Shivani Agarwal

Shivani Agarwal is an interdisciplinary research scientist specializing in ecology, environmental science, and nature‑based climate solutions. She joined TÜV SÜD America in October 2024 as a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Specialist, where she supports the validation and verification of carbon offset projects across agricultural land management, grasslands, rangelands, and soil carbon systems. Her work involves applying scientific rigor, geospatial analysis, and methodological expertise to ensure high‑quality, transparent outcomes under major standards such as Verra’s VCS & CCB Programs and the Climate Action Reserve. Prior to working at TÜV SÜD America, Shivani led a research project at Columbia University investigating the socio-economic and ecological impacts of The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). She conducted on-the-ground household surveys in Indian villages as part of agroforestry projects, identifying conditions for win-win situations for both farmers and project developers. Furthermore, as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Stanford University, she evaluated models for various agroforestry interventions which aimed at reducing deforestation and providing the livelihood of support to smallholder farmers in Thailand. During her PhD, she studied the role of forest institutions in managing forests within and outside protected areas in the Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra, India. Her research utilized mixed-methods, combining landscape analysis (remote sensing and GIS), ecology, social sciences, and econometric analysis. She collaborated extensively with international and local NGOs, universities, and project leaders. This understanding is demonstrated in her peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations