By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Dr. Lonn Pichdara has joined the School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as an Assistant Professor in the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Program, Department of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (FANR). He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Forest Management from Kyushu University, Japan, with research spanning protected area effectiveness using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), community-based natural resource management, and the intersections of forest policy, poverty reduction, and climate change adaptation. His work also engages with renewable energy, agricultural policy, gender, and the water–food–energy nexus in the Mekong region.
With extensive experience leading research and development initiatives, including serving as Executive Director of My Village (MVi), a local NGO supporting Indigenous communities in northeastern Cambodia, and directing the Center for Natural Resources and Environment at the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), Dr. Pichdara brings a strong blend of academic insight and community-focused practice. In this interview, he shares his journey, research priorities, and aspirations at AIT.
1. What inspired you to join AIT and the Natural Resources Management Program at SERD?
Joining AIT was a natural progression in my academic and professional journey. AIT’s reputation as a hub for interdisciplinary research and regional collaboration in environment, sustainability, and development strongly resonated with my values and aspirations. I was particularly drawn to its diverse community of scholars and students from across Asia, which creates a rich environment for exchanging ideas and experiences.
My experience working with the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI), a leading think tank, and My Village (MVi), a prominent NGO focused on indigenous communities and emerging sub-national policy work, has shown me the importance of linking research with real-world impact. AIT’s strong emphasis on applied research, community engagement, and outreach provides the ideal platform to continue this work.
NRM’s interdisciplinary framework spanning forestry, agriculture, water resources, and environmental policy aligns closely with my interests in forest policy, climate change adaptation, and the water–food–energy nexus. I am excited to contribute to developing future leaders equipped to address complex environmental challenges through innovative and inclusive solutions.
2. Your recent work evaluates protected area effectiveness using the METT tool. How can this approach help improve conservation outcomes in the region?
My academic and professional grounding in forest management has shaped my approach to evaluating and enhancing protected area effectiveness. During my doctoral studies at Kyushu University, I applied remote sensing, GIS, and mixed-methods research to analyze forest cover changes and drivers of deforestation across Cambodia.
A pivotal aspect of my work is the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), a WWF-developed scorecard that assesses six elements: context, planning, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes. In Cambodia, I have used METT in research and advisory roles with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, where it enables rapid diagnosis and participatory reflection.
I link METT findings with satellite-derived forest change data and qualitative insights from surveys and participatory mapping, including work on community-based ecotourism in Chambok CEBT, Kirirom National Park. Ultimately, I use METT as both a diagnostic and a catalyst for dialogue, adaptive management, and policy processes that benefit biodiversity and local communities.
3. You have deep experience working with Indigenous communities in Cambodia. What key lessons from community-based natural resource management will you apply in your work at AIT?
My engagement on community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and community-based ecotourism (CBET) in Cambodia spans a decade of research and implementation, focused on empowering local and indigenous communities to steward natural forests, fisheries, and other natural resources.
At CDRI and Kyushu University, I evaluated one of the first large-scale, country-wide community forestry (CF) and CBET effectiveness. Using quantitative methods and surveys, I found CF sites had 11% less deforestation than adjacent non-CF areas over 11 years, showing that well-supported community management can rival protected areas.
My CBET case studies, particularly in Chambok Commune, examined a flagship model developed with local NGOs and the Ministry of Environment. CBET reduced deforestation and strengthened management, but income gains were modest and uneven, with a minority benefiting, highlighting the need for benefit-sharing and diversified livelihoods.
At My Village (MVi), I led programs on land and forest registration, indigenous organizational support, and participatory action research, emphasizing legal recognition, governance, and sustained technical support. Working with partners such as UNDP, UNEP, UN Women, Oxfam, CEPF, Landesa, CARE, USAID, WCS, The Asia Foundation, and SEI, I have advanced NRM and GEDSI focused, gender-responsive approaches that address barriers faced by women and other marginalized groups, principles that will strongly inform my work at AIT.
4. Your research connects forest policy, poverty reduction, and climate change adaptation. How do these intersections shape sustainable development strategies in the Mekong region?
Integrating forest policy, poverty reduction, and gender considerations is central to my research and project design. Forests in Cambodia and Southeast Asia are ecological assets and vital livelihoods, especially for rural and indigenous communities, yet benefits and burdens are unequally shared, with women, the poor, and marginalized groups facing systemic disadvantages.
I use an interdisciplinary approach that links policy analysis with field evidence. My work on community forestry and ecotourism assesses ecological outcomes and socio-economic impacts, drawing on household surveys, focus group discussions, and participatory rural appraisal to capture diverse experiences across gender and generations.
At the policy level, my work with CDRI and MVi includes advising ministries and NGOs on forest governance, land tenure, and rural development. I have advocated for recognition of communal land rights for indigenous peoples, enabling sustainable management and resistance to land grabbing and illegal logging.
Poverty reduction is pursued through livelihood diversification, equitable benefit-sharing, and social protection. In CBET projects, I work to make opportunities accessible to the poorest and to reinvest revenues in community development, guided by gender-responsive frameworks from UN Women and UNEP.
5. Having worked in both academia and NGOs, including leading MVi and directing CDRI’s NRE Center, how do you plan to integrate research, policy engagement, and community impact at AIT?
At AIT, I aim to bring together rigorous research, policy engagement, and community collaboration through a strong focus on nature-based solutions (NbS). Climate change poses profound risks to rural communities in Cambodia and Southeast Asia, undermining food security, water availability, and local livelihoods. My approach to adaptation is grounded in the conviction that nature-based solutions (NbS) provide context-appropriate ways to enhance resilience while generating co-benefits for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being.
Through research and programmatic work, I have seen how floods, droughts, and shifting rainfall patterns intersect with poverty, limited infrastructure, and weak institutions to heighten vulnerability. In response, I have championed approaches that harness the adaptive capacities of ecosystems and communities. Community forestry and agroforestry can buffer climate shocks, diversify incomes, sequester carbon, and empower local stakeholders to manage resources sustainably.
In Cambodia, I have worked on projects that restore degraded forests, protect wetlands, and promote sustainable agriculture, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific innovation. A key lesson is the importance of participatory planning, co-management, and gender and social inclusion, ensuring women and marginalized groups help shape and benefit from NbS. At the policy level, I advocate mainstreaming NbS into national adaptation plans, rural development strategies, and climate finance, strengthening institutions, building capacity, mobilizing resources, and advancing regional cooperation through ASEAN platforms.
6. What advice would you give to students and young researchers who want to contribute to sustainable natural resource management and community-driven conservation?
My advice to students and young researchers is to cultivate both technical expertise and empathy. Sustainable natural resource management is not only about understanding ecosystems or policies, but it is also about listening to communities who depend on them. Ground your research in local realities by spending time in the field and learning from Indigenous and rural experiences.
Be interdisciplinary: conservation challenges link to poverty, governance, and climate change, so combine ecological science with economics, law, and social sciences. Finally, be patient and resilient. Progress is slow, but integrity, persistence, and evidence-based action will help you grow as leaders who put the public interest first and as the next generation of NRM leaders in Asia and beyond.
