Upama Dhakal

Project Assistant

Education

- Bachelors in Environmental Science (KU)
- Master’s in Environmental Science (TU)

Experienced Sector

Research, Community Engagement, Environmental Education, Biodiversity Conservation, Project Lead, Project Design, DRR, Animal Welfare, Human- Wildlife Conflict, Event Planning, Climate Change, Campaign Planning, GIS (Basic), EIA, IEE, Camera Trapping, Database Management

Year of Experience

Over 3 years

About Me

Upama Dhakal is an Environmental Science graduate and a conservation practitioner with over three years of experience in the NGO and research sectors. Through her past work, she has contributed to driving positive change among students and communities by designing and implementing campaigns and youth-led programs that promote environmental awareness, youth engagement, and sustainable practices.

Over the years, she has worked with organizations such as Friends of Nature Nepal, Soil Test Pvt. Ltd., and the Jane Goodall Institute Nepal, where she has developed strong professional skills in project coordination, project management, stakeholder engagement, report writing, and community mobilization. Her areas of expertise include environmental education, animal welfare, biodiversity conservation, climate action, behavior change, disaster risk reduction, project planning and execution, Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPA), GIS, communication, and community-based programs.

She has also led international Roots & Shoots projects across multiple schools in Nepal, engaging students in environmental and animal welfare initiatives. Additionally, she organized a large-scale carnival event during Dr. Jane Goodall’s visit to Nepal. She has experience working with marginalized communities and possesses a strong technical and research background, with major research focused on dolphins of the Koshi River and human–leopard conflict in the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park buffer zone.

Upama is proactive, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple responsibilities while maintaining high organizational standards. To stay energized and balanced, she enjoys walking, meditation, spending time with family, and cooking. She is passionate about working closely with communities and is committed to contributing to sustainable development through impactful environmental solutions and practices.