Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Seven years of experience in earth and environmental systems analysis and modelling. Specialized in remote sensing, GIS and ecological statistics. Current research involves tipping elements in climate system, carbon flux assessment, dynamic global vegetation modelling (DGVM), climate and global change research, ecosystem services, functions and conservation. Graduated from the School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University and trained by India’s premier research institutes including the National Remote Sensing Centre (ISRO), Wildlife Institute of India and the Center for Earth Science Studies as well as institutes in UK (University of Southampton), Poland (University of Warsaw), Sweden (Lund University) and the Netherlands (International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation). Co-founded Centre for Research in Global Change and Sustainability (CRGCS) and associating with Advanced Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, Mahatma Gandhi University as a Visiting Faculty. Published a number of research papers in peer reviewed international journals and presented research findings at international gatherings. A frequent reviewer and technical editor for journals from Taylor and Francis, SpringerLink and Academic Journals. Awarded several fellowships and grants from number of organizations including European Union, Rufford Foundation and Cambridge University.

EDUCATION

2005 - 2009 University: Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Achievement:PhD in Environment Sciences

2007 - 2009 University: Consortium of European Universities
University of Southampton (UK), Lund University (Sweden),
University of Warsaw (Poland) and ITC (Netherlands)
Achievement:MSc in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation
for Environmental Modelling and Management (GEM)

2003 – 2005 University: Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Achievement: MPhil in Environmental Sciences

2000 – 2003 University: Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Achievement: MSc in Environment Management

1997 – 2000 University: Mahatma Gandhi University (India)
Achievement: BSc in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Shijo Joseph, M. S. R. Murthy and A. P. Thomas (accepted). The progress on Remote Sensing technology in identifying tropical forest degradation - A synthesis of the present knowledge and future perspectives. Environmental Earth Sciences.

Shijo Joseph, Ch. Sudhakar Reddy, V. K. Srivastava and A. P. Thomas (2010) Spatial interpolation of Carbon stock: A case study from Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 17(6): 481-486

Anitha K, Shijo Joseph, R.J. Chandran, E. V. Ramasamy and S. N. Prasad (2010) Tree species diversity and community composition in a human dominated tropical forest of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, India. Ecological Complexity, 7: 217-224

Shijo Joseph and P. P Ouseph (2010). Assessment of nutrients using multivariate statistical techniques in estuarine systems and its management implications – A case study from Cochin Estuary, South west coast of India, Water and Environment Journal, 24: 126-132.

Shijo Joseph, G. A. Blackburn, B. Gharai, S. Sudhakar, A. P. Thomas and M. S. R. Murthy (2009). Monitoring conservation effectiveness in a global biodiversity hotspot: the contribution of land cover change assessment, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 158: 169-179.

Shijo Joseph and Anitha K (2009). Disturbance, diversity and stability of ecological systems – The need for a uniform hypothesis, Current Science 97 (2) 142-143.

Shijo Joseph, Anitha K. and M. S. R. Murthy (2009). Forest fire in India – A review of the knowledge base, Journal of Forest Research, 14 (3): 127 – 134.

Anitha K, Shijo Joseph and S. N. Prasad (2009). Changes in structural attributes of plant communities along disturbance gradients in a dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats, India, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 155 (1): 393 – 405.

Ramachandran V.S., Shijo Joseph and R. Aruna (2009). Ethnobotanical Studies from Amaravathy Range of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, Coimbatore District, Southern India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 1069-1087.

Shijo Joseph, C. Sudhakar Reddy, Chiranjibi Pattanaik and S. Sudhakar (2008). Distribution of plant communities along climatic and topographic gradients in Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, India, Biological Letters 45 (1): 29-41.

Shijo Joseph, M. Haseeb, P. P. Abhilash and P. P. Ouseph (2008) Water and Sediment Quality Assessment of Cochin Estuary, South West Coast of India, Indian Journal of Environmental Sciences 12(1): 77-81.

Anitha K., S. N. Prasad and Shijo Joseph. 2007. Ecological Complexity and sustainability: Challenges and opportunities for 21st century”, Current Science 93: 600-601.

Shijo Joseph, A. P Thomas, R. Satheesh and R. Sugathan (2007) Foraging ecology and relative abundance of Large Carnivores in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern India, ZOO’S PRINT 22 (5): 2667 – 2670.

RESEARCH PAPERS IN EDITED BOOKS

Ajaykumar B., Shijo Joseph, P. C. Abhilash, Mohan Mahesh, K. Anitha, A.P. Thomas (in press) Fossil Wood: A Key to the Past (Chapter 7). In. Botannini L. F. (ed.) Wood Types, Properties and Uses (ISBN: 978-1-61668-837-0), Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York.

Ajaykumar B., Shijo Joseph, Mohan Mahesh, P.K.K. Nair, K.S. Unni, A.P. Thomas (2010) Implications for the evolution of the Southwestern Coast of India: A multi-proxy analysis using palaeodeposits In. Crane J. R. and Solomon A. E. (eds.) Estuaries: Types, Movement Patterns and Climatical Impacts (ISBN: 978-1-60876-859-2), Nova Science Publishers, Inc. New York. pp. 225-246.

Shijo Joseph and Anitha K (2010). Assessment of forest fire in India – A geospatial outlook towards data availability and adaptive management (Chapter 1). In. Patro L. (ed.) Biodiversity and Sustainable Livelihood. Vedam Books (ISBN : 81-8356-602-5), New Delhi pp. 216.

Anitha K., Shijo Joseph, S. Narendra Prasad, E.V. Ramasamy and A.P. Thomas (2010) Ethno-botany of the Irula Tribes of Anaikatty Hills, Western Ghats, Southern India (Chapter 4). In. Patro L. (ed.) Biodiversity and Sustainable Livelihood. Vedam Books (ISBN : 81-8356-602-5), New Delhi pp. 216.

Anitha, K., Shijo Joseph and S. N. Prasad (2008) Strobilanthes: Promising Indigenous ornamental plants from Western Ghats, India (Chapter 17). In K. V. Peter, Underutilized and Underexploited Horticultural Crops: Vol.04 (ISBN : 8189422901). New India Publishing Group, New Delhi. pp. 418.

INVITED SEMINARS AND PROCEEDINGS

Shijo Joseph (2009) Terrestrial vegetation and global carbon cycle. Invited paper presented at International Conference on Emerging Trends in Environmental Research (ICETER) organised by Conservation Research Group and Pehal Society, 15th-17th August, 2009, Kochi

Shijo Joseph (2008). Assessment of land cover dynamics and its conservation implications in tropical forests of Western Ghats, India. Paper presented in Student Conference on Conservation Sciences on 25-27th March, 2008, Cambridge University, Cambridge.

Anitha K, Shijo Joseph, S. Narendra Prasad, E. V. Ramasamy and A. P. Thomas (2008). Regeneration assessment of human dominated low altitude mixed dry deciduous forest: a case study from Anaikatty Hills, Western Ghats. pp.21-36. In: B.Raghvendra Rao, S. Narendra Prasad, C.Srinivasulu and P.Judson (eds.) Biodiversity Conservation and Human Well-being, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, pp137.

Anitha K, Shijo Joseph, S. Narendra Prasad, E. V. Ramasamy and A. P. Thomas (2008). Impact of human disturbance on species assemblages of plant communities of Anaikatty hills, Western Ghats, S. India. pp.197-203. In: P. Natarajan, K.V. Jayachandran and Arun Augustine (eds.) Proceedings of International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation and Management (BIOCAM 2008), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, pp755.

Anitha K, Shijo Joseph and. S. N. Prasad (2007). Structural analysis of plant communities in a human dominated landscapes using small-scale permanent plots in Western Ghats. Paper presented in Ecosummit 2007 on May 22-27 in Beijing 2007.

Shijo Joseph (2006). Application of high resolution imageries in protected area management. Invited Paper presented in Conference on Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forests Productivity-A New Perspective. Organized by WII-USDA Forest Service, Coimbatore, 25th-27th February, 2006.

CONTACT

shijo.joseph@atree.org / shijonrsa@gmail.com