B-EPICC Scientist Sarah Bereswill Visited Research Institutions in Brazil, August & September 2022

First, Ms. Bereswill stayed at INPE (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, National Institute for Space Research) and met Dr. Luiz Aragão, the head of the TREES laboratory (TRopical Ecosystems and Environmental Sciences lab). Their research focuses on different aspects of the impact of environmental change on the biodiverse Amazon rainforest ecosystems. Based on long-term measurement series from a large number of field sites and remote sensing observations across the Amazon rainforest, the forest biomass and carbon cycles of secondary forests are investigated. The data indicates that fire, repeated disturbances such as deforestation or fragmentation, and a changing climate can impede the recovery of forests and lower their carbon sink potential. The scientists discussed approaches to how the LPJmL-FIT model can, based on field observations from secondary forests in the region, specifically consider scenarios of environmental change important for the Brazilian Amazon biome.

Another focus of research at INPE is the development of future land use scenarios to enable more accurate predictions about the future of Brazil’s natural resources. Here, Dr. Celso von Randow is working with a team in the Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerabilities Division of INPE (Divisão de Impactos, Adaptação e Vulnerabilidades, CGCT) on modeling land use change and impacts in carbon and water fluxes in Brasilian biomes. In close dialogue with stakeholders, Dr. von Randow and colleagues develop detailed projections of land use change in Brazil. To tailor simulations of future forest recovery to conditions specific to Brazil, detailed land-use scenarios that consider future trajectories across different sectors are key. Based on previous collaborations with PIK, the scientists developed ideas to combine the expertise and modeling capacities of both institutes to improve future predictions concerning Brazil’s forest resources.

In the second part of her trip, Ms. Bereswill visited the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia - INPA (National Institute of Amazonian Research) in Manaus. Ms. Bereswill was invited by Prof. Dr. Niro Higuchi from the research division Manejo Florestal (Forest Management) to visit a rainforest research station located at 60 km northwest of Manaus in the Cuieiras forest reserve. Together with scientists and students, the team around Prof. Higuchi runs long-term field campaigns to collect data on tree species composition and biodiversity, growth and biomass of primary and secondary forest on experimental sites across different environmental gradients. The scientists also discussed the belowground dynamics of forests, such as root biomass distribution, whose importance is often still underestimated in global models. Many opportunities for collaboration, joining field research and modeling approaches were identified.

During her stay at INPA, Ms. Bereswill met Dr. Rita Mesquita from Coordenação de Dinâmica Ambiental (CDAM, Environmental Dynamics Coordination Team). Dr. Mesquita, who is also a member of the 2ndFOR (Secondary Forests) Network, shared her expertise from many years of experience in ecological research in the Amazon forests. She introduced the Bosque da Ciência (‘Forest of Science’), a 13ha area where INPA runs an environmental education program.

As B-EPICC encourages young scientists to realize a research stay at PIK, Ms. Bereswill also visited students of the Master Programme PPG-CLIAMB (Programa de Pós-Graduação em Clima e Ambiente, Graduate Program in Climate and Environment) of UEA (Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Amazonas State University). Together with the B-EPICC colleagues focusing on hydrological modeling, we look forward to host a student of the programme at PIK soon.