Dr. Rakesh Banyal is an accomplished forestry scientist, academician, and research administrator with extensive expertise in agroforestry, silviculture, forest management, climate-resilient forestry, and natural resource management. He has served in prestigious institutions including SKUAST-Kashmir and ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (ICAR-CSSRI), Karnal, where he currently holds key administrative and research leadership responsibilities, including Officer In-charge of the Prioritization and Monitoring Evaluation (PME) Cell. He has also served as Assistant Director (Research) at SKUAST-K and has undertaken responsibilities as Head of Division, Academic In-charge, and Senior Finance and Accounts Officer at ICAR-CSSRI.

He has made significant contributions to forestry education by teaching undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral courses in silviculture, agroforestry, forest biometrics, plantation forestry, nursery technology, forest management, and related disciplines. His commitment to academic excellence is reflected in his mentorship of total 130 students including 16 Ph.D., 14 M.Sc., and 100 B.Sc. students and his active participation in curriculum development and institutional capacity building.

Research Contributions

Dr. Banyal has established himself as a leading researcher in forestry and agroforestry domains with an impressive scientific record comprising of 215 total publications in various forms as 70 research papers in referred journals, 14 book chapters, 1 edited book, 1 technical bulletin, 5 conference proceedings, Numerous training manuals, compendiums, popular articles, success stories, and project evaluation reports. He has over 900 citations in his credit with 13 h-index and 20 i10-index.

His research focuses on sustainable agroforestry systems, saline land management, bio-drainage, forest productivity, germplasm evaluation, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, and sustainable natural resource utilization. He has developed certified agroforestry technologies, including Eucalyptus and Melia- based agroforestry systems for shallow saline areas, and has successfully evaluated promising germplasm of 06 economically (high value) important tree species.

Research Leadership & Innovation

Dr. Banyal has demonstrated exceptional leadership in research management by handling 42 research projects, including externally funded and institutional projects as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator, and Associate Investigator.

His notable research achievements include:

• Development of ICAR-certified agroforestry technology
• Significant research outcomes at SKUAST-Kashmir and ICAR-CSSRI
• Screening and evaluation of multiple agroforestry tree species
• Contributions toward climate-smart forestry and sustainable land management
• One registered patent
• Extensive international exposure through conferences and scientific collaborations

Teaching, Mentorship & Capacity Building

Dr. Banyal has made remarkable contributions to higher education and human resource development by:

• Supervising 6 Ph.D. and 2 M.Sc. students as Major Advisor
• Serving as Co-advisor for 9 Ph.D. and 10 M.Sc. scholars
• Guiding more than 100 undergraduate forestry students
• Mentored 02 M.Sc (Botany) students as interns
• Mentoring 01 PhD (Forestry) student
• Organizing and directing numerous ICAR-sponsored training programmes, workshops, and professional development courses
• Delivering lectures in national and international conferences and training programmes

His efforts have significantly strengthened forestry education and research capacity in India.

Professional Recognition & Academic Service

Dr. Banyal has received numerous recognitions for his scientific excellence, including:

• 12 awards, scholarships, and official appreciations
• Life membership in 5 scientific societies
• Editorial Board Member of 7 scientific journals
• Reviewer for 9 reputed journals
• Executive Council Member of 4 professional organizations

He has actively contributed to institutional governance, policy formulation, academic administration, research monitoring, and faculty development.

Professional Training & International Exposure

Dr. Banyal has participated in more than eleven (11) advanced national and international professional training programmes covering:

• Forest science and policy
• Agricultural research management
• Leadership development
• Climate change and carbon sequestration
• Geospatial technologies
• Agroforestry
• Educational technology
• Sustainable agricultural ecosystems

His continuous professional development reflects his commitment to scientific excellence and institutional leadership.

Extension & Outreach Activities

Beyond research and teaching, Dr. Banyal has actively promoted technology dissemination and community engagement through:

• Farmer awareness programmes
• Capacity-building initiatives for forest officers
• National training schools
• Radio and television talks
• Sustainable land management training programmes
• Institutional development and extension education activities

His outreach efforts have strengthened the adoption of scientific forestry practices among stakeholders.

Eligibility for Iconic Scientist Award 

Dr. Rakesh Banyal is highly eligible for the Iconic Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels in recognition of his distinguished career and sustained contributions to forestry and agroforestry research. His exceptional publication record, strong citation impact, innovative technology development, leadership in more than forty research projects, extensive teaching and mentorship, international scientific engagement, institutional administration, professional society leadership, editorial and peer-review contributions, and significant advancements in sustainable forestry and climate-resilient agroforestry collectively demonstrate the excellence, innovation, and lifelong scientific commitment expected of an Iconic Scientist. His work has had a lasting impact on forestry research, education, natural resource management, and agricultural sustainability, making him an outstanding candidate for this prestigious honor.