"I conduct my research on biodiversity and the ecosystem services of forests and forest landscapes in the tropics, particularly in East Africa and Europe. I am interested in understanding how environmental factors – e.g., climate change – and human uses affect the distribution of individual plant species, biodiversity patterns and the functions and services of forest ecosystems. Through my research, I want to help to develop strategies for the long-term conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems."
More on the research
Professor Christine Schmitt conducts multi-scale research on the biodiversity and ecosystem services of forests and forest landscapes while taking into account current environmental changes and societal needs to support the conservation and use of species and natural resources. Her geographical focus is East Africa and Europe.
More information about her research:
www.phil.uni-passau.de/en/geography-section/team/prof-dr-christine-schmitt/
Publications
Brackhane S, Reif A, Zin E & Schmitt CB. 2021. Are natural disturbances represented in strictly protected areas in Germany? Global Ecology and Conservation, e01436: 21. (Open Access)
Cuni-Sanchez A & 101 co-authors, including Schmitt CB. 2021. High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests. Nature, 596: 536-542.
Aleman JC & 32 co-authors, including Schmitt CB. 2020. Floristic evidence for alternative biome states in tropical Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(45): 28183-28190.
Callo-Concha D, Jaenicke H, Schmitt CB & Denich M. 2020. Food and non-food biomass production, processing and use in sub-Saharan Africa: Towards a regional bioeconomy, Editorial. Sustainability, 12(5): 2013. (Open Access)
Habel JC, Nzau JM, Apfelbeck B, Bendzko T, Fischer C, Kimatu JN, Mwakumanya MA, Maghenda M, Mulwa RK, Rieckmann M, Shauri H, Teucher M & Schmitt CB. 2020. Land scarcity, communication gaps and institutional confusions influence the loss of biodiversity in south-eastern Kenya. Biodiversity and Conservation, 29: 3835-3841. (Open Access)