Esteve Corbera Elizalde

Esteve Corbera Elizalde is an ICREA Research Professor at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where he conducts research on human-nature relationships and resource governance. His work examines how international policies for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation affect land-use systems, institutions, and livelihoods in the global South, with particular focus on Mexico and Latin America.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Development Studies and a Master's in Renewable Natural Resources and Development from the University of East Anglia, a Postgraduate degree in Environmental Management from Universitat de Barcelona, and a degree in Environmental Sciences from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

Corbera Elizalde's research spans environmental governance, ecosystem services, payments for ecosystem services, REDD+, and the political ecology of conservation. His work critically examines the social and ecological outcomes of conservation and climate change policies, with growing attention to decolonial approaches in biodiversity conservation. He has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles and served as associate editor for Ecology and Society.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on evaluating the effectiveness of conservation interventions, particularly payments for ecosystem services programs, with increasing attention to decolonial perspectives in conservation and the politics of biodiversity offsetting. His work bridges empirical field research with theoretical contributions to environmental social science.

• World's most cited multidisciplinary scientist (Clarivate analytics, 2019-2022)
• Contributing author to IPCC 5th Assessment Report (2014)
• Guest editor for 11 special journal issues

Corbera Elizalde has supervised 55 research projects and students, and currently leads or participates in multiple research projects including PROPS (focusing on plant disease resilience), SUSTAIN (rural sustainability transitions), and Maria de Maeztu (environmental science institute development). He is affiliated with the Laboratori d'Anàlisi de Sistemes Socio-Ecològics en la Globalització (LASEG), which focuses on ecosystem services, indigenous peoples, and local communities.