Marielos Peña Claros

Marielos Peña Claros is a Professor in the Department of Forest Ecology and Forest Management at Wageningen University & Research. Her research focuses on ecological aspects of tropical forest management, forest resilience to disturbances, and sustainable land use in multifunctional landscapes. She co-chairs the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), leading interdisciplinary efforts to synthesize scientific knowledge for conservation strategies. Key contributions include work on forest recovery dynamics, certification of tropical forest management, and the role of pre-Columbian practices in Amazonian biodiversity.

She teaches courses in forest ecology and management across undergraduate and graduate programs, including the BSc in 'Bos- en Naturbeheer,' MSc in Forest and Nature Conservation, and Biology MSc. Her projects span networks such as the Tropical Managed Forest Observatory (TmFO) and BIOFOREST, focusing on timber recovery, carbon sequestration, and climate change impacts. She actively collaborates with organizations like DOB Ecology and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

Her research integrates empirical fieldwork, remote sensing, and modeling to address global challenges like deforestation, climate change, and sustainable forest use. Recent work emphasizes monitoring Congo Basin road networks via satellite AI and evaluating agroforestry systems in the Amazon. She advocates for evidence-based policy through initiatives like the Amazon Assessment Report and 10 policy briefs produced by the SPA.