Saravanan Jothivel

Environmental Science researcher with expertise in plant bionomics, forest ecology, terrestrial carbon dynamics and biogeochemistry, conservation biology, environmental impact and risk assessment, urban air pollution, hydro-geochemistry, ecological restoration, and climate change. Currently working as Consultant at Centre for Biodiversity, Environmental Upgradation and Built Environment Through Panchayats, School of Excellence in Panchayati raj (SoEPR), NIRDPR, Hyderabad. Postdoctoral fellow with international research experience in China and extensive work across India on environmental monitoring, assessment, and management.

Consultant - Centre for Biodiversity, Environmental Upgradation and Built Environment Through Panchayats, School of Excellence in Panchayati raj (SoEPR), National Institute - Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad, India

(2024-11)

• Developed training modules on carbon-neutral practices for Gram Panchayats under a ToT approach
• Conducted research to assess climate-resilient and carbon-neutral practices across India
• Prepared a Carbon Neutral Gram Panchayat Toolkit for calculation, planning, and GPDP integration
• Designed baseline assessment guidelines and sector-specific data collection tools
• Localized carbon accounting frameworks based on IPCC and MoEFCC standards
• Promoted biodiversity planning through People's Biodiversity Registers and GPDP integration
• Identified scalable community-led livelihood models and contributed to a national climate action framework

Environmental Expert - WAPCOS Limited (A Government of India Undertaking - Ministry of Jal Shakti) - Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

(2024-09 - 2024-10)

Monitoring of the institutional framework for the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) during the construction of stormwater drainage infrastructure in Thoothukudi Corporation, as part of the Tamil Nadu Urban Flagship Investment Program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Environmental Expert (Project Management Consultant-PMC) - WAPCOS Limited (A Government of India Undertaking - Ministry of Jal Shakti) - Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

(2022-08 - 2024-07)

Preparation and periodic updating of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Extension, Renovation, and Modernization (ERM) works of the Grand Anicut Canal System (GACS), funded by AIIB.

• Monitored compliance with environmental safeguards including tree felling activities
• Implementation of compensatory afforestation plans
• Assessment of environmental quality parameters such as ambient air, noise, water, and soil
• Overseeing waste management practices to ensure adherence to AIIB standards

Research Associate - Department of Forestry, Mizoram University - Aizawl, Mizoram, India

(2020-12 - 2022-02)

Long-term ecological monitoring of diverse forest ecosystems across multiple sites in Mizoram, Northeast India.

Post-doctoral Fellow - School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University (SEU) - Nanjing, China

(2018-10 - 2020-11)

Research on the role of urban trees and forests in atmospheric CO2 concentration and management, and teaching post-graduate students in Municipal Engineering.

Associate Consultant (Freelancer) - Geo Exploration and Mining Solutions (GEMS) - Salem, Tamilnadu, India

(2016-10 - 2018-02)

• Preparation of comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for diverse development projects
• Management and coordination of environmental services projects to ensure compliance with regulatory standards

Research Associate - School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University - India

(2016-09 - 2016-09)

Energy efficiency study and extent of application of new policies and best practices in 13 districts of Uttarakhand (Unable to joint)

Associate Head - Geo Exploration and Mining Solutions (GEMS) - Salem, Tamilnadu, India

(2015-12 - 2016-08)

• Oversight and management of environmental services projects
• Systematic monitoring of environmental quality parameters such as ambient air, noise, water, and soil to ensure regulatory compliance and minimize ecological impacts

Project Associate - Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) - India

(2015-03 - 2015-11)

Assessment of natural resource utilization patterns among diverse tribal communities - Badugar, Todar, Kotar, Kurumbar, and Irular in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India.

Senior Field Researcher - Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) - Pune, India

(2013-05 - 2013-07)

Assessment of standing biomass and carbon stock in privately-owned forest patches within the Western Ghats region.

Principal Investigator (PI) - Bharathidasan University - Trichy, Tamilnadu, India

(2013-01 - 2013-05)

Air quality assessment in the vicinity of Cauvery sand quarry sites, focusing on particulate matter (PM 2.5) and gaseous pollutants including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx).

Project Fellow - Department of Environmental Science and Management, Bharathidasan University - Trichy, Tamilnadu, India

(2009-03 - 2012-02)

Assessment of carbon fluxes and carbon sink dynamics in the Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, with a focus on quantifying carbon pools in aboveground biomass, litter, coarse woody debris, and soil compartments.

Ph. D - Environmental Science - Bharathidasan University (2015)

M. Phil - Environmental Science - Periyar Maniammai University (2008)

M. Sc - Environmental Science - Bharathidasan University (2007)

B. Sc - Zoology - Bharathidasan University (2005)