Dr. Manoj Bhatta

Postdoctoral Researcher

Qualifications:

PhD in Environment and Ecosystem Services Governance, Charles Darwin University, 2021; MSc in Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, 2011; BSc in Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, 2008

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Co-supervisor

Location:

Alice Springs

Biography:

Manoj Bhatta is an interdisciplinary socio-ecological researcher specialising in participatory action research, and mixed-method research approaches. He has a broad interest in biodiversity management and conservation, community-based conservation, participatory sustainable natural resources management, incentive-based conservation schemes, and environmental health. He started with Menzies in November 2021 as a casual Research Assistant responsible for conducting a literature review of Australian heatwave-health impact studies specifically identifying heat wave-related health impacts and populations vulnerable to heatwaves. 

Manoj works as a postdoc in the NHMRC funded Healthy Environments and Lives project since January 2023. He is focusing on the impacts of climate change on rural and remote health populations.  

Manoj’s previous research has explored ecosystem services provision and valuation, and natural resources and conservation governance. His PhD project was the first attempt to collate perception-based information from local communities, both inside and outside a protected area, on the use and governance of ecosystem goods and services derived from Mountain habitats of red panda in western Nepal. Prior to his PhD, he worked as a lecturer for Tribhuvan University Affiliated Colleges in Nepal. He also worked as an Environmental Officer for various development projects in Nepal.
 

Research Themes

•    Indigenous Health
•    Environmental Health and Climate
•    Climate Change Impacts and Rural Health

  • Healthy Environments and Lives Network (HEAL Network)

  • Bhatta, M., Zander, K. K., & Garnett, S. T. (2022). Trends in ecosystem goods and services obtained from red panda habitats in north-western Nepal. Ecosystems and People, 18(1), 514-529.
  • Bhatta, M., Zander, K. K., & Garnett, S. T. (2022). Governance of forest resource use in western Nepal: Current state and community preferences. Ambio, 1-15 
  • Bista, D., Bhattrai, B., Shrestha, S., Lama, S. T., Dhamala, M. K., Acharya, K. P., Bhatta, M., & Sherpa, A. P. (2022). Bamboo distribution in Nepal and its impact on red pandas. In Red panda (pp. 353-368). Academic Press.
  • Bhatta, M., Garnett, S. T., & Zander, K. K. (2022). Exploring options for a PES-like scheme to conserve red panda habitat and livelihood improvement in western Nepal. Ecosystem Services, 53, 101388 
  • Bhatta, M., Zander, K. K., Austin, B. J., & Garnett, S. T. (2020). Societal recognition of ecosystem service flows from Red panda habitats in western Nepal. Mountain Research and Development, 40(2), R50 
  • Sharma, P., Panthi, S., Yadav, S. K., Bhatta, M., Karki, A., Duncan, T., & Acharya, K. P. (2020). Suitable habitat of wild Asian elephant in Western Terai of Nepal. Ecology and Evolution, 10(12), 6112-6119 
  • Aryal, M., Panthi, S., Bhatta, M., Magrati, T. P., Shrestha, A. K., Shrestha, P. B., & Karki, A. (2016). Population status, distribution and potential threats of the Blue Bull Boselaphus tragocamelus (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) along the Tinau river of Rupandehi district, Nepal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 8(14), 9638-9642 
  • Bhatta, M., Shah, K. B., Devkota, B., Paudel, R., & Panthi, S. (2014). Distribution and habitat preference of red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in Jumla district, Nepal. Open Journal of Ecology, 4(15),989