Eva Meijers, PhD student at Wageningen University & Research.
Background. Greetings! I am a plant scientist with a focus on drought mitigation and eco-physiology in perennial systems. My work centers around understanding the plant-soil-atmosphere continuum and its function in sustainable practices. I am committed to working with new research techniques to generate novel insights in sustainable production systems. I believe such insights are crucial to addressing the complex challenges facing our planet today. Through my research, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how plant physiology and ecology can be utilized to develop strategies for sustainable forestry, agriculture and water conservation.
This project. From 2021-2025, I will work as a PhD student on the climate-smart forestry project in the Netherlands. My focus will be mainly on the “above-ground” elements of this system, that is trees, meteorology. In Year 1, I will be diving into the fieldwork with dendrometers and Terrestrial Laser Scanning to collect crucial data for my research. In Year 2, I will be analyzing the data collected and taking additional eco-physiological measurements to calibrate and validate a forest growth model. I will hereby better understand the relationships between the trees and their environment. Year 3 will see me delving into the past by using tree ring analysis to uncover even more information about the trees I am studying. In Year 4, I will be putting all of my research together to model an optimal harvesting strategy. And throughout all of these years, I will have the privilege of Master student supervision, which is always a joy and honor.
contact: eva.meijers@wur.nl
Student supervision
Roos Groenewoud, master thesis student Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University & Research (2022-2023).
Background. My love and care for nature with al its complexity made me decide to study Forest and Nature Conservation. I value our Dutch forests and want to contribute to the protection of these forests under the pressure of climate change. I am interested in using new technologies to solve the challenges that our planet is facing.
This project. During my master thesis I researched the link between density-dependent forest structure and soil moisture levels under supervision of Eva Meijers. Knowing how soil moisture is spatially distributed in forests can help us to understand how drought affects tree growth and survival. This project gave me the chance to learn how to record and analyse Terrestrial Laser Scanning data to study the 3D structure of forests. It was a pleasure to be part of the enthusiastic climate-smart forestry research team.
David Pacuk, master thesis student Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University & Research (2023).
Background. I attained a master’s degree in sociology and spent three years teaching at my university before I decided to switch fields. I saved up, went to Wageningen to study Forest & Nature Conservation (Ecology) and never looked back. Working with (and in) forests brings me deep satisfaction, and the relevance of research in this field is undeniable. I have a passion for learning about forests as complex systems, and I love intense fieldwork as much as I do a deep computer analysis. Being able to contribute to the forests’ resilience in the process makes it all the more gratifying.
This project. My thesis research was on the drought responses of three common European tree species, specifically looking at source limitations. We primarily measured water stress and photosynthetic activity along an irrigation gradient. I had the pleasure of being able to set up an experiment at the Dutch Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), and learned a lot about eco-physiological processes and the advanced equipment we use to monitor them. As a whole, this project got me even more excited about ecological modelling than I was going in, and working with the CSF team has been an absolute joy.
Zeno Corazza, master thesis student Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University & Research (2023).
Antke Leeuwerik, master thesis student Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University & Research (2024).
Background. I have always enjoyed spending time in nature, which has led to my interest in how natural ecosystems like forests function. At the same time, I am interested in how these ecosystems can be managed and the way people interact with them, especially in relation to climate change. That is why I am studying both Climate Studies and Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University. My ambition is to contribute to creating healthier and more resilient natural ecosystems through sustainable management.
This project. For my master thesis, I will determine the leaf water potential of trees (beech, Scots pine and Douglas fir) within the Climate Smart Forestry project. This will be done using a drone with a canopy sampler. Leaf water potential provides information on the water balance of a tree, and is therefore an important indicator for drought stress. Linking this information to dendrometer data and thermal imagery data will provide insights on water fluxes of trees in the area.
Climate Smart Forestry 