SDG 15: Life on Land

1Research for forests, wildlife and soils

UPES research supports Himalayan forests, wildlife and farmland, from fire detection and habitat mapping to medicinal plants and organic farming, and develops biological ways to clean polluted soil and water.

The figures below cover UPES research publications on land, forests, soils and biodiversity from 2021 to 2025 (source: Scopus, October 2026).

230life-on-land research publications, 2021–2025

4,569citations to these papers

19.9citations per paper

146journal articles and reviews

47%with international co-authors

108 of the 230 papers were written with partners abroad, from 102 countries and territories. The most frequent are United States (31), China (31), Malaysia (19), Denmark (17), Taiwan (16), South Korea (16), Mexico (12), United Kingdom (10).

What the research covers

Number of 2021–2025 papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).

Theme	Papers
Bioremediation and pollution clean-up	106
Biodiversity, forests and wildlife	93
Biochar, biomass and waste to value	79
Soil, land use and agriculture	62
Wastewater, microalgae and bioresources	50
Climate change	18
Remote sensing and GIS	13

Most cited work on land and ecosystems

Organic wastes bioremediation and its changing prospects (Science of the Total Environment, 2022), cited 241 times.
Microalgae-based wastewater treatment – Microalgae-bacteria consortia, multi-omics approaches and algal stress response (Science of the Total Environment, 2022), cited 151 times.
Multifunctional applications of bamboo crop beyond environmental management: an Indian prospective (Bioengineered, 2022), cited 114 times.
Sustainable microalgal biomass production in food industry wastewater for low-cost biorefinery products: a review (Phytochemistry Reviews, 2023), cited 114 times.
Strategies for biological treatment of waste water: A critical review (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2024), cited 113 times.

The full list of 314 publications since 2013, with links, is on the life-on-land research publications page (also available as a spreadsheet).

Research spotlights

Mapping habitats at Kuno National Park

In April–May 2025, five School of Computer Science students spent 10 days in the field with Wildlife Institute of India researchers and forest staff, recording herbivores, vegetation and ground cover with GPS tools to support habitat-density modelling.

UPES blog

Fighting forest fires

With the Forest Research Institute, UPES developed fire-fighting tools and fire-safety clothing that were field-tested and supplied to forest departments in Uttarakhand, Kerala and Odisha. Researchers have worked on wireless fire detection, and HILL is designing an affordable early-warning device for Himalayan forests.

HILL · SEED projects (PDF)

Roots Renewed in Uttarkashi

A three-year project funded by the National Mission on Himalayan Studies of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, run with Kumaun University, is building livelihoods in Uttarkashi through organic farming, value-added products, marketing and skills training.

Medicinal and aromatic plants

A DST-funded laboratory studies essential oil yields, antimicrobial properties and cultivation of lemongrass, tulsi, stevia and chamomile, with polyhouses and nurseries where nearby farmers are trained.

UPES SDG blog

More research

Wildlife. UPES contributed expertise to the national Status of Leopards in India 2018 assessment, and researchers study forest regeneration and human–wildlife interactions in the Himalaya.
The value of nature. Dr Mohammad Younus Bhatt researches the economic value of Himalayan biodiversity and how climate change affects biodiversity in national parks and wetlands.
Healthier soils. Researchers turn organic waste and invasive plant biomass into biochar and biogas, and a microalgae wastewater plant produces bio-fertiliser.
Social innovation for farming. The BIRAC-funded SWACHH Incubation Centre, led by Dr Nidhi Chauhan, mentors innovators working on climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food systems.

Sources and further reading

2A green campus

UPES's campuses keep their tree cover, natural drainage and native plants, and are managed without chemical fertilisers.

Trees and wildlife. Extensive tree cover on both campuses supports local birds and insects. New native trees are planted at orientation and on environmental days, and when a tree must be removed, several saplings are planted in its place.
Herbal Garden. B.Pharm students grow native medicinal plants such as bael, neem, amla, pomegranate, fig and Indian jujube.
Working with the land. Buildings follow the hill terrain and keep natural drainage, rainwater feeds irrigation ponds, and gardens use compost and bio-manure made on campus instead of chemical fertilisers.
Protecting native plants. Invasive plants are cleared on campus, and UPES joins local efforts to control invasive weeds in forests.
For the birds. The student GreenUp club has installed birdhouses and bird feeders across campus.

Flowering shrubs and native planting in front of campus buildings — Native planting across the campus.

An aerial view of a circular lawn ringed with flowers on campus — A landscaped lawn seen from above.

Sources and further reading

3Planting and restoring forests

UPES students and staff plant trees with the Forest Department, NGOs, schools and villagers across the Doon Valley.

10,000trees in the 2025 Reviving Doon Valley campaign

200fruit trees planted for wildlife at Dhaulas

120saplings planted with school students, 2023

Reviving Doon Valley. UPES joined this regional reforestation drive, which grew in 2025 into a campaign to plant 10,000 trees across the Dehradun valley with partners including Flora Saviors and FICCI FLO. On 28 July 2025 Srijan interns helped plant in the Jhajhra Range, where saplings are geo-tagged and cared for over several years.
Fruit Forest for Animals. UPES volunteers, government officials and villagers planted 200 fruit trees on the forest fringe at Dhaulas to provide food for wildlife.
With young people. On Independence Day 2023, UPES helped students of Shigally Hill International School plant 120 saplings.
Village common lands. UPES experts help communities restore village commons and stop soil erosion on hillsides.

NSS UPES volunteers walk through a forest during their community camp — NSS volunteers in the hills during their community camp.

A forest trail lined with tall trees visited by NSS UPES volunteers — Forests around Dehradun, where UPES volunteers plant and care for trees.

Sources and further reading

4Communities, livelihoods and learning

UPES helps rural families earn a living from the land sustainably and teaches young people to value nature.

625+rural women trained by Project Vikalp since 2015

4villages where farmers grow medicinal plants with UPES

Project Vikalp. Set up in May 2015 with the DST's Science for Equity, Empowerment and Development division, this Rural Women Technology Park trains women to make products from waste paper, bamboo, jute, date-palm leaves and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Medicinal plant farming. UPES trains and supports farmers in Than Gaon, Birsani, Doonga and Masraajpatti to grow tulsi, chamomile, lemongrass and stevia.
Better hill farming. Faculty and students work with farmers on terrace farming, organic farming, soil testing and watershed management, and demonstrate solar cookers and biogas units to reduce the need for firewood.
Nature for schoolchildren. With local schools, UPES runs biodiversity lessons, plant identification and bird-watching.
Awareness. World Environment Day, World Wildlife Day and wetland awareness events, and the GreenUp club's annual AtmosFair, bring experts and students together on biodiversity and conservation.

UPES students lead an environment session for children in a classroom — GreenUp Club members teach children about protecting nature.

Sources and further reading

Events and activities

15 events from UPES schools and departments support this goal. Each links to the original LinkedIn post.

School of Advanced Engineering

Shaping Future Geoscientists: UPES Students Learn from India’s Geological Heritage

For geologists, the entire planet is a classroom - and nature is the greatest teacher. Every outcrop, every layer of rock, and every landscape narrates a story far…

SDG 4SDG 11SDG 15

Source	Type	Used in
UPES SEED projects 2022–2024	PDF	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils
ICFRE report on forest fire research	PDF	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils
UPES SDG 15 report	PDF	2. A green campus 4. Communities, livelihoods and learning
UPES students research with WII at Kuno National Park	Website	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils
Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL)	Website	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils
How UPES is contributing to the SDGs	Website	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils 2. A green campus 3. Planting and restoring forests 4. Communities, livelihoods and learning
Flora Saviors	Website	3. Planting and restoring forests
Srijan Social Internship	Website	3. Planting and restoring forests
Project Vikalp	Website	4. Communities, livelihoods and learning
UPES life-on-land research publications: full list	Publication list	1. Research for forests, wildlife and soils

1Research for forests, wildlife and soils

What the research covers

Most cited work on land and ecosystems

Research spotlights

Mapping habitats at Kuno National Park

Fighting forest fires

Roots Renewed in Uttarkashi

Medicinal and aromatic plants

More research

2A green campus

3Planting and restoring forests

4Communities, livelihoods and learning

Events and activities

Shaping Future Geoscientists: UPES Students Learn from India’s Geological Heritage

Research Excellence at UPES!

Why Internship Before Placement Makes All the Difference

Unveiling India’s Supply Chains in a World at War at UPES

VALORANT Campus Cup ariives at UPES,Dehradun.

Decoding Forest Health Through Real-World Challenges

The School of Law, UPES, is proud to share that four of its law students presented their research papers…

We are delighted to share that Deepesh Gulgulia, student of B. Com.

Legal Odyssey 2025 | Law in Action

Reflecting on an Inspiring Vidhi Symposium at Vidhiutsav 2025!

UPES Law Fest Vidhiutsav 2025 presents an insightful Vidhi Symposium with Shri Raj Kumar Bajpai, IFS,…

Congratulations to our UPES School of Law alumnus, Mr. Sumit Kishore, for clearing the prestigious Supreme…

Congratulations to Abhyudaya S. for securing the second prize in the Keshav Dhulia Memorial Essay Competition.

International Conference on New Paradigms in Environmental Sustainability and Energy Laws

When students support students, learning becomes transformative.

All sources