Dr. Md. Nabiul Islam Khan
Professor

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Dr. Md. Nabiul Islam Khan completed his B.Sc. (Hon’s) in Forestry from Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University in 1997 (1st class 1st). He obtained MS (2002) and Ph.D (2005) in Forest Ecology from University of the Ryukyus, Japan under Monbukagakusho scholarship. He was awarded Alexander Von Humboldt Postdoc fellowship, Germany (2009-2011) and FNRS (National Science Foundation of Belgium) Postdoc fellowship, Belgium (2011-2013) for advanced research. Dr. Khan published a significant number of articles international journals. His research focuses on forest biomass inventory, forest carbon assessment, computer simulation modelling of forest dynamics and their utilization in forest management. He is now working as a Professor in Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Bangladesh.

BSc in Forestry, Khulna University (1993-1997) ;     

MSc in Mangrove Eco-physiology, University of the Ryukyus, Japan (2000-02);    

PhD in Mangrove Ecology, University of the Ryukyus, Japan (2002-05);     

Postdoc in Ecological Modelling, Dresden  University of Technology, Germany (2009-2011);      

Postdoc in Ecological Modelling, Université Libre de Bruxelles – ULB, Belgium (2011-2013).

●       Forest mensuration and Inventory

●       Forest carbon assessment

●       Allometric equations

●       Biomass and forest growth estimation

●       Simulation modelling of forest growth and biomass  

●       Forest Management  

Current Research Project/Collaboration

SL Title Research Role Awarded Date Completion Date Funding Agency
1 Evaluating the role of co-management in community resilience: An explorative study in the Sundarbans Co-Principal Investigator 2020 2021 National
2 Carbon stocks of coastal mangrove plantations in Bangladesh: implications on REDD+ Principal Investigator 1 July 2018 30 June 2021 National
3 Leaf morphological and anatomical plasticity in Heritiera fomes (Sundri) along light and salinity regimes in the Sundarbans Principal Investigator 2017 2018 National
4 Leaf morphological plasticity of some selected mangrove tree species in the Sundarbans along salinity gradients Co-Principal Investigator 2017 2018 National
5 Relative importance of salinity gradients, shade tolerance and neighbor competition on the emergence of species zonation patterns in the Sundarbans mangrove: a simulation study Co-Principal Investigator 2009 2011 International
6 Mangrove functionality and stability Co-Principal Investigator 2011 2013 International
7 Ecosystem Carbon stocks in the Sal Forests of Bangladesh Principal Investigator July 2025 June 2026 National

March 1998 – August 2001 : Lecturer

August 2001 – February 2006: Assistant Professor

February 2006 – February 2010: Associate Professor

February 2010 – onward : Professor

Award Name

Year

Japanese Govt. Monbukagakusho scholarship for MSc and PhD

2000-2005

Alexander Von Humboldt Postdoc Fellowship Germany

2009-2011

FNRS Postdoc Fellowship, Belgium

2011-2013

Supervision

SL Title Degree Role Start Date End Date
1 Biomass Carbon Stocks in the Sal Forests of Bhawal National Park Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2025 Dec 2025
2 Carbon sequestration and Oxygen production by the Mangrove trees of Sundarbans, Bangladesh Masters Supervisor July 2023 June 2024
3 Biomass Carbon Stocks in the Sal Forests of Dinajpur Region of Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2025 Dec 2025
4 Biomass Carbon Stocks in the Sal Forests of Madhupur National Park Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2025 Dec 2025
5 Allometric Relationships for Predicting the Stem Volume and Stem Biomass of Xylia xylocarpa, Plantation in Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2024 Dec 2024
6 Brick Kiln Identification Using Sentinel-2 Image in Bangladesh Masters Supervisor July 2025 June 2026
7 Effect Of Plot Shape and Size on Sampling Efficiency in Forestry Research Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2024 Dec 2024
8 Spatial Association and Diversity of Woody Species in a Tropical Semi-evergreen Forest in Lawachara National Park, Bangladesh Masters Supervisor July 2024 June 2025
9 Forest Cover Change in Chittagong Hill Tracts From 1990 To 2025 Bachelor Supervisor July 2025 June 2026
10 Growth Performance of Selected Mangrove Species in Restored Coastal Areas of Satkhira, Bangladesh Masters Supervisor July 2025 June 2026
11 A three decades of land cover changes in the ECA of the Sundarbans, Bangladesh Masters Supervisor 1st January 2023 31st December 2023
12 Soil Organic Carbon Stocks in the Coastal Mangrove Plantations in Bangladesh: A Comparison to Sundarbans Masters Supervisor January, 2021 June, 2022
13 Livelihood status of the people living in the ECA of the Sundarbans: a case study in Mongla Masters Supervisor 1st January 2023 31st December 2023
14 Species identification and vegetation analysis of Sarankhola range of the Sundarbans using Satellite images Bachelor Supervisor 1st January 2023 31st December 2023
15 Growth curve analysis of Sundri (Heritiera fomes) and Keora (Sonneratia apetala) in different saline zones of the Sundarbans Bachelor Supervisor 1st January 2023 31st December 2023
16 Allometric equations for estimating stem biomass of Shorea robusta in Gazipur Sal forest of Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor January 2022 December 2022
17 Allometric Relationships for Predicting the Stem Volume in a Terminalia Catappa L. Plantation in Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor January 2022 December 2022
18 Carbon Stocks in the Rema-Kalenga Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forest in Habiganj, Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2021 June 2022
19 Carbon Stocks of a Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest in Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh Bachelor Supervisor Jan 2021 June 2022
20 Modelling of Date palm based agroforestry Masters Co-Supervisor Jan 2021 June 2022
21 Modelling of Mango based agroforestry Masters Co-Supervisor Jan 2021 June 2022
22 Carbon Stocks in Tropical Evergreen Forests in Bangladesh: Effects of Stand Structure and Vertical Canopy Stratification Masters Supervisor January 2021 June 2022

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Pankararu, C. J., Teixidor-Toneu, I., Odonne, G., Asante, F., Bandeira, S. O., Barrera-Bello, Á. M., Khan, M.N.I. ... & Hanazaki, N. (2026). A global biodiversity use data infrastructure acknowledging indigenous and local knowledge. npj Biodiversity, 5(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44185-026-00121-0

Islam, M.A., Nandi, N., Mim, S.H., Khan, M.N.H., Adhikary, N., Siddiqui, M.R.H., Rahman, M.S., Khan, M.N.I., Islam, M.S. and Islam, M.N., 2026. Assessment of soil nutrient status and spatial variability in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Bangladesh. Discover Soil, 3(1), p.22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44378-026-00181-5

Rahman, M. M., Zimmer, M., Rahman, M. S., Donato, D., Liang, J., Khan, M. N. I., & Weng, Q. (2026). Functional composition and structural diversity enhance mangrove forest resilience in the Sundarbans. Communications Earth & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03305-5

Arif, M. A., M. N. I. Khan, R. Biswas, A. Rahman, M. A. Islam, and A.-U.-H. Monika. 2025. Effect of thinning on carbon stocks in Sonneratia apetala Buch. -Ham plantations: a simulation study in Bangladesh. SN Social Sciences 5:122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-025-01160-3

Khan, M. N. I., Azad, M. S., Hasan, T., Prova, A. F., Islam, M. S., Islam, M. R., & Mollick, A. S. (2024). Structural diversity and carbon stocks in a tropical semi-evergreen forest in Bangladesh. Trees, Forests and People, 100534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2024.100534

Khan, M. N. I., Rahman, A., Nahid, G. A. R., Hasan, M. A., Islam, M. R., Azad, M. S., & Mollick, A. S. (2023). Stand level carbon stocks in the soil-vegetation system of the coastal mangrove plantations in Bangladesh: Effect of stand age and choice of species. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 63, 103029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103029   

Farhanaa T., Islam M.R., Hasan T., Azad, M.S., Mollick A.S., Khan M.N.I (2023) Stem volume allometric equation of acacia auriculiformis a. Cunn. Ex benth: applicability of digital photography with image analysis as a non-destructive approach. Indian Forester, 149 (4) : 452-462. https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2023/v149i4/166420

Islam M.A.F., Pitol M.N.S., Khan M.N.I. (2023) Comparison of light intensity under the canopy between Sal (Shorea robusta) and Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis) in agroforestry stands: effect of tree size and distance from individual trees. Journal of Tropical Biodiversity and Biotechnology, 8 (3): jtbb78063. https://doi.org/10.22146/jtbb.78063

Mollick, A. S., Ranon, R. J. K., Khan, M. N. I., & Nath, T. K. (2023). Evaluating Social Equity in Protected Areas Co-management: Evidence from the Sundarbans Mangrove Forests, Bangladesh. Society & Natural Resources, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2023.2199715

Azad, M. S., Mollick, A. S., Setu, F. A., Khan, M. N. I., & Kamruzzaman, M. (2022). Stand structure, tree species diversity and leaf morphological plasticity in Xylocarpus mekongensis Pierre among salinity zones in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2022.02.004 

Azad, M., Mollick, A. S., Ranon, R. J. K., Khan, M. N. I. & Kamruzzaman, M. (2022). Plasticity of leaf morphology of Bruguiera sexangula to salinity zones in Bangladesh’s Sundarbans. Journal of Forestry Research, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-022-01470-9 

Mollick, A. S., Roy, M., Khan, M. N. I., Islam, W., Sadath, N., & Nath, T. K. (2021). Assessing good governance in protected areas (PA) Co-management: a case study of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forests of Bangladesh. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 41(3-5), 277-301. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2021.1923531 

Islam, M. R., Azad, M. S., Mollick, A. S., Kamruzzaman, M., & Khan, M. N. I. (2021). Allometric equations for estimating stem biomass of Artocarpus chaplasha Roxb. in Sylhet hill forest of Bangladesh. Trees, Forests and People, 100084. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2021.100084

Islam, M.R., Khan, M.N.I., Khan, M.Z., Roy, B., 2021. A three decade assessment of forest cover changes in Nijhum dwip national park using remote sensing and GIS. Environmental Challenges, 100162. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010021001414

Mollick, A. S., Roy, M., Khan, M. N. I., Islam, W., Sadath, N., & Nath, T. K. (2021). Assessing Good Governance in Protected Areas (PA) Co-management: A Case Study of the Sundarbans Mangrove Forests of Bangladesh. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 1-25. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2021.1923531

Mollick A. S., Sultana R, Azad M. S., & Khan, M. N. I. (2021) Leaf morphological plasticity in three dominant tree species in the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh along the salinity gradients. Wetlands Ecology and Management  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-020-09782-5

Ahmed, S., Kamruzzaman, M., Azad, M.S. & Khan, M.N.I. (2021) Fine root biomass and its contribution to the mangrove communities in three saline zones of Sundarbans,  Bangladesh. Rhizosphere, 2021, 17, 100294.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2020.100294

Khan, M. N. I., Khatun, S., Azad, M. S., & Mollick, A. S. (2020). Leaf morphological and anatomical plasticity in Sundri (Heritiera fomes Buch.-Ham.) along different canopy light and salinity zones in the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Global Ecology and Conservation, e01127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01127.

Khan M.N.I., Islam MR, Rahman A, Azad MS, Mollick AS, Kamruzzaman M, Sadath MN, Feroz SM, Rakkibu MG & Knohl A (2020) Allometric relationships of stand level carbon stocks to basal area, tree height and wood density of nine tree species in Bangladesh. Global Ecology and Conservation, e01025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01025.

Khan, M. N. I., M. C. Shil, M. S. Azad, M. N. Sadath, S. M. Feroz & A. S. Mollick. (2018). Allometric relationships of stem volume and stand level carbon stocks at varying stand density in Swietenia macrophylla King plantations, Bangladesh. Forest Ecology and Management 430:639-648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.09.002.

Azad, M. S., M. J. Alam, A. S. Mollick, and Khan, M.N.I. (2018). Rooting of cuttings of the wild Indian almond tree (Sterculia foetida) enhanced by the application of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) under leafy and non-leafy conditions. Rhizosphere 5:8-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2017.11.001.

Mollick, A.S., M.K. Rahman, M.N.I. Khan, and M.N. Sadath. (2018). Evaluation of good governance in a participatory forestry program: A case study in Madhupur Sal forests of Bangladesh. Forest Policy and Economics 95:123-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2018.07.014.

Khan M.N.I., Hijbeek R, Berger U, Koedam N, Grueters U, Islam SMZ, et al. (2016). An Evaluation of the Plant Density Estimator the Point-Centred Quarter Method (PCQM) Using Monte Carlo Simulation. PLoS ONE.; 11(6): e0157985. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157985.

Rahman M.M., Khan, M.N.I., Hoque A.K. F., Ahmed I. (2015). Carbon stock in the Sundarbans mangrove forest: spatial variations in vegetation types and salinity zones. Wetlands Ecology and Management 23 (2), 269-283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-014-9379-x.

Mukherjee, N., Sutherland, W. J., Khan, M.N.I., Berger, U., Schmitz, N., Dahdouh-Guebas, F. and Koedam, N. (2014), Using expert knowledge and modeling to define mangrove composition, functioning, and threats and estimate time frame for recovery. Ecology and Evolution. 4(11): 2247–2262. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1085. 

Khan, M.N.I., Sharma, S., Berger, U., Koedam, N., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., and Hagihara, A. (2013): How do tree competition and stand dynamics lead to spatial patterns in monospecific mangroves? Biogeosciences, 10, 2803–2814. doi: 10.5194/bg-10-2803-2013. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2803-2013.

Hijbeek, R., N. Koedam, Khan, M.N.I., J. Kairo, J. Schoukens, F. Dahdouh-Guebas. 2013: An Evaluation of Plotless Sampling Using Vegetation Simulations and Field Data from a Mangrove Forest. PLoS ONE 8(6): e67201. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0067201.

Kautz, M., Berger. U., Stoyan, D., Vogt, J., Khan, M.N.I., Diele, K., Saint-Paul, U., Triet, T., Nam, V.N. (2011). Desynchronizing effects of lightning strike disturbances on cyclic forest dynamics in mangrove plantations. Aquatic Botany 95: 173–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2011.05.005.

Khan M.N.I. and Faruque O. (2010). Allometric relationships for predicting the stem volume in a Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. plantation in Bangladesh. iForest 3: 153–158. doi: 10.3832/ifor0554-003. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0554-003.

Khan M.N.I.Suwa R. and Hagihara A. (2009). Biomass and aboveground net primary production in a pioneer mangrove Kandelia obovata (S., L.) Yong at Manko Wetland, Okinawa Island, Japan. Wetlands Ecology and Management 17: 585–599.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-009-9136-8.

Khan M.N.I., Suwa R. and Hagihara A. (2007). Carbon and nitrogen pools in a mangrove stand of Kandelia obovata(S., L.) Yong: vertical distribution in the soil-vegetation system. Wetlands Ecology and Management 15: 141–153.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-006-9020-8.

Khan M.N.I., Suwa R. and Hagihara A. (2005). Allometric relationships for estimating the aboveground phytomass and leaf area of mangrove Kandelia candel(L.) Druce trees in the Manko Wetland, Okinawa Island, Japan. Trees - Structure and Function 19: 266–272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-004-0377-0.

Khan M.N.I., Suwa R., Hagihara A. and Ogawa K. (2004). Interception of photosynthetic photon flux density in a mangrove stand of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce. Journal of Forest Research 9: 205–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-003-0074-7.

Matin M.A. and Khan M.N.I. 1999. Growth performance of seven species of Albiziaseedlings at nursery stage in Bangladesh. Khulna University Studies (Life Sciences)1: 277–282.

Hannan M.O., Khan M.N.I., Hasnin M.M. and Chowdhury A.H. 1999. Impact of village tree species on the physical and mechanical properties of hardboard in Khulna Hardboard Mills Ltd., Bangladesh. Khulna University Studies (Life Sciences) 1: 133–137.

Bhuyian M.R., Shams M.I., Khan M.N.I. and Kabir M.A. 1999. Chemical properties and nutrients status of terrace soil in the Madhupur tract of Bangladesh. Khulna University Studies (Life Sciences) 1: 241–244.

 

Book Chapters:

Khan, M. N. I. and Rahman M.M. (in press). Ecosystem carbon stocks in the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh across a salinity gradient. In: Mukul, S.A. (Ed.)  Forest Management in Bangladesh - Biodiversity, Carbon and Livelihood Outcomes. Springer, Switzerland. 

Khan, M.N.I., Kabir, M.E., (2017). Ecology of Kandelia obovata (S., L.) Yong: A Fast-Growing Mangrove in Okinawa, Japan. In: DasGupta, R., Shaw, R. (Eds.), Participatory Mangrove Management in a Changing Climate: Perspectives from the Asia-Pacific. Springer Japan, Tokyo, pp. 287-301. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56481-2_18 .