Erin Swails

Erin is an ecosystem ecologist who researches the impact of land-use change on greenhouse gas emissions from forests and wetlands, with a particular focus on biogeochemical cycling in tropical peatlands. She has over 10 years of experience in research and project implementation related to climate change mitigation in the land-use sector in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Her research is interdisciplinary, utilizing field and laboratory-based measurements as well as modeling and remote-sensing approaches. While completing her PhD at the University of Virginia, Erin worked with CIFOR scientists to investigate changes in peat greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the conversion of peat swamp forests to oil palm plantations in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. She is particularly interested in the impact of restoration on C and N cycling and greenhouse gas fluxes in degraded peatland ecosystems.