On June 29, 2024, Dr. Mohammad Shamim Hasan MANDAL, a JSPS Postdoctoral in the Forestry Division, received the 28th Kira Award (Outstanding Young Researcher Category) at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Tropical Ecology (JASTE34) held in Fukui. The research that earned the award is titled ”Habitat suitability mapping for a high-value non-timber forest product: A case study of Rauvolfia serpentina.”

Dr. Mandal has been conducting research focused on quantifying the distribution of plant species in tropical regions using remote sensing technology and applying statistical methods for ecological interpretation. The award-winning research employs spatial modeling techniques, including Maxent species distribution modeling, to evaluate the habitat suitability of Rauvolfia serpentina, taking future climate change impacts into account. This research not only contributes to the conservation and sustainable management of Rauvolfia serpentina but also offers potential applications to conservation studies of other species using similar methods. Currently, Dr. Mandal is engaged in research using remote sensing technology to study mangrove ecosystems and is expected to advance research on ecosystem conservation and management in tropical and subtropical regions under climate change.

For more information about JASTE and the "Kira Award," please visit: https://www.jaste.website/gakkai
Link to the award-winning paper: https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.SINT04