My main research lines
Using modelling techniques I make sense of large-scale forest inventories and field-work data
I am a forest ecologist interested in better understand the interactive effects of climate and land use change on forest functioning. My research seeks to study the mechanisms linking global environmental change, forest structure and dynamics and functional biogeography. My approach is strongly focused in the use of adequate modelling techniques and complex data around the world -e.g. from large-scale forest inventories to field-work data- to increase our current knowledge about:
- Underlying drivers of demographic responses and functioning in forests.
Effects of diversity on forests.
- Potential impacts of global environmental change and extreme climatic events in forest structure and dynamics.
Temporal and spatial forest responses to global environmental change.
- Differential responses of forests to the environment, depending on species range distribution and identity.
- Implications of forest management and restoration.
Ongoing projects
Discover my current pursuits
- Climate mitigation and bioeconomy pathways for sustainable forestry (CLIMB-FOREST). HORIZON-CL6-2021-CLIMATE-01-09 – [Enhancing science-based knowledge on EU forests. 2022-2026. PI: Adam Kristensson & Paul Miller ULUND, PI-UAH: Paloma Ruiz Benito UAH.
- A Holistic Approach for Risk-Wise Adaptation of the Wildfire Management in the EU to Global Changes (FirEUrisk). H2020 – LC – CLA – FirEUrisk- 101003890, Commission of the European Communities Joint Research Centre. 2021-2025. Fire EU Risk. PI: Emilio Chuvieco, UAH. https://fireurisk.eu/
- Pan-European Network for Climate Adaptive Forest Restoration and Reforestation (PEN-CAFoRR). COST Action (CA19128). 2020-2024. PI: Dr. Vladan Ivetić, University of Belgrade. http://www.pen-caforr.org/
- IBerian FORest responses to climate change across spatio-temporal scales: hotspots and roles of structural and functional RESilience (IB-ForRes). Proyectos generación de conocimiento. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, coordinado a cuatro. PI: Paloma Ruiz Benito, Miguel A. Zavala Gironés.
- Comunidad de Madrid en el marco del Convenio Plurianual con la Universidad de Alcalá en la línea de actuación “Estímulo a la Excelencia para Profesores Universitarios Permanentes” (EPU-INV/2020/010). 150000 €. 2021-2023. IP: Paloma Ruiz Benito.
- Detección de Cambios en los ecosistemas forestales en Comunidad de Madrid – un enfoque de teledetección y análisis de big data. Comunidad de Madrid y Universidad de Alcalá (CM/JIN/2021-024). 2022-2023. PI: Mihai Tanase.
- Vulnerabilidad y Riesgo de los ecosistemas de pino silvestre frente al cambio climático: Diseño de un sistema de Alerta Temprana y Seguimiento (VERDAT). Proyectos de Investigación de Parques Nacionales (2794/2021), Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales. 2022 – 2024. PI: Miguel A. Zavala Gironés.
Finished projects
Explore my past research
- Data-driven models of forest drought vulnerability and resilience across spatial and temporal scales: application to the Spanish climate change adaptation strategy (DARE).
- Becas Leonardo Fundación BBVA “Efecto del cambio climático en la estructura y dinámica de los bosques mediterráneos“. 2018-2020.
- Exploring whether functional and structural diversity confer forests resistance and resilience to drought: implications for adaptation to climatic change (FUNDIVER).
- Towards robust PROjections of European Forests UNDer climate change (PROFOUND).
- FUNDIV Europe (FUNctional significance of forest bioDIVersity in EUROPE).
- Assessing ecosystem recovery after extreme drought-related dieback events worldwide.
- Ecological Restoration in the Autonomous Community of Madrid (Restauración Ecológica en la Comunidad de Madrid, REMEDINAL-3)
