Ahalya Suresh

Ahalya's research

Ahalya has a background in Environmental sciences focusing on marine ecology, coastal ecosystems and environment management. Her previous research experience is based on utilizing aquaculture effluent in recirculating aquaponic systems to grow plants from her bachelors and assessment of ecological patterns and blue carbon storage in Sri Lankan mangroves for her masters. Ahalya was a lecturer/researcher at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka for 5 years, where her academic teaching focused on marine and coastal ecology, wetlands management, sustainable development, marine wildlife management, and environmental chemistry. She was also a researcher at SLYCAN Trust where she worked on projects including sustainable development, stakeholder engagement and youth action for climate action, ecosystem restoration and management. She is passionate about working on community engagement on marine and coastal ecosystem management to achieve long-term conservation goals.

At BCL she will be looking into potential blue carbon restoration opportunities as way to embrace climate change mitigation and adaptation. She aims to develop and investigate innovative and effective restoration techniques for blue carbon ecosystems and investigate the socio-economic benefits of blue carbon restoration and its contribution to climate change mitigation. The outcomes of her research project will provide valuable insights for policymakers, environmental organizations, and other stakeholders involved in blue carbon restoration efforts. Also, it will promote the use of nature-based solutions and contribute to achieving global climate goals.