Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan

Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan
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Personal Details
Dr. Raja Waqar Ahmed Khan joined the Department of Botany at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, in August 2019 and is currently serving as an Assistant Professor. He received his PhD in Botany from the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in 2021. His research focuses on forest ecology, ecosystem dynamics, biomass and soil carbon stocks, and the impacts of climate change on Himalayan ecosystems.
He is experienced in ecological modelling, field-based ecological surveys, and statistical analysis using R and other analytical tools. Dr. Khan has actively contributed to research on carbon sequestration, species distribution modelling, and forest ecosystem sustainability. In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, he supervises research at the PhD, M.Phil., and undergraduate levels.
Through his research, teaching, and academic engagement, he is committed to advancing ecological knowledge and promoting environmental sustainability, climate change awareness, and biodiversity conservation.
Assistant Professor
PhD
Botany
  1. Gillani, S. W., Ahmad, M., Manzoor, M., Waheed, M., Khan, R. W. A., & Sohail, A. (2026). Geographic distribution patterns, population dynamics, and habitat vulnerability of endangered and endemic Trillium govanianum. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 198(162). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-026-15013-w
  2. Gillani, S. W., Ahmad, M., Manzoor, M., Al-Andal, A., Khan, R. W. A., Ayoola, J. O., & Waheed, M. (2025). Integrating environmental variables and biotic interactions to predict the future distribution of the endangered Aconitum heterophyllum ex Royle. BMC Plant Biology. (Advance online publication) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07859-y
  3. Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., Dar, M. E. U. I., Habib, T., Manzoor, M., Gillani, S. W., Al-Andal, A., Ayoola, J. O., & Waheed, M. (2025). A data-driven approach to forest health assessment through multivariate analysis and machine learning techniques. BMC Plant Biology, 25, Article 915. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06937-5
  4. Mubarak, N., Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., Ullah, T. S., Hussain, T., Hussian, J., Nasir, M., Khatoon, S., Manzoor, M., & Shier, W. T. (2025). Modeling soil carbon variability along an elevation gradient in a western Himalayan mountain ecosystem using multiple statistical approaches. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. (Advance online publication) https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/204570
  5. Khan, R. W. A., Quratulain, M., Shaheen, H., Hussain, K., & Mehmood, A. B. (2025). Local scale variations in soil organic carbon sequestration in Lesser Himalayan coniferous and mixed forests: implications for sustainability. Journal of Ecology and Environment, 49, 02. https://doi.org/10.5141/jee.24.088
  6. Irfan, U., Shaheen, H., Manzoor, M., Nasar, S., Khan, R. W. A, Gillani, S. W., Alrefaei, A. F., Attique, A., Kamal, A., Razak, S. A., & Riaz, M. T. (2025). Population structure, floral diversity, habitat geography, and conservation status of Himalayan horse chestnut (Aesculus indica) in western Himalayan moist temperate forest ecosystems of Kashmir region. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 7, 1388607. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1388607
  7. Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., Qayyum, S., Awan, S. N., Shah, T. A., Alsahli, A. A., Younous, Y. A., & El-Sheikh, M. A. (2025). Predicting habitat refugia of the medicinal plant Dolomiaea costus under two climate change scenarios. Discover Life, 55(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11084-024-09670-5
  8. Hameed, A., Khan, R. W. A., Ul Haq, M. A., Jawaid, A., Hassan, A., Naz, S., Bashir, S., Saeed, A., & Essa, R. (2024). Carbon Sequestration Potential of Subtropical Soil under the Influence of Selected Plant Species in Muzaffarabad Division. Pakistan Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 5(2), 41-51. https://doi.org/10.52700/pjbb.v5i2.317
  9. Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., Dar, M. E. U. I., Awan, S. N., Qayyum, S., Nazir, N., Ahmed, K. W., & Awan, M. S. (2024). Biomass Carbon Sequestration Potential of Conifers in Relation to Tree Structural Traits and Anthropogenic Disturbance Stimuli in Kashmir Himalaya. Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences: B. Life and Environmental Sciences, 61(4), 417–429. https://doi.org/10.53560/PPASB(61-4)952
  10. Manzoor, M., Shaheen, H., Attique, A., Khan, R. W. A., Gillani, S. W., & Khan, M. S. (2024). Distribution pattern, population structure and habitat geography of Betula utilis subalpine forests of Kashmir region in the western Himalayas: Implications for conservation and sustainable management. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-05049-8
  11. Khan, R. W. A., Nazir, N., Mehmood, A., Qayyum, S., & Shaheen, H. (2024). Spatial and temporal patterns of fuelwood consumption and its associated CO2 emissions in Muzaffarabad division, a western Himalayan region. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 14(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-024-00448-1
  12. Shaheen, H., Attique, A., Riaz, M. T., Manzoor, M., Khan, R. W. , & Riaz, M. T. (2024). From biodiversity hotspot to conservation hotspot: assessing distribution, population structure, associated flora and habitat geography of threatened Himalayan Yew in temperate forest ecosystems of Kashmir. Biodiversity and Conservation, 33(2), 553-577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02758-w
  13. Sohail, M., Shaheen, H., Khan, R. W. A., Siddiqui, M. F., & Ahmad, M. (2023). Dendrochronological investigations reveal declining growth rate of Pinus roxburghii populations from 1840 to 2017 in Kashmir Himalayas. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 55(3), 1075–1081.
  14. Khan, R. W. A., & Shaheen, H. (2022). Biomass carbon stock estimation in lesser Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests of Kashmir. Taiwania, 67(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2022.67.47
  15. Shaheen, H., Awan, S. N., Khan, R. W. A., Khalid, A. R., Ahmed, W., & Chughtai, F. M. (2021). Variations in soil organic carbon stocks under different land-use categories in subtropical ecosystems of Kashmir. Forest Science, 67(5), 525–536. https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxab028
  16. Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., & Awan, S. N. (2021). Biomass and soil carbon stocks in relation to the structure and composition of Chir Pine dominated forests in the Lesser Himalayan foothills of Kashmir. Carbon Management, 12(4), 429–437. https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2021.1966511
  17. Awan, M. S., Dar, M. E. I., Shaheen, H., Khan, R. W. A., Aziz, S., & Habib, T. (2021). Diversity and distribution pattern of alpine vegetation communities from Ratti Gali Lake and its adjacent areas, Kashmir Himalayas, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 53(2), 665–672.
  18. Khan, R. W. A., Shaheen, H., Mehmood, A., & Awan, S. N. (2019). Grazing intensity impacts on soil carbon stocks of Western Himalayan Alpine paddocks. Carbon Management, 10(6), 533–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/17583004.2019.1667701
  19. Aziz, S., Chughtai, F. M., Shaheen, H., Khan, R. W. A., & Dar, M. E. U. I. (2019). Biomass and soil carbon stocks assessment in Western Himalayan alpine and subalpine vegetation zones of Kashmir. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 51(3), 973–978.
  20. Dar, M. E. U. I., Gillani, N., Shaheen, H., Firdous, S. S., Ahmad, S., Khan, M. Q., Hussain, M. A., Habib, T., Malik, N. Z., Ullah, T. S., Rafique, S., Aziz, S., Khan, W. A., & Hussain, K. (2018). Comparative analysis of vegetation from eroded and non-eroded areas: A case study from Kashmir Himalayas. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 16(2), 1725–1737. http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1602_17251737
  21. Shaheen, H., Khan, W. A., Hussain, K., Ullah, T. S., Nasir, M., & Mehmood, A. (2016). Carbon stocks assessment in subtropical forest types of Kashmir Himalayas. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 48(6), 2351–2357.
  22. Shaheen, H., Azad, B., Mushtaq, A., & Khan, R. W. A. (2016). Fuelwood consumption pattern and its impact on forest structure in Kashmir Himalayas. Bosque, 37(2), 419–424. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002016000200020

- Fieldwork & Ecological Surveys
- Forest Ecology
- Ecosystem Research & Analysis
- Ecological Modelling
- Statistical Analysis (R)
- Climate Change & Conservation
- Research Project Management
- Graduate Research Supervision
- Curriculum Development and Teaching
- Public Speaking & Academic Presentations

1. Organizer’s Award – One-day Hands-on Training Workshop on Mushroom Cultivation, Department of Botany, UAJK, Muzaffarabad (December 21, 2024).
2. IDEA WILD grant: For the purchase of research equipment to support ecological and environmental studies (November 07, 2024).
3. Keynote Speaker Award – 9th International & 18th National Conference of Plant Scientists: Capitalizing Plant Diversity for Ensuring Food Security, Institute of Botany, BZU Multan & Botanical Society of Pakistan (October 28-30, 2024).
4. Organizer’s Award – University Cluster Conference: Climate Change Education in Pakistan, Teacher’s Resource Centre & UAJK, Muzaffarabad (May 3, 2024).
5. Panel Judge – CoP in My City, organized by the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) in collaboration with UN Women, CGP, UNICEF, Youth Climate Pakistan & UNDP (September 26, 2023).
6. Award for Invaluable Contribution in Research (2019) – ORIC-UAJK (2020).
7. 2nd Place in Poster Presentation – International Science Conference (Natural Sciences, Climate, and Biodiversity), UAJ&K, Muzaffarabad (September 15-17, 2018).

Research Details
Yes
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