Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe – Department of Forestry and Environmental Science

Prof. Hemanthi Ranasinghe
Senior Professor in Forestry and Environment Science
B.Sc. (Hons), M. Sc. (USJ), Ph.D. (Wales), C. I. Biol. (Sri Lanka)
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Email: hemanthi.ranasinghe@gmail.com

Research interest:

Silviculture and Plantation Forestry,
Biodiversity,
Agroforestry and Social Forestry,
Tree Improvement.
Environmental Assessments and Monitoring and Evaluation.

CV:

Educational Qualification

B.Sc. Botany Hons. (1982), Department of Botany, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

M.Sc. Forestry & environment science (1985), Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

PhD. Forestry and Environment Science (1989), School of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, UK

Positions Held

Dean/Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. (2016-2018)
Coordinator, AHEAD Project of the World Bank, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. (2020- to date)
Director, International Affairs, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. (2021-to date)
Chairperson, Institute of Environmental Professionals, Sri Lanka. (2010-todate)
Sessional Lecturer , University of Toronto, /Department of Geography, Canada. (2014).
Adjunct Professor/Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Canada. (2014-2016)
Environmental Planning Volunteer, Toronto Regional Conservation Authority, Environmental Assessment and Planning Division, Canada. (2015)
Water Resources Assessment Officer, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, /Regional Water Resources Unit, Canada. (2014-2015)

Honorary Appointments

Member of the Advisory Committee of the SDC which is reporting to Prime Minister – Sustainable Development Council (SDC). (2021-todate)
Member, National Expert Committee on Climate Change Mitigation Ministry of Environment. (2018 – to date)
Governing Board Member – Central Environmental Authority. (2018-to 2022)
Member of the Editorial Committee, Ministry of Environment – Ministry of Environment. (2020 – to date)
Member of the Advisory Panel – AMBIO Journal with a impact factor of 5. (2021 – to date)
Lead Author – Asia Pacific Assessment – Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). (2018 – to date)
Co-Chair – facilitate the infusion of nature based solutions at landscape, seascape and waterscape levels through knowledge transfers, skills development and empowerment and implementation on the ground. IUCN CEM (2016- to date)
Academic Advisor. Climate Fact Checks. (2023)
Advisor, INORA. (2022 to date)
Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) Chairperson/Forestry Committee and then Member of the Agriculture and Forestry Committee. (2016 – 2018 and 2019 – to date)
Member, Editorial Committee, Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP). (2016- to date)
Chairperson/Environmental Subcommittee, Research Arm of NSF, National Science Foundation (NSF). (2021 – to date)
Member of the National Research Committee, Man and Biosphere Committee and Chairperson of Forestry Committee, National Science Foundation (NSF) (2015 – 2017)
Council member, reviewer of all types of grants including Public Private Partnership, Target Oriented Grants, Individual Research Grants. National Research Council. (2018-2020)
Editorial Board Member of the Journal of the Institute, National Institute of Defense Studies. (2020 – to date)
Senior Technical Expert, Climate Change & Forestry, SLYCAN Trust. (2021 – to date)
Chairman/Environmental Committee on the Preparation of the Strategy Report – Sustainable Vision 2030 for Sri Lanka, Presidential Secretariat. (2017-2018)
Chairperson, Academic and Examination Sub Committee which handles policy dialogues and training on EIA, ESG Frameworks, EMMP etc. Institute of Environmental Professionals. (2010-todate)
Council Member and Editor, Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP). (2017 – to date)
Council Member, Sri Lanka Evaluation Association. (2021 – to date)
Advisor, Centre for Evaluation. (2018- to date)

Research Interest

Conducted research in the broad areas of biodiversity and ecosystem management, water resource management, community participation in resource management, indigenous knowledge practices, sustainability practices in development planning, ecotourism and recreational area management, wetlands in water purification, renewable energy (biomass), monitoring and evaluation of projects, climate change mitigation and adaptation, forest silviculture and management, agroforestry, propagation of forest tree species and tree improvement. In the recent years my research was more focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation aspects. The list of publications is attached herewith.

Conducted collaborative research on the aforesaid areas with national and international organizations. Some of such bodies are; United Nations University, Japan, Terri School of Advanced Studies, India, York University, Canada, University of Toronto, Canada, University of Wales, Bangor, UK, University of Portsmouth, UK, Yale University, USA, WINROCK INTERNATIONAL – F/FRED based in Bangkok and CSIRO, Australia., FAO, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Prepared the publication ‘ National Research Priorities in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation’ as a deliverable of the Second National Communication on Climate Change for the UNFCCC. Further, as a Team member and National Expert on Climate Change Mitigation of the 3NC, provided inputs to the consultant dealing with research priorities in the Third National Communication on climate change for the UNFCCC.

Served as an active member of many research platforms both national and international as Chairperson of Committee/Reviewer of research proposals/managing research, develop databases of researchers with their expert areas and publication of research. Some of such platforms are National Science Foundation (NSF), National Research Council (NRC), Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP), IUCN, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). I served on many editorial boards of Ministry of Environment, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (International Journal of Forest Resource Management), National Institute of Defense Studies etc. Serve as a Technical Expert in Forestry sector in the SLYCAN Trust.

Membership of Professional Associations

Chartered Environmentalist (C. Env.) Institute of Environmental Professionals, Sri Lanka Certified Environmental Manager, the Cambridge College of Managers, UK
Chartered Biologist, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka
Life Member and Council Member, Sri Lanka Evaluation Association
Life Member and Editor, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Quality and Productivity

Professional Training

Statistics for Biologists. (2022)
Strategic Environmental Assessment, Central Environmental Authority in association with the Centre for Environmental Justice. (2021)

Capacity Building on the preparation of IPCC Inventory Software by UNFCCC. (2021)
Capacity Building in the preparation of National Communications to UNFCCC, UNDP. (2019)
Managing Evaluations, UNICEF, CFE and University of Sri Jayewardenepura. (2019)
Total Quality Management, Sri Lanka Association for Advancement of Quality and Productivity (SLAAQP). (2019)

LEAN for service industries. (2018)
Adopting 5S in the workplace, National Productivity Secretariat. (2017)
Project Management, University of Toronto. (2015)
Monitoring and Evaluation for Trainers, UNICEF and TESA. (2014)
Lead Auditor in Forest Stewardship Council, Control Union Inspections. (2014)
Lead Auditor in ISO 14001, Dos Norske Veritas. (2013)
Environmental Impact Assessment & Strategic Environmental Assessment, USAID. (2009)
Geographic Information Systems, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. (2009)
Cleaner Production and Life Cycle Assessment, UNIDO. (2010)
Forest Management, Cranfield Institute of Technology, United Kingdom. (1999)

Certifications

Certified Environmental Manager, The Cambridge College of Managers, UK. (2016)
Chartered Environmentalist, Institute of Environmental Professionals, Sri Lanka. (2012)
Chartered Biologist & Fellow, Institute of Biology, Sri Lanka. (2000)
Lead Auditor ISO 14001. (2013)
Auditor, Forest Stewardship Council. (2014)

Consulting/Professional

Since obtaining the PhD in 1990 I had been engaging in consulting work especially in environmental assessments in a multitude of sectors including tourism and recreation, construction of roads/expressways, reservoirs, ports and harbors, pipelines transmitting water and fuel, electricity transmission lines and power plants, industrial estates, agriculture development, renewable energy generation, water supply etc. This included feasibility studies as well as environmental impact assessments. In these projects I had performed the roles of Environmentalist/Environmental Safeguard Specialist, Biodiversity, Forestry Specialist, Climate Change Specialist, Environmental Planner, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist in consultancy teams. I had also performed the role of Team Leader numerous occasions in Environmental Impact Assessments of large construction projects performing in the capacity of technical expert as well as managing an interdisciplinary team of environmental and social development specialists in achieving the common goals of ensuring environmental and social safeguards in the respective impact areas. I have excelled in the preparation of Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans for Projects for both the construction and implementation phases and had been instrumental in providing necessary training to contractors as well as clients in ensuring success. I also have performed both mid-term and end of term evaluations on projects and programs using standard evaluation methodologies of United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG).

I have worked for international agencies directly as well as for projects funded and monitoring by them some being Asian Development Bank, World Bank, GGGI, JAICA, UNDP, UNEP, FAO. The countries of work spans from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Canada, USA and Australia. Some significant consultancies undertaken in Sri Lanka and internally are shown below.

Consultancies

GGGI and Ministry of Environment – Climate Change Research Consultant. (2023)
GGGI and Ministry of Environment – Provincial Climate Change Adaptation Consultant for Western, Southern, North Central and Wayamba Provinces. (2022-2023)
EML Consultants for the Ministry of Environment – Forestry Specialist in the preparation of road map and strategic plan for Sri Lanka to achieve net zero status in carbon by. (2022)
ISL Consultants for the Ministry of Environment – Climate Change Mitigation Specialist (Forestry) and Co Team Leader/CC Adaptation in Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for UNFCCC. (2022)
EML Consultants for UNDP – Biodiversity Specialist, An Assessment of Subsidies Most Harmful to Biodiversity in Sri Lanka and Recommendations for Re-Purposing such Subsidies (BIOIFIN Project). (2022)
EML Consultants for UNDP – Team Leader, Carrying capacity assessment for Knuckles Riversten tourism destination in Sri Lanka. (2022)
University of Jaffna – Consultant, AHEAD Project of the World Bank. (2021)
UNDP and Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment Consultant, Revision of the NDC in Forestry Sector (2020)
Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment – National Expert, Climate Change Mitigation, Third National Communication (2017-2019)
Ceylon Electricity Board – Team Leader, Environmental Impact Assessment for the 300 MW coal power plant in Norochcholai (2020)
Climate Resilience Improvement Project, Ministry of Irrigation – Environment and Safeguard Specialist (2019-2020)
Four Cities Project – Sustainable Urban Development Project, Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development – Environmental and Safeguard Specialist (2019-2020)
Sustainable Urban Development Project, Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development – Environmental Specialist, Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Masterplan on Storm Water Drainage in the Jaffna Municipal Council (2019)
Presidential Secretariat – Chairman/Environmental Committee on the Preparation of the Strategy Report – Sustainable Vision 2030 for Sri Lanka (2017-2018)
United Nations Development Project – Forestry/Environment Specialist – EU Supported District Development Programme (2016-2017)
Snowy Mountain – Engineering Corporation Environmental Compliance Specialist – ADB funded Urban (2011-2014)
International, Australia – Water and Sanitation Project
Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development through Resource Development Consultants Environmental Specialist – Secondary Cities Development Project (2015-2016)
Ministry of Environment and Forests – Consultant – Climate Change Mitigation (2013-2015)
PLAN International – Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (2013)
Mensilin Americas Inc. – Consultant/Renewable Energy Development (2014-2015)
Road Development Authority – Team Leader – Port to Port Expressways, Northern Expressway (2013-2014)
Board of Investment Team Leader – Industrial Estate Hambantota. (2014)
Ministry of Power and Energy Environmental Consultant – Revision of the National Energy Policy and Strategies. (2011)
Ministry of Power and Energy – Ceylon Electricity Board – Team Leader and Environmentalist – Feasibility studies and IEE on 5 electricity transmission lines. (2011)
Informatics Group of Companies – Team Leader – Preparation of Forestry Management Plan and preparation of documents for Forest Certification for INFORMATICS – AGROTECH (2010)
Touchwood Investments Plc. – Forestry Consultant (2009-2011)
Ministry of Environment – Climate Change Consultant on Mitigation Assessment for the Second National Communication. (2009)
State Plantation Corporation – Team Leader – Preparation of management plans and environmental assessments for 11 tea estates. (2008)
DFCC Bank – Independent Environment Consultant for the DFCC/World Bank Project to evaluate the renewable energy projects. (2008)
Asian Development Bank – Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist – North and Eastern Coastal Community Development Project (NECCDEP). (2008)
Ministry of Environment – Prepared the chapters on forestry and biodiversity in the Environmental Outlook Report. (2007)
Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply – Environmental expert – conducted a mid-term audit on environmental perspectives of the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project. (2006)
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka – BIOLOGIST, in the Environmental Impact Assessment on Kalu Ganga Agricultural Development Project. (2006)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Coast Conservation Department (CCD)
FORESTRY EXPERT, in the preparation integrated guidelines for establishment of the green belt in Sri Lanka. (2006)
Team Leader, Feasibility study on the establishment of new plant nurseries to cater to the demand on greening post tsunami re settlements and townships. (2006)
Bio Energy Association of Sri Lanka – Evaluated the first Dendro power plant operated by the Lanka Transformers Limited in Walapane. (2006)
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) – Team Leader – led a group of multidisciplinary professionals in the assessment of tsunami damage on the coastal vegetation in 5 affected districts and prepared guidelines for integrated coastal area management with special reference to establishment of a Green Belt. (2005)
Road Development Authority – Environmentalist, prepared guidelines for integrating environmental concerns in all stages of road construction and maintenance. (2005)
PLAN International – Environmentalist – prepared environmental assessment of the proposed models for increasing the community participation in the tea estate sector using Tea Small holder Model. Prepared a comprehensive monitoring plan for the same. (2005)
World Bank – Facilitated a training programme using Video Conferencing on ‘Use of Indigenous Knowledge in achieving MDGs’for professionals, practitioners and policy makers. (2005)
Ministry of Education – Environmental Education Consultant – ADB Assisted Secondary Education Modernisation Project (SEMP) which encompassed the integration of environmental components into all areas in the secondary education by way of curriculum revision and practical/field studies. (2004)
UNDP – Team Leader & Environmental Specialist – Prepared the national report on the Goal 7 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which is Ensuring Environmental Sustainability. (2004)
ADB – Domestic Environmental Specialist – NECCDEP Project. (2003)
Ministry of Rural Economy – Team Leader and Environmentalist – Developed a Environmental Management Framework for the World Bank assisted project on rural development in Uva and Southern Provinces of Sri Lanka. (2003)
Ministry of Agriculture – Environmental Advisor for the Core Team and Environmentalist – NORTH EAST INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE PROJECT (NEIAP) (2003)
Ministry of Fisheries -Team Leader and Environmentalist – Carried out an Initial Environmental Examination for the construction of a fisheries harbor in Ambalangoda in Southern Sri Lanka. In doing this, mobilization of general public into discussions was effected. (2003)
Department of Irrigation – Environmental Expert – Water Management for the Southern Area Development Project. (2003)
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka – Environmentalist -Enumerated the environmental impacts arising from the diversion of Kalu Ganga. (2002)
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka – Environmentalist -Enumerated the environmental impacts arising from the construction of Moragahakanda Reservoir along with power generation in Naulla which is the last one of the reservoirs proposed by the 5 year Master Plan of Mahaweli. (2002)
Road Development Authority – Team Leader – EIA Study on the on the Baseline Road Extension Phase III Project from High Level Road to Galle Road (2002)
Kahawatte Plantations Plc. Team Leader – Prepared a comprehensive management plan for forestry for 10 estates in both mid and up country. (2002)
Urban Development Authority – Environmentalist – Enumerated the environmental impacts arising from the Ruhunpura Development Project, in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka with special reference to the supply of water the most needed most needed commodity for the development of the Project area. (2001)