
Dr. Yonten Dorji
Dr. Yonten Dorji
Sr. Lecturer/ Researcher
College of Natural Resources
Royal University of Bhutan
Punakha, Bhutan
Email: Ydorji.cnr@rub.edu.bt
Alt Email: Yonten.dorji@uni-goettingen.de Phone (O): +975 2 376249
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6508-9582 ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yonten-Dorji
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.de/citations?user=jzTSd4wAAAAJ&hl=en
- PhD in Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology from the University of Göttingen, Germany [2019 – 2023]
- MSc in Climatology & Mountain Forestry, BOKU University, Austria [2013 to 2015]
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Botany, University of Queensland, Australia [2005 to 2008]
- Programme Leader for MSc Conservation Biology Programme, CNR [2024 – Ongoing]
- Expatriate Employee as Researcher for Fakultät Forstwissenschaften, Georg-August Universität, Germany [2019 – 2022]
- Head of the Department of Forest Science at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan [2016 – 2019]
- National Sector Advisory Committee Member for Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Bhutan [2016 – 2019]
- Committee Member for UNESCO Madenjeet Centre for South Asia Forestry, earlier based in UWICER, Bumthang, Bhutan [2016 – 2018]
- Committee Member of the College Research Committee [CRC] and the College Academic Committee [CAC] at CNR, Royal University of Bhutan.
- Principal Supervisor for PhD and MSc research candidates
- Programme Leader for BSc Forestry [2009 – 2013]
- Reviewer for Journal of Trees, Springer NATURE
- Reviewer for Journal of Plant Genetics Resources, Cambridge University Press
- Section Editor and Reviewer for BJNRD [Bhutan Journal of Natural Resource Development]
Grants (Funded Research/ Projects):
- SortiScan- Assessment of quality attributes and automated quality grading of standing trees through the use of mobile laser scanning. 2019-01 to 2021-01 | Contract Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank (Göttingen, Lower Saxony, DE) GRANT_NUMBER: 844732 http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100018686
- Rapid assessment of roadside bird diversity in Punakha District, 2018-02 to 2020-05 | Grant Royal University of Bhutan (Thimphu, BT) FUNDREF: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100014156
- Klimabäume Stutel Project ‘Urban Green 2021+’: Selecting Urban and Climate Resilient Trees. In partnership with LWG Bavarian State Institute for Viticulture and Horticulture, Veitshochheim, Germany 2020-01 to 2023-01 | Contract REF: https://www.lwg.bayern.de/landespflege/urbanes_gruen/085113/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00468-023-02479-1
- CNR Project Coordinator for 41 Trainings to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials, funded by EU-TCP, European Union Project. 2017-01 to 2019-01 | EU-TCP Project FUNDREF: CNR-EUTCP, MoAF
- Assessment of nutrients from Parthenium hystephorus compost using different inoculants 2017-07 to 2019-02 | Grant FUNDREF: Royal University of Bhutan (Thimphu, BT)
- Coccinellidae diversity of Bhutan (Insecta: Coleoptera) 2017-03 to 2019-04 | Grant AURG grant (Thimphu, Bhutan, BT) URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2021.1930604
- Assessment of Biomass, Carbon Stock and Climate Change Mitigation Potentials of Balcooa Bamboo 2017-02 to 2018-03 | Award Royal University of Bhutan (Thimphu, Bhutan, BT) FUNDREF: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100014156
Area of Interests:
Forest Ecology | Climate Change | Forest Structure & Dynamics | Carbon Sequestration | Fine root biomass | Terrestrial Laser Scanning | Silviculture
- PhD with Outstanding grade: “Magna Cum Laude” from Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany
- Bronze medal from His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, for the dedicated ten years of service to the Nation.
Publications with DOI:
- Dorji, Y., Isasa, E., Pierick, K. et al. Insights into the relationship between hydraulic safety, hydraulic efficiency and tree structural complexity from terrestrial laser scanning and fractal analysis. Trees 38, 221–239 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-023-02479-1
- Dorji, Y., Schuldt, B., Neudam, L., Dorji, R., Middleby, K., Isasa, E., … & Seidel, D. (2021). Three-dimensional quantification of tree architecture from mobile laser scan- ning and geometry analysis. Trees, 35, 1385-1398. DOI: https://link.springer.com/ar- ticle/10.1007/s00468-021-02124-9
- Dorji Y, Annighöfer P, Ammer C, Seidel D (2019): Response of beech (Fagus syl- vatica ) trees to competition- new insights from using fractal analysis. Remote Sens- ing 11 (22): 2656. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11222656
- Ahmed, I.U., Dorji, Y., Chhetri, P.B. (2023). Soil C Sequestration in Himalayan Land- scape: Impacts of Vegetation and Edaphic Interactions Under Changing Climate. In: Mishra, G., Giri, K., Nath, A.J., Francaviglia, R. (eds) Soil Carbon Dynamics in Indian Himalayan Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3303-7_2
- Waiba, N., & Dorji, Y. (2024). From National to Local: A Comprehensive Vulnerabil- ity Assessment Framework for Climate Change Adaptation in Bhutan. bioRxiv. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5037109/v1
- Himes, A., Bauhus, J., Dorji, Y., Adhikari, S. et al. Forestry in the Face of Global Change: Results of a Global Survey of Current Forestry Reports 9, 473– 489 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-023-00205-1
- Rabten, T., Dorji, Y., & Tobgay, T. (2024). Assessment of Terrestrial Carbon Stock: Evaluating Forest Structure and its Carbon Sequestration Potential of the Ecotone Re- gion in Gama Luma. RSquare. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3303-7_2
- Seidel D, Ehbrecht M, Dorji Y, Jambay J, Ammer C, Annighöfer P (2019) Identifying architectural characteristics that determine tree structural Springer Nature: Trees – Structure and Function 33: 911-919. DOI: 10.1007 / s00468-019-01827-4
- Dolkar, T., & Dorji, Y. (2024). Exploring the Regeneration Dynamics and Conserva- tion Threats to Endemic Rhododendron kesangiae (DG Long & Rushforth) in Bhutan’s National Botanical Park at Lungchutse, Dochula. bioRxiv, 2024-09. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.03.610747
- Dorji, Y., Schuldt, , Neudam, L. et al. (2021) New insights into tree architecture from mobile laser scanning and geometry analysis. Dryad. DOI: 10.5061/dryad.2fqz612n6
- Dorji, , & Dorji, Y. (2024). Insights into the Spatial Ecology of Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) in Bhutan’s Protected Area at Phrumsengla National Park: Habitat Preferences and Conservation Challenges. bioRxiv, 2024-08. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs- 4957866/v1
- Dorji, Y., Isasa, E., Cabral, J., Tobgay, T., Annighöfer, P., Schuldt, B., & Seidel, D. (2023). Insights into the relationship between hydraulic safety, hydraulic efficiency and tree structural complexity from terrestrial laser scanning and fractal Research Square. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2744981/v1
- Nidup, and Dorji, Y. (2024). Assessing Aquatic Avian Biodiversity along Hydropower Dam Gradient: Understanding Impacts of Kurichhu Dam-Induced River Fragmentation in Kurrichu River Basin. bioRxiv, pp.2024-09. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.18.613804
- Dorji, Y and Seidel, D. New insights into drivers and passengers of tree architecture. PhD Dissertation Published by Georg-August-Universität Gottingen, Germany. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-9891
- K, Jambay. J, Dorji. Y, Gyelpo. T, Wangda. L. (2020) A pictorial guide to roadside Avifauna of Punakha District, Bhutan – Pocket field guide. College of Natural Resources
- Dorji Y, Annighöfer P, Ammer C, Seidel D (2019) Response of internal architecture of beech (Fagus sylvatica ) trees to intra and interspecific competition. Science Meeting of Switzerland, Austria and Germany, Gfö Conference paper, Munster, Germany. DOI: https://www.gfoe.org/de/node/1562
- Dorji Y, Godbold, DL (2016). The Effects of Experimental Drought on the Fine Root Biomass of Two Different Altitudinal Forests of Master Dissertation. BOKU Uni- versity, Vienna, Austria.
- Yonten S, Dorji Y. Influence of forest fire frequency on nest-site selection and nest- use by White-bellied heron (Ardea insignis) at Athang Gewog under Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag (2018). Royal Society for Protection of Nature, Bhutan. Rufford Funded. https://rufford.org/projects
- Dorji Y, Ahmed IU, Godbold DL, Wangdi N, (2017). Vegetative and edaphic control on soil C storage in altitudinal forests of Himalayan Poster at the Gfö Conference. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33514.72641
- Dorji Y, Gamage H, Shmidt S. (2008). Morphological and Biochemical differences be- tween the putative polyploidy and diploid lines of Elaeocarpus grandis trees in different temperature regimes. Thesis. University of Queensland, Biological Sciences Faculty, Brisbane, Australia.
- Dorji Y, Shmidt S. (2007). Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) Aggression Over Australian Native Weed (Alternanthera denticulata) in a greenhouse experimental University of Queensland, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Australia. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.11657.24163
- Wangdi N, Dorji Y, Om K, Nirola MP (2018). Reducing the Vulnerability of Bhutan’s Forests to the Expected Impacts of Climate Change. Policy Brief. UWICER Policy Brief Series 2018: No.1, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Bhutan.
- Sacha, , Dorji. Y, Nepal, N., Choden, S., Ghally, TB., Dendup, KC. (2021) Regener- ation status and soil nutrient content in blue pine forest in Thimphu, Western Bhu- tan. Indonesian Journal of Social and Environmental Issues (IJSEI), 2 (1), 48-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47540/ijsei.v2i1.201
Conference Presentations and Guest Speaker:
- Speaker at GfÖ Conference on “Response of internal architecture of beech (Fagus sylvatica ) trees to intra and interspecific competition”. Science Meeting of Switzerland, Austria and Germany, 2019 GfÖ Conference, Munster, Germany.
- Guest Speaker on ‘Forest Management and Silviculture in Bhutan’ on 10.03.2019 at the Department of Forest Ecology, Goettingen University, Germany
- Poster Presentation on ‘The Effects of Experimental Drought on the Fine Root Biomass of Two Different Altitudinal Forests of Bhutan’. 2018 National Symposium, Thimphu, Bhutan.
- Guest Speaker on “Story of GNH Development Philosophy in Bhutan” on 19 January 2020 at George-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany.
- International Conference presentation titled ‘Vegetative and edaphic control on soil C storage in altitudinal forests of Himalayan Bhutan’ at the 2016 GfÖ Conference, Science Meeting of Switzerland, Austria and Germany.
- BIMSTEC-IFPRI Conference on Environment and Climate Change, October 10-11, 2023, Organized by International Food Policy Research Institute, Paro Bhutan.
- Participant in Paro Forum on Water Management and Climate Change: Bridging Knowledge to Action. Organized by JSW Law Climate Change & Environment Law Centre. February 21 to 24, 2025
- National Conference Poster Presentation titled ‘Soil Carbon Sequestration Dynamics in Himalayan Bhutan amidst the Changing Climate’ organized by the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan from 25-27 March 2025.
1. Prof. Dr. Dominik Seidel
Spatial Structures and Forest Digitization
Georg August Universität Göettingen, Germany
D-37077 Goettingen
Tel.: +49 551 3923680
Email: dseidelwdg.de
2. Dr. Dhan B Gurung, Professor
Department of Forest Science
College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan
E-mail: dbgurung.cnr@rub.edu.bt
Phone: +975 17633256
3. Douglas Godbold, Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Institute of Forest Ecology (IFE)
BOKU University, Austria
1190 Vienna Peter-Jordan-Straße 82/II
Email: douglas.godboldoku.ac.at