Muneeswaran MARIAPPAN

Muneeswaran Mariappan is a Geospatial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Officer at IUCN, with over fifteen years of experience advancing technology-driven solutions for conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. His work focuses on integrating geospatial intelligence, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence to monitor ecosystem restoration and quantify climate impacts. He has played a central role in developing global tools such as the IUCN Contributions for Nature platform and the Restoration Barometer, which help countries and organisations measure their progress toward global biodiversity and climate goals.

Originally from Chennai, India, Muneeswaran holds a PhD in Urban Forest Carbon Stock Estimation using LiDAR data. A techno-optimist, he leads international collaborations that bridge innovation with policy, including the IUCN–Airbus Foundation partnership on AI-based restoration monitoring. His expertise spans spatial analytics, climate metrics, and digital transformation, with a vision to harness technology as a force for both nature and humanity. He regularly represents IUCN at global forums, promoting the responsible and equitable use of technology for a sustainable future.