Binit Timalsina — Environmental Scientist

About

From Chure to Gokyo

I'm a graduate of M.Sc. Environmental Science (Tribhuvan University), with fieldwork stretching from the subtropical Chure–Bhabar wetlands to the high-altitude lakes of Gokyo and Mai Pokhari, the floodplains of Koshi Tappu, and the watersheds of Kavrepalanchowk and Upper Mustang. My work sits at the intersection of wetland ecology, limnology, and biodiversity conservation — surveying birds, mammals and butterflies, assessing water quality, and mapping lake morphometry and bathymetry with GIS and remote sensing.

More recently, I've been tracing microplastic contamination through wetland sediments, fish, algae and even high-altitude birds — connecting local field data to global biodiversity and sustainability questions. I care about producing evidence that's rigorous enough for a journal and useful enough for the people managing these landscapes.

I'm currently a Research Associate at the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, and am looking to bring this fieldwork and analytical background into NGO/INGO conservation and research roles, as well as PhD programs in wetland ecology, limnology, or environmental change in mountain systems.

Based inKavrepalanchowk / Kathmandu, Nepal
DegreeM.Sc. Environmental Science, 2024
InstitutionTribhuvan University
FocusWetlands · Limnology · GIS/RS
Publications8, since 2023
LanguagesNepali, English, Hindi
EmailEnv.binit.cdes@gmail.com
Phone+977 9860110966

Research Focus

Where the fieldwork concentrates

Wetland & Limnological Assessment

Water quality, physico-chemical parameters and ecological status of Ramsar sites, high-altitude lakes and urban rivers.

Microplastic Pollution

Contamination pathways through water, sediment, fish, algae and wetland-dependent birds, from lowland Tappu to high-altitude Gokyo.

GIS & Remote Sensing

Lake bathymetry and morphometry, LULC and NDVI dynamics, DEM-based watershed delineation and spring-source mapping.

Avifaunal & Biodiversity Surveys

Bird, mammal and butterfly surveys across elevational gradients, disturbance zones and urban wetlands.

Community & Watershed Ecology

Spring-source availability, vegetation–topography relationships and community engagement in Himalayan watersheds.

Scientific Writing & Reporting

Peer-reviewed manuscripts, agency technical reports, and wetland health report cards in English and Nepali.

Experience

Professional Experience

2026 — Present

Research Associate

Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University

Methodology design, field visits, data management, analysis and reporting
Assessment of Ponds/Wetlands in the Chure–Bhabar Region; Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services of Dhap Dam Wetland, Kathmandu

2024 — 2026

Leader, Annual Urban Bird Count

Bird Conservation Nepal (Kalanki Route, Kathmandu)

Summer and winter urban bird surveys along a fixed route

2025 — 2026

Research Assistant

Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University

Supported wetland and biodiversity projects funded by MoEST, TU Research Directorate and NAST
Spatial analysis of wetland habitats using GIS and field validation

2024 — 2025

Research Associate & Data Analyst

Central Department of Hydrology & Meteorology, TU · ICIMOD-funded project

Applied GIS and Remote Sensing in spring-flow modelling and watershed analysis

2024

Campaigner · Bird Surveyor · Environmentalist

SENSE · Bird Conservation Nepal · Kathmandu Metropolitan City

Bird survey, Panauti Municipality, Kavre (BCN)
Water quality analysis of seven major rivers of Kathmandu — sample collection, lab work, data analysis and report writing

2022

Field Assistant · Field Volunteer

Plantation Initiative Nepal · Green Ways Nepal

Seed distribution, plantation monitoring, boundary mapping, biodiversity assessment
Installation and monitoring of mobile air quality devices in electric vehicles, Kathmandu Valley

2019 — 2020

GIS Analyst

RAAS Engineering Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.

Land-use mapping, resource database creation, spatial data management

2019 — Present

Citizen Scientist & Field Volunteer

ENPROSC · S4W-Nepal · Service for Peace

Recording frog occurrence (Croaking Monsoon, since 2020) and rainfall data, Kalanki (since 2021)
School outreach on water scarcity, Sarlahi District (2019)

Selected Work

Academic Research & Projects

2026

Microplastic in Kulekhani Reservoir

RCDC, Rector's Office, TU — Emerging Faculty Research Grant

Methodological design
Microplastic assessment across fish species
Data analysis and reporting

2026

Ponds/Wetlands of the Chure-Bhabar Region

President Chure-Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Board

Avifaunal diversity, water quality, status and threat assessment
Data analysis, report writing, manuscript drafting

2025

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services of Dhap Dam Wetland

NAST-funded project, Kathmandu

Wetland ecology and water quality assessment

2025

Wetlands of Chure (Siwalik Hills)

Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoEST), GoN

Inventory mapping of wetlands across the Chure range
Status, threat, ecological and water quality assessment

2025

Wetland Health of Three Ramsar Sites, Koshi Province

RCDC, TU — Emerging Research Grant (Koshi Tappu, Mai Pokhari, Gokyo)

Field and lab work on physico-chemical parameters and microplastics
Manuscript and report writing; wetland health report cards

2024

Spring Sources of Dapcha Watershed, Kavrepalanchowk

CDHM, TU – ICIMOD

Watershed delineation, proximity analysis, spatial mapping of springs
Community survey; vegetation and bird survey

Publications

Peer-reviewed & contributed work

2026 Timalsina, B., Ghimire, N.P., & Uprety, Y. First evidence of microplastic contamination in high-altitude ground-dwelling birds: connecting local findings to global biodiversity and sustainability goals. Journal of Ecology and Environment, 50(14), 1–12.
2026 Marahatta, S., Timalsina, B., Pokharel, N., Upadhaya, M., Adhikari, P., Dhakal, M., et al. Vegetation patterns in relation to topography and water availability in Dapcha Watershed of Kavrepalanchowk, Nepal. Journal of Institute of Science and Technology, 31(1), 315–330.
2026 Tamang, S., Timalsina, B., Uprety, Y., Rai, S.K., Tachamo-Shah, R.D., Shah, D.N., & Ghimire, N.P. Algal community response to water quality gradients across the wetlands in the Koshi Tappu Ramsar Site, Nepal. Applied Phycology, 7(1), 2664585.
2026 Karki, H.B., Timalsina, B., & Thapa, S. Variation in soil characteristics on forest and agricultural land uses in Kavrepalanchowk District of Central Nepal. Discover Geoscience, 4, 155.
2026 Ghimire, N.P., Timalsina, B., & Uprety, Y. Linking microplastic pollution and nutrient dynamics in the sediments of the Gokyo Lake Cluster, a high-altitude Ramsar site of Nepal. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 58(1), 2641281.
2026 Bhatt, A., Timalsina, B., & Ghimire, N.P. Ethnobotanical knowledge and plant use patterns among the major ethnic communities of Mahankal Rural Municipality, Lalitpur District, Central Nepal. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 33, 1–20.
2026 Greenalaya Nepal & TinyLife Finders. Butterfly images of Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu, Nepal. Contributor: Binit Timalsina.
2025 Uprety, Y., Ghimire, N.P., Timalsina, B., Tamang, S., & Pokharel, K.R. Assessing physicochemical and biological indicators and their interactions in high-altitude lakes of Gokyo Valley, Nepal. Environmental Advances, 100675.
2025 Timalsina, B., Maharjan, K.K., Mahat, A., Wagle, P.C., Regmi, P.K., & Karki, H.B. Potability of bottled and jar water in Kathmandu Valley: a comparative analysis. Journal of Environment Sciences, 11, 45–52.
2023 Tiwari, S., Timalsina, B., Sitaula, S., Awasthi, M.P., Mahat, A., & Pant, R.R. Evaluating the major sources of surface water quality in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Gandaki Province, Nepal. Himalayan Biodiversity, 9, 29–38.

Recognition

Honors, Awards & Training

Honors & Awards

Idea Wild Instrumental Grant — avifaunal composition along elevational gradients, Mahabharat Range (2025)
Best Performance — 8th School in Aquatic Wildlife Biology & Conservation, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, India (2025)
Prem Conservation Grant, Wildlife Conservation Nepal — Master's thesis research (2024)
Research Grant, Department of Environment, MoFE, Government of Nepal (2024)

Trainings & Certifications

Mentee, Community Conservation Workshop — Community Conservation Inc. (2025)
8th School in Aquatic Wildlife Biology & Conservation — TSA Foundation & Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, India (2025)
Wildlife Research Technique Training (19 days) — Friends of Nature Nepal (2022)
EIA/IEE Training — ENPROSC (2021)
GIS & Spatial Analysis — WePro Technology (2020)

Toolkit

Technical Skills

GIS & Remote Sensing

ArcGISQGISGoogle Earth EngineGoogle Earth Pro

Spatial Analysis

Bathymetric mappingMorphometric analysisLULC classificationNDVI analysisWatershed delineation

Statistical & Modelling

RStudioSPSSOriginPro

Field & Analytical

GPS surveyingSonar depth profilingWQI computationBiodiversity surveys

Other Affiliations

Greenalaya Nepal — Founder (2026) Bird Conservation Nepal — Member since 2018 SENSE — Campaigner, 2024 IUCN CEM — Member since 2024 GYBN — Member since 2024 Society of Wetland Scientists — Member since 2025

Reading the Himalaya, one wetland at a time.

From Chure to Gokyo

Where the fieldwork concentrates

Wetland & Limnological Assessment

Microplastic Pollution

GIS & Remote Sensing

Avifaunal & Biodiversity Surveys

Community & Watershed Ecology

Scientific Writing & Reporting

Professional Experience

Research Associate

Leader, Annual Urban Bird Count

Research Assistant

Research Associate & Data Analyst

Campaigner · Bird Surveyor · Environmentalist

Field Assistant · Field Volunteer

GIS Analyst

Citizen Scientist & Field Volunteer

Academic Research & Projects

Microplastic in Kulekhani Reservoir

Ponds/Wetlands of the Chure-Bhabar Region

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services of Dhap Dam Wetland

Wetlands of Chure (Siwalik Hills)

Wetland Health of Three Ramsar Sites, Koshi Province

Spring Sources of Dapcha Watershed, Kavrepalanchowk

Peer-reviewed & contributed work

Honors, Awards & Training

Honors & Awards

Trainings & Certifications

Technical Skills

Let's work together.