Kumar Darjee holds a PhD in Natural Science from the University of Hamburg, Germany; an MSc in Tropical Forestry and Management from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany; an MA in Humanities and Social Sciences; a BSc in Forestry; and a BA in Sociology/Psychology from Tribhuvan University. His doctoral research, “Embracing Proactive Measures for Climate Change Adaptation,” investigates how individuals and communities perceive the impacts of climate change and how these perceptions shape adaptive behaviors in response to climate-induced stressors. He examined the interaction between local adaptation practices and climate policies, demonstrating that community-led initiatives, combined with indigenous and traditional knowledge, can significantly strengthen climate resilience.
He is a Research Fellow at SIAS, bringing strong multidisciplinary academic and research expertise in multi-stakeholder initiatives that bridge science, policy, and practice to drive impactful climate action. He has contributed to the scientific community through publications in peer-reviewed journals, books, and reports. Additionally, he has served as a reviewer for several international journals, including Natural Hazards, Environmental Development, Journal of Mountain Science, European Journal of Forest Research, Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, and American Journal of Climate Change. His broader research interests focus on sustainable climate action, particularly interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary strategies for climate change adaptation, emphasizing proactive and transformative approaches to enhance resilience.
Prior to this, Kumar worked with several organizations including SDC, GIZ, UNDP, MSCFP, FECOFUN, and WLCN, advancing forest management, enterprise development, rural livelihoods, and policy reforms, with a focus on empowering women, Indigenous and disadvantaged communities, youth, and low-income households to take leadership in resource management.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Sapkota, P., Darjee, K., Sharma, P., Rijal, S., & Ojha, H. (2025). Restoring systems thinking: Climate risks, autonomous adaptation, and enabling policy in community forestry. In H. Ojha, K. K. Shrestha, N. S. Paudel, R. Karki, D. Khatri, S. Baral, M. R. Banjade, & I. Nuberg (Eds.), Restoring Forests and Improving Livelihoods in Nepal: Four Decades of Community Forestry (pp. 241–257). Routledge / Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032705613-19
Sunam, R., Bishwokarma, D., & Darjee, K. (2025). Climate change, migration and livelihoods: responding to or reproducing vulnerability? In F. Miller, K. K. Shrestha, & S. Wright (Eds.), Handbook on Climate Change Vulnerability, Environments and Communities (pp. 53–69). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800882829.00012
Neupane, P.R., Darjee K. B., Böhner J., and Köhl, M. (2024). Rural Communities in Nepalese Highlands, Nepal. In: Engels, A., J. Marotzke, B. Ratter, E.G. Gresse, A. López-Rivera, A. Pagnone, J. Wilkens (eds.); 2024. Hamburg Climate Futures Outlook 2024. Conditions for Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation. Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), pp. 120-124. transcript Verlag, Bielefeld.
Darjee, K., Neupane, P., & Köhl, M. (2023). Proactive Adaptation Responses by Vulnerable Communities to Climate Change Impacts. Sustainability, 15, 10952. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410952
Darjee, K., Neupane, P., & Köhl, M. (2022). Do Local Perceptions of Climate Variability and Changes Correspond to Observed Climate Changes? A Comparative Study from Nepal as One of the Most Climate-Vulnerable Countries, Weather, Climate, and Society, 14(1), 205-222. https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/wcas/14/1/WCAS-D-21-0081.1.xml
Darjee, K., Sunam, R., Köhl, M., & Neupane, P. (2021). Do National Policies Translate into Local Actions? Analyzing Coherence between Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Implications for Local Adaptation in Nepal. Sustainability, 13(23), 13115. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313115
Darjee, K. & Ankomah, G. O. (2017). Climate change adaptation practices of forest dependent poor people: Comparative study of Nepal and Ghana. In Editors: L. Fehrmann, A. Kleinn & C. Kleinn (eds.). The science policy gap regarding informed decisions in forest policy and management: what scientific information are policy makers really interested in? Proceedings of the 6th international workshop (pp. 215-226), 13-19 Dec. 2016, Santiago de Chile. Cuvillier Verlag, Goettingen 2017
Sunam, R. K., Bishwokarma, D., & Darjee, K. (2015). Conservation policy making in Nepal: Problematising the politics of civic resistance. Conservation and Society, 13(2), 179–188
Khadka, M., Karki, S., Karky, B.S., Kotru, R. & Darjee, K. (2014). Gender equality challenges to the REDD+ initiative in Nepal. Mountain Research and Development 34(3): 197–207
Darjee, K. (2009). Vultures Need Nurture in Natural Culture. Pradej. Annual Publication of Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Gurung, M., Khadka, M. & Darjee, K. (2008). Buffer zone management policy implication on the livelihoods of excluded groups (A case study of Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal). Social Inclusion Research Fund Secretariat/SNV, Nepal. Available online at http://www.socialinclusion.org.np/researchbriefdetail.php?m=english&h=Other&pg=2
Darjee, K. (1999). Save the Environment. Sirjana, Annual Publication of Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
