Research
Research activities at the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) are designed to address pressing ecological challenges through rigorous, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based inquiry. Our work is structured around several core thematic areas that reflect the Centre’s commitment to advancing biodiversity science and informing conservation practice.
Thematic Issues
The CBC’s research focuses on the following thematic issues. The questions connected to these themes are intended as starting points for critical reflection and are not exhaustive.
Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring
What are the patterns of species distribution and abundance in different ecosystems? How can we effectively document and monitor biodiversity, from local campuses to global biodiversity hotspots? What are the baseline data needed to understand ecological change?
Climate Change and Ecology
How is climate change impacting the behaviour, distribution, and habitat of species? What are the differential impacts on various ecosystems and taxonomic groups? How can we model these impacts to inform proactive conservation strategies?
Invasive Species Management
What are the ecological and economic impacts of invasive alien species on native biodiversity? How can we develop and implement effective strategies for managing and controlling invasive species?
Conservation Effectiveness
How effective are current protected area networks in conserving species and habitats? What are the key factors that determine the success or failure of conservation interventions?
Community and Traditional Knowledge
What role do local communities and traditional ecological knowledge play in biodiversity conservation? How can conservation initiatives be designed to be socially inclusive and support sustainable livelihoods?
Research Verticals
Our research activities are organized into the following verticals, reflecting the Centre’s core competencies and ongoing projects.
Campus and Urban Biodiversity
This vertical focuses on understanding and documenting biodiversity within human-modified landscapes. A key project under this theme is the Campus Carbon Mapping Project, which created a comprehensive digital database of 1,742 trees on the JGU campus. This project quantified carbon storage and sequestration, demonstrating the climate mitigation role of urban green spaces and contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Read the full project storyHimalayan Biodiversity
This vertical is dedicated to exploring the rich biodiversity of the Himalayan region, a global biodiversity hotspot. Research includes field-based documentation of avian diversity, as seen in the Photographic Guide to Birds of the Himalaya – Series 1, and ecological studies on tree diversity patterns. For instance, research published in the journal Trees, Forests and People has highlighted the high levels of tree diversity in temperate Himalayan forests and the importance of protected areas for conserving endemic species.
View related publicationsClimate Change and Conservation Science
This vertical focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation strategies. Research includes species distribution modelling to predict future habitat changes and studies examining the resilience of ecosystems to climate pressures.
Community Engagement and Experiential Learning
This vertical emphasizes the role of outreach, education, and community participation in conservation. Projects like the Campus Carbon Mapping Internship and expert-led workshops on biodiversity topics (e.g., the “Discovering Dragonflies” workshop) serve as platforms for hands-on learning, building student capacity, and fostering public awareness. This research vertical connects scientific knowledge with practical conservation action and community stewardship.
Explore outreach eventsCampus Carbon Mapping Project
The Campus Carbon Mapping Project 2025 was a hands-on sustainability initiative offered by the Office of Sustainability in collaboration with the Jindal School of Environment & Sustainability (JSES) and the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). Designed as a data-driven experiential learning programme, the internship aimed to create JGU’s first comprehensive digital database of carbon and trees while building students’ capacity in biodiversity mapping, ecological assessment, and sustainability reporting.
Read MoreSee our published research
From journal articles to field photographic guides — explore CBC’s growing body of published work.