I am studying the role of African elephants in climate change by examining their feeding impacts on vegetation and above-ground carbon dynamics. My research aims to identify demographic and habitat degradation thresholds that could shift their ecosystem role from carbon accumulators to carbon releasers, while also addressing misconceptions about the two African elephant species and their hybrids. As elephants face increasing threats from poaching and escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC) across their range, my work further explores any synergies or trade-offs between climate change mitigation and conservation efforts, and how these are linked to HEC. Learn more on my website: http://www.samuelawini.com.

Projects

Learning from REDD+: An Enchanced Global Comparative Analysis Multilevel governance and carbon management at the landscape scale

Thu is a researcher in public policy, currently pursuing a PhD in Spatial Planning and Transport Policy at Aalto University. Her research interests include policy design and governance, urban sustainable development and sustainability transition. She is doing research on policy mixes for the decarbonization of transportation in Finland as part of her doctoral studies.

The overarching aim of my research is to develop new, sustainable forest management practices and policies that can pave the way for energy transition, climate change mitigation and adaptation, without compromising ecosystem services or the implementation of biodiversity targets. I have expertise in dynamic forest carbon cycle modeling, systems analysis, climate impact assessment, ecosystem service and biodiversity modeling as well as in policies related to climate change mitigation and the sustainability of bioenergy.