Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Water and Land Resource Center | Ethiopia
Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta is an accomplished Ecosystem Specialist at the Water and Land Resource Center, Addis Ababa University, recognized for his expertise in environment and natural resource management. He holds a Ph.D. in Geography specializing in Environment and Natural Resource Management from Addis Ababa University, an M.Sc. in Environment focusing on GIS and Remote Sensing from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, an M.Sc. in Biology with a focus on Plant Ecology, and a B.Sc. in Biology from Addis Ababa University. With extensive experience in academia and applied research, he has played leading roles in national and international projects such as the R4D Woody Weeds, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Landscape Restoration, Basin Development and Transformation (BRIGHT), and Green Transition initiatives. His collaborations with global institutions including the World Resources Institute, International Institute of Sustainable Development, and CABI International have advanced the use of geospatial technologies, nature-based solutions, and sustainable land management practices across Ethiopia. Dr. Hailu’s research focuses on land use dynamics, ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and invasive species management, contributing to evidence-based policymaking and environmental governance. He has authored more than thirty publications in prestigious journals such as Nature-Based Solutions, Scientific Reports, Science of The Total Environment, and Ecological Indicators, with his findings influencing restoration strategies and conservation policies. A dedicated mentor and trainer, he has conducted numerous capacity-building programs in GIS, spatial analysis, and environmental planning for professionals and institutions. His work integrates science, innovation, and community engagement to enhance ecosystem resilience and promote sustainable development. With 1,811 citations, an h-index of 18, and an i10-index of 21, Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta stands as a leading scholar and practitioner in environmental research and sustainability.
Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar
Featured Publication
1. Linders, T. E. W., Schaffner, U., Eschen, R., Abebe, A., Choge, S. K., Nigatu, L., et al. (2019). Direct and indirect effects of invasive species: Biodiversity loss is a major mechanism by which an invasive tree affects ecosystem functioning. Journal of Ecology, 107(6), 2660–2672.
2. Shiferaw, H., Teketay, D., Nemomissa, S., & Assefa, F. (2004). Some biological characteristics that foster the invasion of Prosopis juliflora (SW.) DC at Middle Awash Rift Valley Area, north-eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Arid Environments, 58(2), 135–154.
3. Shiferaw, H., Bewket, W., Alamirew, T., Zeleke, G., Teketay, D., Bekele, K., et al. (2019). Implications of land use/land cover dynamics and Prosopis invasion on ecosystem service values in Afar Region, Ethiopia. Science of the Total Environment, 675, 354–366.
4. Shiferaw, H., Bewket, W., & Eckert, S. (2019). Performances of machine learning algorithms for mapping fractional cover of an invasive plant species in a dryland ecosystem. Ecology and Evolution, 9, 2562–2574.