Matthew D. Potts

Matthew D. Potts is the S.J. Hall Chair in Forest Economics and Professor at UC Berkeley's Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management. He also serves as Associate Director for Sustainable Development at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. With interdisciplinary training in mathematics, ecology, and economics, his research focuses on nature-based climate solutions and ecosystem service co-production.

Research addresses carbon sequestration through forest management, biodiversity conservation, land use planning, and sustainable development in tropical ecosystems. Recent work examines cost-effectiveness of reforestation, climate-driven migration patterns, and plantation carbon modeling.

Publications demonstrate strong focus on quantitative analysis of land-use impacts, with methodological innovations in remote sensing applications and spatial modeling for carbon accounting. Awards include recognition for young faculty research and leadership in international environmental assessments.

Leads the Potts Research Group, mentoring graduate students working on tropical ecology, restoration, and climate adaptation projects.