07.04.2026
Soils in the treeline ecotones in Nepal Himalaya: Prof. Thomas Scholten Discusses TREELINE Research at Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
March 19, 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal—The Institute of Forestry (IOF) at Tribhuvan University, in collaboration with the Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), successfully hosted a distinguished talk program featuring Prof. Dr. Thomas Scholten, Director of the Institute of Geography & Chair of Soil Science and Geomorphology, from Tübingen University, Germany. The event, titled "Soils in the Treeline Ecotone: Insights from the Rolwaling Himal, Nepal," drew a diverse audience of academic leaders, researchers, and students to the Institute of Forestry, Deans’ Office, Kirtipur, Kathmandu.
The program commenced with a warm welcome from the Dean of IOF, Prof. Thakur Silwal, followed by a cinematic overview of the Institute’s growing portfolio of forestry education in Nepal, current programs, research projects, and research collaborations with different Universities around the globe. The technical core of the morning was Prof. Scholten’s 40-minute presentation, which bridged the gap between soil science and climate dynamics in treeline ecotones in the Himalaya.
Drawing from over a decade of research in Nepal through the TREELINE-I and TREELINE-II projects, Prof. Scholten shared compelling findings regarding the Rolwaling Valley. Notably, he highlighted that while the treeline position in the Rolwalling region appears relatively stable, soil temperatures are significantly higher than the global average. His research emphasizes how specific soil properties act as a critical regulator for tree growth and the overall shift of ecotone boundaries in response to global warming.
The event saw robust participation from the heads and faculties of the Central Departments of Geography, Botany, RECAST, alongside PhD candidates, post-doctoral fellows, and representatives from various organizations. The session concluded with reflections from Prof. Ram Chaudhary, Nepal Coordinator for TREELINE-II, who traced the history of this fruitful TREELINE research partnership. The formal proceedings gave way to vibrant informal discussions on the IOF premises, underscoring the vital role of integrated research data collection and analysis in protecting the fragile Himalayan treeline ecosystem under climate warming.
Following the successful session in Kathmandu, Prof. Scholten traveled to the Pokhara Campus for an evening academic interaction meeting with Campus Chief Dr. Narayan Gautam and various department heads. During this visit, Prof. Scholten was briefed on the campus’s specialized facilities including its soil and plant laboratories, the operational plant nursery and academic programs that are being run on Pokhara campus.
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