Maria Laura CARRANZA

Prof. Maria Laura CARRANZA is a Full Professor at the University of Molise, Department of Biosciences and Territory. Her work focuses on ecology, remote sensing, and environmental conservation, particularly in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems. She leads the Envix Lab, emphasizing vegetation mapping, invasive species dynamics, and climate change impacts. Her research integrates multi-source remote sensing (e.g., Sentinel, UAVs) with field data to assess biodiversity, dune ecosystems, and human-environment interactions. Key projects include monitoring plant invasions (e.g., Acacia saligna), coastal resilience, and citizen science contributions to ecological data collection.

Education background and formal qualifications are not explicitly detailed in the provided text. Her research spans over 15 years, with recent emphasis on Mediterranean dunes, urban biodiversity, and global change effects on alpine grasslands. She collaborates internationally, notably in Argentina (Gran Chaco forests) and Pakistan (yak herding dynamics).

Research interests include functional traits of plant communities, spectral diversity metrics, and conservation strategies for threatened ecosystems. Her work highlights the role of protected areas in mitigating litter accumulation and preserving cultural services. She has contributed to policy frameworks like Natura 2000 and the EU’s Invasive Species Directive through applied research.

Publications emphasize the synergy between remote sensing and field ecology, with over 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2016. Her work on Acacia saligna invasion models and dune eco-geomorphology via UAVs has advanced management practices. She also explores educational innovations, such as online course efficacy for field subjects like bird recognition.