Conservation science at the nexus of wetlands, wildlife, ecosystem services, and Nature-based Solutions.

I grew up in Pakistan (South Asia), a country where the mighty Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindukush Mountain ranges meet the fertile plains of the Indus River Valley — home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. From an early age, I was captivated by the stories, landscapes, and birdlife that shaped both the cultural and ecological heritage of my homeland. My curiosity for birds and wetlands led me into the field of ecology and, eventually, into a career devoted to conservation.

I earned a BSc in Forestry from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and an MPhil in Wildlife Management from PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Over the past seven years, I worked with WWF-Pakistan and the Ministry of Climate Change, leading conservation projects across the country — from the deserts of Cholistan and Thal to the alpine plateaus of Gilgit-Baltistan & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. My work has included rediscovering the critically endangered Gharial in the River Sutlej, preparation of Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) for high-altitude wetlands, and developing management plans for globally significant sites like the Deosai Wetlands Complex, Naltar Wetlands Complex, and Gasho Lake. I also co-authored the Cheer Pheasant Conservation Action Plan for Pakistan (2023) and contributed to the multi-species action plan for bustards world-wide (2025).

My research and fieldwork have spanned a wide range of species, including leopards, vultures, bustards, gharials, wetland birds, and raptors. Alongside these projects, I published peer-reviewed research and presented my findings at international conferences such as the Student Conference on Conservation Science at Cambridge (2024) and the Global Leopard Conference (2023). I also serve as the Youth Focal Point for the Ramsar Convention in Pakistan and am a member of the IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group, reflecting my commitment to linking science with international policy and advocacy.

At the Odum School of Ecology (OSE), I am pursuing my PhD through the ICON program, working with the Wildlife & Water Lab. My research focuses on wetlands, wildlife, and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), with particular interest in how restored and constructed wetlands can enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, and provide ecosystem services. I aim to use wildlife e.g., birds as bioindicators to assess the effectiveness of NbS in freshwater and wetland systems, contributing both to applied conservation and to global frameworks such as the IUCN biodiversity net gain standard.

Outside of academia, I am an avid birdwatcher and nature enthusiast. I also enjoy cricket, hiking, traveling, and watching wildlife documentaries, which keep me connected to both the cultural and natural worlds that inspire my research.

Research Interests: Wildlife Ecology; Biodiversity Conservation; Threatened Species Management; Alpine Lakes Conservation; Wetlands; Nature-Based Solutions (Nbs); Integrative Conservation; Ecosystem Services; Spatial and Statistical Modeling; Ecological Monitoring; Climate Resilience.