Biography
Tejendra Kandel is a PhD Candidate in Hydrology at the University of Virginia, Department of Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on eco-hydrological dynamics in mountainous watersheds, particularly in Nepal’s mid-hills, where communities face increasing water scarcity due to climate change, land-use shifts, unplanned pine plantations, and deforestation. His work integrates hydrological modeling, remote sensing, and field-based observations to analyze how forest management, soil properties, and climate variability impact streamflow, groundwater recharge, and springwater availability. He incorporates space-based datasets, including LULC, DEM, and satellite-derived precipitation, to enhance hydrological assessments and watershed-scale water security analysis.
His primary research investigates how community-managed forests regulate water availability, particularly in dry seasons when groundwater-fed springs—critical for drinking water and agriculture—are drying up. Using the Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys), he simulates land-climate-water feedback mechanisms to assess the impacts of afforestation, sustainable land-use planning, nature-based solutions (NbS), climate-resilient forestry, and participatory water governance on watershed eco-hydrology. By integrating interdisciplinary approaches, he aims to develop scientifically informed yet community-driven solutions that improve forest-water interactions, groundwater recharge, and dry-season streamflow stability.
His research in the Sundarijal watershed near Kathmandu Valley has demonstrated that watershed management plans must incorporate tree species selection based on their water-use efficiency to safeguard water resources while preserving biodiversity. His findings highlight that strategic forest management can address Nepal’s long-term water scarcity issues while simultaneously reducing flash flooding risks for downstream communities. Additionally, his work reveals the importance of protecting and restoring degraded springs by identifying critical recharge zones, improving infiltration, and implementing sustainable forest conservation strategies.
His broader expertise includes remote sensing applications in hydrology, land-use change analysis, and participatory water governance models. He actively promotes citizen science approaches, engaging local and indigenous communities in the sustainable management of community forests. Recognizing that these forests act as vital water towers for both local communities and the entire mid-hills and Terai region of Nepal, he advocates for science-driven forest conservation strategies to enhance dry-season streamflow and rejuvenate degraded and dried springs. His work provides practical recommendations on forest species selection and management practices to optimize water retention and long-term ecosystem resilience.
Through the Space4Water Stakeholder Meeting, Tejendra aims to explore how space-based technologies, including remote sensing and satellite-derived hydrological data, can enhance water security assessments and conservation planning in Nepal’s fragile ecosystems. He is particularly interested in interdisciplinary collaborations to advance community-led watershed restoration and climate adaptation in the Himalayan region.
