Jonas Simons’ Post

Join Andrew Boyd in our LinkedIn Live event today, author of NEW research about Forest Landscape Restoration 🌱🌳 hosted by Sohrab Malik ⏰Livestream link in the comments section below⏰ Excited to share recent work from Public Assembly on Distributed Methods in Forest Landscape Restoration – A Case Study in the Legal Amazon of Mato Grosso. This project explores how drone-based multispectral photogrammetry can make aboveground biomass (AGB) measurement more accessible, accurate, and scalable. Working with ICV - Instituto Centro de Vida, they developed site-specific workflows to track forest recovery across restoration sites in the Legal Amazon of Brazil. They're findings show that Canopy Height Models (CHM) and Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) can effectively predict biomass recovery—bridging the gap between resource constraints and the need for reliable data in restoration projects. Key takeaways 🌳 Accessible methods are essential for empowering smallholders in carbon markets. 🌳 Drone photogrammetry offers scalable monitoring at the site level. 🌳 Localized model parameters improve restoration accuracy and decision-making. This case study highlights how ecological science, technology, and community partnerships can work together to advance large-scale restoration goals. It was supported by the AMBRECHT FAMILY FOUNDATION Fellowship and the Yale School of Management. #ForestRestoration #Amazon #RemoteSensing #Sustainability #CarbonMarkets #DroneTechnology #Conservation

#ClimateWeekNYC is next week. Understanding climate's influence on water quantity, quality, and distribution is one of the most significant challenges we face. As we approach a week focused on climate challenges, it's a great time to check out WikiWatershed.org, where a collection of freely available tools await. See why these tools are being used around the world by professionals, educators, and scientists to understand the how, where, and when of #water. Check out Scott Ensign's guest blog for Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP). #global #Climate The Climate Group #followtherivers #IOW

Blue carbon ecosystems like saltmarshes have huge potential to store carbon, protect coastlines, and support biodiversity. But unlocking finance at scale means tackling the challenges of market integrity, risk, and revenue confidence. 🌿 🌊 💸 In a recent piece published by REVOLVE, Finance Earth’s Senior Associate Sanchi Gupta shares insights on developing the UK Saltmarsh Code, in partnership with UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) - including how a “variable buffer” can help manage risk and de-risk investment in saltmarsh carbon projects. 💷 This work connects directly to the need for high-integrity marine natural capital markets, the focus of our collaborative Roadmap report displayed at #BlueFinance25. Clear standards, credible frameworks, and continued collaboration across science, policy, and finance are key to building confidence and attracting investment into nature-based solutions at scale. 📈 We’re excited to see these conversations gaining momentum across Europe and beyond. 📰 🔗 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/diDxh7AK #Saltmarsh #BlueCarbon #NatureFinance #MarineNaturalCapital #ClimateSolutions #FloodDefence

Great pleasure to share that our research article, 'A Geospatial Modelling Approach towards Efficient Co-management of Blue-teal Carbon Ecosystems in Eastern India: Implications for Carbon Trading Mechanisms,' has been published in the 'Ocean & Coastal Management' journal (Elsevier). This study identifies carbon sequestration capacity in a small yet vulnerable wetland of the eastern Indian coast. It quantifies ecosystem organic carbon following the estimation of above ground biomass, below ground biomass and soil organic carbon using an integrated geospatial modelling approach that combines SAR, optical, and in-situ datasets. Findings suggest the strong influence of intra-wetland land use and land cover patterns on carbon dynamics over the region. It further emphasizes the role of community participation in sustaining these ecosystems and examines potential pathways to align local initiatives with regional carbon market frameworks. Grateful to my supervisor Debajit Datta, co-authors (Mansa dey, mrinmoyee naskar), collaborators and labmates of the Landscape Ecology Laboratory in Department of Geography, Jadavpur University whose support and insights made this work possible. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gF4kSRmx

We are pleased to share our collaboration in a new publication in Scientific Data Nature Portfolio: “30 Years of Crop & Land Cover Land Use Maps for the Middle Rio Grande (1994–2024)” This open-access dataset, led by Arizona State University, delivers the most comprehensive, high-resolution record of land use and crop cover in the transboundary Middle Rio Grande. By spanning three decades and both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border, it provides a critical foundation for: Sustainable water and land management in arid regions Binational cooperation on shared resources Resilience planning in the face of climate variability and land-use change The study was developed in partnership with Texas Waters Resources Institute (TWRI) , Texas A&M AgriLife Research (TAMU), Budyko Research Institute (BRI), and Jackson State University (JSU). 📄 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gpWqrSzs #BudykoResearch #OpenScience #RemoteSensing #LandUse #TransboundaryWater #Hydrology

Grasslands and meadows are true hotspots of biodiversity – home to wildflowers, pollinators, birds, and countless other species. Yet for decades, they have been largely overlooked in conservation and monitoring, with most global efforts focused on forests. Over recent decades, these open ecosystems have been severely degraded by agricultural intensification, land conversion, and invasive encroachment, leading to the decline of many rare and threatened species. The new global short vegetation height dataset, despite its limitations, finally brings them into focus. It offers a powerful way to monitor changes in grasslands, pastures, alpine meadows, and shrublands – detecting early signs of degradation or recovery, quantifying biomass and carbon storage, and revealing subtle shifts in habitat structure. 🌱 This is the ecosystem that stole my heart in the last few years – vibrant, fragile, and essential. Seeing them gain visibility in global monitoring is a huge step toward better protection and restoration.

Excited to share a new open-access publication by Dr. Francesco Caponi and colleagues, recently published in the Journal of Ecohydraulics: “Effects of channel hydraulics and morphology on water-mediated dispersal in an alpine river” The dispersal of seeds and organisms through rivers (#Hydrochory) is a key process connecting #terrestrial and #aquatic ecosystems. Yet, anthropogenic pressures and #ClimateChange are altering these dynamics, with important implications for #biodiversity and #restoration. This study combined field experiments in a #braided alpine river with 2D numerical modelling to explore how flow and channel #morphology influence #dispersal. Key findings include: 🔹Floating particles decreased exponentially with distance, primarily influenced by discharge. 🔹Deposition patterns were driven more by channel morphology than by particle size. 🔹Small-scale riverbed heterogeneity played a major role in landing positions. These insights highlight the importance of river hydraulic and morphological features for maintaining ecological connectivity. They can also inform conservation strategies, ecological flow design, and restoration in rivers impacted by hydropower. This work is a culmination of collaborative research with Dr. Sabine Fink from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL under the project “Resilient rivers: refugia – connectivity – stepping stones. 2022–2026”, funded by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/dvk35P6J #RiverRestoration #Ecohydraulics #FreshwaterEcology #Connectivity #RestorationEcology #Sustainability #BASEMENT #NumericalModelling International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) ECoENet - Early Careers on Ecohydraulics Network

🌲 How can we better understand our forests from above?   Recent breakthroughs in active remote sensing are giving us unprecedented insights into forest ecosystems and their economic value.   These technologies are transforming how we: ✅ Measure forest biomass ✅ Track carbon sequestration ✅ Assess biodiversity richness ✅ Value ecosystem services economically 🔗 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dwQZHXSD #Geoversity #RemoteSensing #ForestManagement #LiDAR #SAR #EcosystemServices #SustainableForestry 📸 Photo by Casey Horner (Unsplash)

MechSE Magazine 2025 is out now! Over the last century and beyond, generations of observation and research have recorded significant changes in the world’s reefscapes. Coral reefs are known to be very sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature, pollution, and pH and oxygen levels. They are also impacted by the levels of different forms of algae—while some have a symbiotic relationship with coral, other forms can overtake and suffocate them—which in turn are subject to the same oceanic factors. Indeed, a thriving coral reef represents a delicately balanced and finetuned ecosystem, which can easily be thrown off balance in the face of pollution, ocean acidification, and effects of overfishing. Yet, these complex organisms represent not only a critical component in the ocean machine, but also a resource for bio-inspired materials design. The call has sounded for engineers and marine experts to work together to learn from and preserve our reefs—and Illinois Grainger engineers have answered. Read more and watch the full series: https://lnkd.in/gx_gF-ie Music by Maxwell Miller College of Fine and Applied Arts at Illinois The Grainger College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois Materials Science & Engineering at Illinois Grainger Engineering San Diego State University University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign #coralreef #bioengineering #ecology #restoration #climatechange #marinebiology