Chandra Prasad Giri (born May 13, 1961) is a Nepalese-American author and scientist. He is the pioneer in global mangrove mapping and monitoring using earth observation satellite data. He is the author of six books, more than one hundread scientific publications[1], and several newspaper articles[2][2]. Giri specializes in remote sensing and sensor technologies in mapping and monitoring of land cover and mangrove forest Giri is currently Senior Science Advisor of the Office of Research and Development (ORD), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Adjunct Professor at Duke University in North Carolina. Prior to this, he worked as Senior Scientist at the United States Geological Survey, Columbia University, the Asian Institute of Technology, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Nepal Government. Prior to this he worked as a school teacher at Dangi Secondary School, Dangihat, Morang, Nepal and Dhulabari Secondary School, Dhulabari, Jhapa, Nepal
His work produced the first, most comprehensive and highest resolution mangrove forest database of the world using earth observation satellite data at 30 meters spatial resolution [3][4].[5] The overall goal of his research is to assess the present status and historical dynamics of land cover and land use to describe and quantify patterns, trends, rates, causes, and consequences of both natural and anthropogenic changes from local to global scales[6].
This seminal paper[3] was cited more than 4,000 times,[1] and has become the most cited paper annually from 2014 to 2021 in the field of 'remote sensing in mangroves'.
The database is being used by researchers and practitioners worldwide and are available freely from a number of websites[7][8][9][10][11].
Early Life and education
Giri was born in an extremely remote village in the foothills of Mount Everest in Nepal. His parents were farmers in a rural village called Chimchima in the middle hills of Nepal. In the early years, he was raised by his grandfather Pratap Giri and his mother Rupa Giri. He got his elementary education at home and from Patheka Elementary School, Khotang, Nepal. He went to Dhulabari Secondary High School for his high school (until grade X) education. After that Giri was educated in the Tribhuvan University, the only University in Nepal at that time. Giri completed his Intermediate in Science degree from the Central Campus of Technology, Dharan and Bachelor of Science from Mahendra Morang Adarsha Bahumukhi Campus in Biratnagar. Giri dropped out of his Masters degree in Physics from the central campus Kirtipur to join the forestry program. He did his Bachelor in Forestry from Institute of Forestry, Pokhara. He was awarded a Masters (1993) and Ph.D. (1997) in Remote Sensing and GIS from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Research
Giri is an expert in the field of mapping and monitoring of mangrove forests. His work focuses on developing new methods to improve scientific understanding of the distribution and dynamics of land cover/mangrove forests.
Giri has led a number of international scientific working groups and deliberations including (i) Lead of the GEO working group in land cover, (ii) Lead of the working group on global mangrove monitoring, (iii) Co-lead, ISPRS working group on global land cover and (iv) founding member of the International Blue Carbon Scientific Working Group.
Giri is also an associate editor in various remote sensing journals including Remote Sensing Volume I[12], II[13], III[14] & IV[15].
Song writing
Giri is a lyricist and music producer for 16 Nepali songs and music videos.
Publications
List of his publication can be found at Chandra Giri in Google Scholar.[1] He is the author of the following books: 1. Remote sensing of land use and land cover: Principles and Applications (2012). 2. Remote Sensing in Mangroves Vol. I in 2021. 3. Remote Sensing in Mangroves Vol. II in 2023 4. Maile Nadekheko Sapana (Nepali) in 2024, 5. Unimagined Dream: A journey from the foothills of Mount Everest to the world stage in 2023 6. Sansarko Serofero (in Nepali) in 2024
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