Matthew Mitchell

Matthew Mitchell is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Forest Resources Management at the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and the Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia (UBC). His research focuses on multifunctional landscapes, integrating ecological and socio-economic dimensions to balance biodiversity conservation with human well-being. He co-leads the M2L2 Lab, which emphasizes equitable and sustainable management of urban and agricultural systems. Mitchell’s work bridges landscape ecology, ecosystem service science, and conservation policy, leveraging interdisciplinary methods like socio-ecological modeling and participatory research.

His research areas include community ecology, ecosystem services and conservation policy, and environmental change. He collaborates with stakeholders to co-design solutions for urban greenspace planning, agricultural sustainability, and mineral exploration that respect biodiversity. Mitchell’s lab actively engages in reconciliation efforts, acknowledging Indigenous land stewardship and UBC’s location on Musqueam territory.

Notable contributions include studies on forest restoration trade-offs, flood mitigation via ecosystems, and biodiversity-ecosystem service linkages. Mitchell advises students like Dan Forrest (UBC Public Scholar) and MSc candidate Aaron Aguirre, exploring urban bat ecology and mutualistic city design. His work informs national conservation strategies and urban planning, emphasizing equity and ecological resilience.

Lab activities focus on developing tools for multifunctional landscape planning, such as indices for restorative nature and frameworks balancing mineral prospectivity with conservation. Mitchell’s research underscores the urgency of addressing global biodiversity loss through inclusive, science-driven policies.