Agroforestry for Monetising Carbon Credits

Dr. Abhishek Raj is Assistant Professor (Forest Products and Utilization) at the Department of Forestry, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur- 848125, Bihar-India, and the author or co-author of more than 25 scientific papers, 07 books (Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Apple Academic Press, Taylor and Francis, CRC, etc.,), 70 book chapters, and several extension articles with an H-index ~32. He acquired B.Sc. (Forestry) from SHUATS, Allahabad (U.P.), M.Sc. and PhD. (both in Forestry) degrees from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh) India. He has qualified ICAR- NET (National Eligibility Test) in Agroforestry and received Young Scientist Award in 2016.

Dr. Manoj Kumar Jhariya working as Senior Assistant Professor & HOD in the Department of Farm Forestry at Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya (Formerly, Sarguja University), Sarguja, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, India. He is working on forest ecology, natural resource management and sustainability, carbon sequestration, and agroforestry. Dr. Jhariya listed as one among the World's Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University (USA) and Elsevier Data in 2024, and has over 6648 citations with an h-index of 46 and i10-index of 116. Dr. Jhariya has published more than 105 international research and review papers in peer-reviewed reputed journals. He has published 20 books (Springer, Elsevier, Wiley, Apple Academic Press, Taylor and Francis, CRC, etc.,), 120 book chapters and several extension articles. Dr. Jhariya acquired B.Sc. (Agriculture), M.Sc. and PhD. (both in Forestry) Degrees from Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. He received the University Gold Medal, Chhattisgarh Young Scientist Award, UGC-GoI Fellowship, Best Paper Award of MDPI, Switzerland, Sir Dietrich Brandis Award, Excellence of Research Award-2024, Young Achiever Award-2024, and Paryavaran Padam Puraskar in 2025. He is editorial board member of several journals and life member of- The Indian Science Congress Association, Applied and Natural Science Foundation, Society for Advancement of Human and Nature, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Association of India, and ISDS Society & International Journal of Development and Sustainability, The Asia Society of Researchers, The Agriculture Forum for Technical Education of Farming Society, Society of Green Development, India, National Academy of Biological Sciences, The Society for Science of Climate Change and Sustainable Environment. He has supervised more than 121 M.Sc. (Farm Forestry) students and involved in teaching and research.

Dr. Ram Swaroop Meena, born into a farmer's family, is an Associate Professor (L-13A) in the Department of Agronomy at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi (UP). Dr. Meena has secured first division in all his classes, with triple NET, JRF, and SRF qualifications from ICAR, and is RGNF Awardee from UGC, GOI. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (ICAR-FNAAS) and the National Academy of Biological Sciences (FNABS), as well as a Fellow of the Society for Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR-SRMR). He served as a visiting scientist at IRRI-ISARC under an INSA fellowship. Dr. Meena has received the Raman Research Fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Education, GOI. He has been listed in the World's Top 2% Scientists by the Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier report. He is also listed in 8th position out of 100 scientists from India in the field of Agriculture and Forestry sciences by the AD Scientific Index at the global level ranking. Dr. Meena did his post-doctoral fellowship on soil carbon sequestration at CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States. Dr. Meena has more than 15 years of research and teaching experience in the under/postgraduate/Ph.D. levels and has contributed significantly to soil sustainability, crop productivity, resource use efficiency, and climate-resilient agriculture with 10 externally funded projects, including, MOE, ICAR, and DST (GOI). He has in his credit more than 130 national and international research and review papers with a H-index of 71, an I-10 index of 201, and citations of over 15,000. He has published 28 books, including 24 books at the international level (Springer, Elsevier, etc.), and 85 book chapters. Dr. Meena is credited with a patent for developing a novel, affordable biochar separation technique for integrated nutrient management. Dr. Meena has contributed to the agricultural extension activities in the villages adopted by the Honorable Prime Minister of India and is active as an associate coordinator in trainings, meetings, workshops, and farmers' fairs.