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Bio

• Ph.D. (2012-2018) - University of the West Indies (T&T)
• M.Sc. (2007-2008) - Bangor University (UK) McGill University
• B.Sc. (2002-2005) - University of the West Indies (T&T)

Emphasis: Coastal Sustainability; Ecosystem Services; Social-Ecological Systems; Trade-off decisions; Spatial Ecology; Blue Carbon

Research Summary

Dr. Alemu I's work focuses on challenging the paradigm that pits people against nature, by building a case for environmental protection and restoration as important to improve economic and social welling being of people. His work is thus by nature interdisciplinary and involves collaborators from disparate disciplines. In particular he focuses on coastal ecosystems and cities, and works with coastal scientists, conservation practitioners and decision-makers to better understand the flow of coastal ecosystem services to society by quantifying ecological functions, societal needs and their linkages, under scenarios that considers restoration, urbanization, equity and climate change. His current research evaluates policy levers for mitigating sea-level rise impacts on emissions for urban marshes, enhancing ecosystem and community resilience through restoration, and understanding the impacts of mangrove expansion on ecological and human communities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Selected Publications

• Bardou, R., et al., (2023). Rapidly Changing Range Limits in a Warming World: Critical Data Limitations and Knowledge Gaps for Advancing Understanding of Mangrove Range Dynamics in the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃeastern USA. Estuaries and Coasts, 46, 1123-1140.
• Friess, D. A. et al., (2023). Blue carbon science, management and policy across a tropical urban landscape. Landscape and Urban Planning, 230, 104610.
• Alemu, J. B. et al., (2022). Geomorphic gradients in shallow seagrass carbon stocks. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 265, 107681.
• Alemu, J. B., & Mallela, J. (2021). Recent dynamics on turbid-water coral reefs following the 2010 mass bleaching event in Tobago. Marine Environmental Research, 170, 105411.
• Alemu, J. B. et al., (2021a). Hydro-morphological characteristics provide insights into coral reef ecosystem services and disservices. Ecosystem Services, 49, 101281.
• Alemu, J. B. et al., (2021b). Identifying spatial patterns and interactions among multiple ecosystem services in an urban mangrove landscape. Ecological Indicators, 121, 107042.
• Tan, P. Y. et al., (2020). A conceptual framework to untangle the concept of urban ecosystem services. Landscape and urban planning, 200, 103837.