I am Chief Scientist at Rainforest Builder, where I lead a program of cutting-edge ecosystem restoration research to directly guide large-scale reforestation projects across tropical West Africa. Having started my research career with a PhD on avian conservation in intensive arable landscapes, my role at Rainforest Builder follows nearly two decades in academic research, including six years as a Lecturer in Ecology at University of East Anglia. I have contributed to more than 80 scientific papers on themes relating to ecosystem restoration, land-use planning and climate mitigation, with a core focus on understanding the processes that influence ecological recovery at large spatial scales.
My current research focusses on developing effective and scalable approaches for reforestation in highly degraded tropical landscapes. To do this, my work combines field-based empirical studies, experimental silviculture trials, remote sensing and geospatial analysis. A key component of this current work focusses on understanding, monitoring, and mitigating ‘leakage’ from restoration projects. This relates to the risk that the benefits of ecosystem restoration for biodiversity and climate mitigation are counterbalanced by negative impacts due to the displacement of land-use activities to other areas. My primary goal is to find ways to manage tropical landscapes so they deliver maximum benefits for biodiversity and carbon sequestration, while also fulfilling the needs of local communities.
