Dr Marielle Smith

I am a Lecturer in Forest Sciences at Bangor University. I am an ecosystem ecologist focused on understanding the structure, function, and resilience of forests under global change. My research combines field-based measurements with remote sensing technologies, including lidar, to investigate how diverse forest types—from tropical forests in the Amazon to temperate woodlands in the UK—respond to land-use and climate change. My work has identified key mechanisms driving tropical forest responses to high temperatures and drought, providing critical knowledge to improve Earth system models and inform conservation planning.

An emerging research area involves enhancing forest inventory and monitoring practices, ensuring that we can accurately assess timber quality, carbon storage, and forest structure in complex and often unmanaged forested landscapes. For example, we are using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to quantify the value of UK farm woodlands that have been traditionally overlooked for timber in part due to the challenges of measuring non-uniform tree forms via conventional methods. This research aims to improve assessments of timber and carbon value in these landscapes, contributing insights that can help to maximise the potential of such woodlands for sustainable timber production and carbon storage.

https://www.bangor.ac.uk/staff/sens/marielle-smith-593809/en