Qiuyan Yu | Ecosystems | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cryogenicist

Dr. Qiuyan Yu | Ecosystems | Best Researcher Award

Senior Scientist | New Mexico State University | United States

Dr. Qiuyan Yu is a distinguished environmental and ecological researcher affiliated with New Mexico State University, United States. With an academic portfolio comprising 26 publications and over 870 citations, Dr. Yu has made significant contributions to the fields of forest ecology, remote sensing, and environmental change analysis. Her research integrates geospatial technologies, ecological modeling, and landscape analysis to understand how environmental factors and human activities influence terrestrial ecosystems, particularly forests and agricultural landscapes. Notably, her recent works—such as “Interactions between the environment and plant functional type control global forest top-of-canopy height” (2026) and “Urban Expansion and the Loss of Agricultural Lands and Forest Cover in Limbe, Cameroon” (2025)—demonstrate her expertise in assessing the ecological consequences of urbanization and climate variability on land cover dynamics. With an h-index of 14, Dr. Yu’s scholarship reflects both depth and global relevance, emphasizing sustainable environmental management and conservation. Collaborating with a broad network of 68 co-authors across interdisciplinary domains, she advances scientific understanding of ecosystem resilience and biodiversity conservation in the context of rapid environmental transformation. Her work not only enhances predictive models of vegetation dynamics but also provides valuable insights for policy formulation, land-use planning, and sustainable development. Through her continued research and collaboration, Dr. Qiuyan Yu remains a leading figure in environmental science, contributing meaningfully to addressing global ecological challenges.

Profiles: Scopus |Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Zhao, A., Yu, Q., Feng, L., Zhang, A., & Pei, T. (2020). Evaluating the cumulative and time-lag effects of drought on grassland vegetation: A case study in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Journal of Environmental Management, 261, 110214. 
Cited by: 203

2. Acheampong, M., Yu, Q., Enomah, L. D., Anchang, J., & Eduful, M. (2018). Land use/cover change in Ghana’s oil city: Assessing the impact of neoliberal economic policies and implications for sustainable development goal number one–A remote sensing perspective. Land Use Policy, 73, 373–384. 
Cited by: 125

3. Pu, R., Landry, S., & Yu, Q. (2018). Assessing the potential of multi-seasonal high resolution Pléiades satellite imagery for mapping urban tree species. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 71, 144–158.
Cited by: 117

4. Yu, Q., Ji, W., Pu, R., Landry, S., Acheampong, M., O’Neil-Dunne, J., Ren, Z., et al. (2020). A preliminary exploration of the cooling effect of tree shade in urban landscapes. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 92, 102161.
Cited by: 85

5 Sun, Z., Luo, J., Yang, J., Yu, Q., Zhang, L., Xue, K., & Lu, L. (2020). Nation-scale mapping of coastal aquaculture ponds with Sentinel-1 SAR data using Google Earth Engine. Remote Sensing, 12(18), 3086.
Cited by: 85

Dr. Qiuyan Yu’s research advances global understanding of vegetation dynamics, land-use change, and climate–ecosystem interactions. Her work provides critical insights for sustainable environmental management, guiding policies that balance ecological resilience with human development in a changing world.

Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Greening Impacts | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cryogenicist

Dr. Hailu Shiferaw Desta | Greening Impacts | Best Researcher Award

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.