School of Science

Dorji

Overview of thesis

Post-mining pit lakes have become defining features in post-industrial landscapes, especially in regions shaped by open-cut mining such as the Collie Basin in Western Australia. Despite their permanence, these artificial lakes are often ecologically compromised due to steep bathymetry, sediment degradation, and fluctuating hydrological conditions. Current restoration practices tend to prioritize water quality and structural safety, with limited attention to vegetation establishment particularly the role of emergent vegetation in stabilising shorelines and improving ecosystem function. This research aims to investigate how key environmental factors, such as slope gradient, sediment characteristics, and soil moisture, influence the establishment and spatial distribution of emergent vegetation along pit lake margins. Emphasis is placed on understanding how physical and chemical properties of post-mining substrates constrain germination, growth, and plant community structure. In addition to field surveys, the study also incorporates a field trial and a glasshouse experiment to evaluate the effects of physical stabilisation and organic amendments (biochar-enriched compost) on seedling recruitment, respectively. Vegetation sampling will be conducted along transects laid perpendicular to the shoreline to capture cross-shore environmental gradients, with data collected on species composition, stem density, shoot height, and soil parameters. Laboratory analyses will quantify substrate nutrient content, compaction, and organic matter. Multivariate analyses and spatial mapping will be employed to assess community patterns and identify thresholds for successful plant establishment. By integrating field experiments with fine-scale vegetation-environment assessments, this study will provide critical insight into the ecological limitations of pit lake revegetation in semi-arid mining regions. The findings are expected to inform evidence-based restoration strategies that improve shoreline stability, support biodiversity, and contribute to long-term ecosystem recovery.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, 2024.
• Bachelor's degree, College of Natural Resources, Bhutan, 2015.

Research

Research Interests

• Restoration ecology and reforestation in degraded landscapes
• Community-based forest management and participatory planning
• Soil and water conservation techniques for watershed management
• Riparian vegetation and its role in erosion control and habitat provision
• Integrated catchment management and freshwater ecology
• Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) inventory, value chain analysis, and sustainable use
• Avian ecology and conservation of endangered bird species (e.g., white-bellied heron)
• Wetland ecosystem dynamics and Ramsar site conservation
• Bioengineering approaches to reduce land degradation and improve vegetation recovery
• Application of GIS and SMART tools in natural resource management
• Climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration in forest ecosystems
• Sustainable land use planning and community forestry policies

Other work

• 2013 – Presen:  Senior Forest Ranger, Wangdue Forest Division, Wangdue, Bhutan.
  • Oversaw implementation and monitoring of forest management and restoration programs.
  • Conducted ecological assessments and submitted technical progress reports to the Department of Forests and Park Services.
  • Involved in field research activities including community forestry, erosion control, and habitat conservation.
• 2006 – 2012: Forestry Component Manager, Agriculture Marketing and Enterprise Promotional Program (AMEPP), IFAD-funded, Eastern Bhutan.
  • Led inventory studies on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) across six districts.
  • Provided technical backstopping and coordinated watershed and soil conservation projects.
  • Conducted training and workshops on plantation techniques, nursery development, and community resource management.
• 2003 – 2006: Forest Extension Officer, District Forest Office, Trashigang, Bhutan.
  • Developed and evaluated community forest management plans.
  • Conducted socio-economic and biophysical studies related to forest restoration.
  • Represented Bhutan in national and international conferences on social forestry.

Supervisors

• Principal Supervisor: Associate Professor Mark Lund
• Associate Supervisor: Associate Professor Eddie van Etten

Contact

Dorji
Master by Research
School of Science
Email: d.dorji@ecu.edu.au