Pieter Zuidema

Pieter Zuidema is a Professor of Forest Ecology and Forest Management at Wageningen University & Research. His research focuses on tropical forest dynamics, climate change impacts, and tree physiology. He leads projects on dendrochronology, carbon sequestration, and sustainable forest management, with a particular emphasis on tropical regions.

Research Interests: Dr. Zuidema investigates how tropical forests respond to environmental changes, including drought, CO₂ enrichment, and climate variability. His work integrates field studies, isotopic analysis, and modeling to understand tree growth resilience and mortality patterns. Key areas include:
- Tropical forest ecology and biodiversity conservation
- Climate change impacts on tree physiology and forest productivity
- Dendrochronological methods for reconstructing environmental history
- Sustainable timber tracing and illegal logging prevention

Recent Trends in Publications: His recent work highlights the effects of centennial CO₂ increases on tropical tree photosynthesis, climate-driven cocoa yield declines in Africa, and the use of isotopic and genomic tools to trace timber origins. Articles often bridge empirical field data with global change models, emphasizing practical applications for conservation and policy.

Advising & Grants: Supervises multiple PhD candidates (e.g., Caro Marin, Ushida Neves) and leads projects funded by diverse grants. Collaborates internationally on initiatives like pan-tropical drought studies and Amazon forest resilience projects.

Labs/Teams: Active within the PE&RC research group at Wageningen, collaborating globally with institutions like the University of Leeds and the University of Birmingham on large-scale forest monitoring networks.