Sarah Gergel

Sarah Gergel is a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Forestry. As Associate Dean, Academic, she bridges landscape ecology with applied conservation science and technology innovation. Her research focuses on understanding human impacts on terrestrial and aquatic landscapes, with projects spanning from the Arctic to the Tropics.

Research areas include:

• Ecosystem services mapping and quantification
• Historical dynamics of river-floodplains
• High-resolution remote sensing (satellite/aerial imagery)
• Participatory mapping with Indigenous communities
• Social-ecological resilience

Notable scientific awards:

• 2021 Gender Diversity and Inclusion Award (Canadian Institute of Forestry)
• 2020 Distinguished Landscape Practitioner (IALE-North America)
• 2018 AAAS Fellow

Her lab integrates fieldwork, modeling, and local knowledge to address long-term landscape change, with applications in environmental assessment, land use planning, and sustainable development.