah K.N, and Poulson J.C, (2005). Measuring and mapping human threats to a wildlife sanctuary in South India. Conservation Biology, 19:1, pp. 122-13.

Arvind, N.A, Dinesh rao D, Vanaraj G, Poulsen J,Shaankar R, Ganeshaiah K.N, (2001). Anthropogenic pressures in a tropical forest ecosystem in Western Ghats : Are they sustainable?

Ganeshaiah, K.N., Uma Shaankar Rand Bawa, K.S. editors. Tropical ecosystems: structure, diversity and human welfare.  New Delhi, Oxford & IBH Publishing.  pp.125-128

Aravind, N. A., Dinesh Rao, Vanaraj G, Ganeshaiah K. N, Uma Shaanker R, and Poulsen J. G. (2006). Impact of Lantana camara on plant communities at Malé Mahadeshwara reserve forest, South India. In: Rai, L. C. and J. P. Gaur (eds), Invasive alien species and biodiversity in India Banarus Hindu University, Banarus , pp. 1-12.

HONORS, GRANTS AND ACTIVITIES

Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA

2004-2005 Smith Fellow

2005-2006 Sally Wilens Fellowship Award

2007          B. Elizabeth Horner Fellowship Award

VOLUNTEERISM

Volunteered as office assistant and horticulturist at Senior Center (Randolph, Vermont) and transplanted and harvested organic crops at the Luna Bleu Certified Organic Farm in South Royalton, Vermont, USA.