I hold a PhD in Applied Environmental Sciences from the University of Almería (February 2021). Previously, I completed a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences at the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid, and a Master's Degree in Biodiversity Conservation, Management, and Restoration at the University of Granada. My doctoral stage was funded by a University Teacher Training Fellowship (FPU) from the Ministry of Education. During this period, I conducted two three-month research stays: at the University of Buenos Aires with Prof. José Paruelo, and at the Humboldt University of Berlin with Prof. Tobias Kuemmerle. Prior to that, I also worked as a research technician in the Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology (Rey Juan Carlos University) on several projects for the Biosphere Reserves of Madrid region.
After completing my PhD thesis, I began my postdoctoral stage at the ENGLOBA Center as a researcher in the LIFE Adaptamed project. In January 2022, thanks to a Margarita Salas
Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Ministry of Universities, I started a postdoctoral stay at the Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI) at Leuphana University Lüneburg (Germany) with
Prof. Joern Fischer. This stay lasted until April 2025, a period during which I also worked as a postdoctoral researcher at SESI and the Thünen Institute of Biodiversity. In May 2025, I returned to the University of Almería thanks to a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía). Additionally, I maintain an
affiliation with SESI (Leuphana University) as a Visiting Scientist.
RESEARCH
My research interests are framed within the field of Sustainability Sciences, specifically in the study of landscapes as social-ecological systems and the application of social-ecological
systems thinking to the analysis of the sustainability challenges we face in the Anthropocene. Methodologically, usually I apply the archetype approach to identify recurring patterns in
social-ecological systems, which helps navigate the complexity of these systems. To gather data, I rely on both environmental and social databases, as well as social research techniques
(such as questionnaires and interviews). My work has focused on identifying key variables and developing conceptual frameworks for the study of social-ecological systems, as well as on the spatial mapping of these systems at a regional scale. Currently, my research lines focus on the field of social-ecological restoration and regeneration. To this end, I have developed an analytical framework for the systematic evaluation of ecosystem restoration projects from a social-ecological perspective, aiming to understand how and when these projects can benefit both nature and the people who interact with it. I also investigate the transformative potential of holistic landscape restoration as a process capable of triggering regenerative dynamics across multiple, mutually reinforcing social-ecological domains.
TEACHING
Throughout my doctoral and postdoctoral stages, I have taught bachelor’s and masters courses at the University of Almería and Leuphana University Lüneburg. My teaching covers fields related to sustainability sciences, global change, social-ecological systems, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, monitoring, and management, and agricultural botany. I
also participate in the Multilingualism Promotion Plan of the University of Almería, teaching the course Global Change and Social-Ecological Systems.
RESEARCH GROUP: Ecozonar (Ecology of Arid Zones) (RNM-174)
RESEARCH LINES:
PARTICIPATION IN NETWORKS (REGIONAL/NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL)
PROJECTS TO HIGHLIGHT
WATER4FORESTS: Sowing and harvesting ecosystem services: effects of traditional water management on arid mountain forests (DGP_PIDI_2024_02578). Regional Government of
Andalusia (2026-2028). PI: Javier Cabello.
GRASSWORKS: What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany? (03LW0094K). BMBF-Forschungsinitiative zum Erhalt der Artenvielfalt – FedA (10/2021 - 04/2025). PI: VickyTemperton & Anita Kirmer.
EVERSE: Evaluation of ecosystem restoration from a social-ecological perspective. Margarita Salas Grants, Ministry of Universities, Next Generation EU (01/01/2022 - 31/12/2023). PI:
Manuel Pacheco Romero.
NBS4Water: Nature-based solutions for resilient management of the hydrological cycle in mountain areas: the traditional water management systems of the Sierra Nevada (2768/2021).
National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) - MITECO (12/2021 - 12/2024). PI: Javier Cabello.
LIFE ADAPTAMED: Protection of key ecosystem services threatened by Climate Change through adaptive management of Mediterranean social-ecological systems (LIFE14 CCA/ES/000612). European Commission (07/2015 - 12/2021). PI: Francisco Javier Cano.
CO-ADAPTA: Social learning and knowledge co-production for the conservation of the Ziziphus lotus shrubs (Priority Habitat 5220) and the services it provides in the face of Climate Change.Biodiversity Foundation - MAGRAMA (10/2017 - 06/2018). PI: Javier Cabello Piñar.
Social-Ecological Functional Types: Integrating biophysical and social processes to characterize and map the ecosystems of the Anthropocene (CGL2014-61610-EXP). Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Government of Spain (2015 - 2017). PI: Domingo Alcaraz Segura.
Decadal report of the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve (Madrid): by the Scientific Council of the Spanish Committee of the "MaB" Program (M1267). National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN). Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment
