L. Roman Carrasco

L. Roman Carrasco serves as Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he leads the Bioecon Lab focused on interdisciplinary sustainability research in tropical regions.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Environmental Research, Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Research Interests:

Dr. Carrasco's work centers on reconciling biodiversity conservation, food security, and economic development through bioeconomic modeling of tropical socio-ecological systems. His lab employs quantitative approaches including spatial analyses, statistical modeling, and computational methods to address:

• Tropical forest conservation strategies
• Trade-offs between agricultural expansion and ecosystem services
• Valuation of nature's benefits to human wellbeing
• Mechanisms for global markets to internalize forest values

Publication Trends:

His 2017-2019 publications reveal a consistent focus on economic dimensions of conservation, featuring meta-analyses of ecosystem service values, spatial modeling of land-use synergies, and empirical studies linking forest conservation to public health. The work predominantly applies quantitative methods to tropical contexts with emphasis on policy-relevant outcomes.

Current Projects:

Dr. Carrasco directs research initiatives addressing:

• Global market mechanisms for tropical forest valuation
• Spatial optimization of land use for ecosystem services
• Nature's wellbeing benefits quantification
• Singapore-specific ecosystem service valuation

Laboratory:

The Bioecon Lab operates as an applied quantitative research unit integrating ecological modeling with economic analysis to solve complex sustainability challenges in tropical developing regions.