I am a researcher focused on the intersection of environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development. My work investigates strategies to address poverty and environmental degradation simultaneously, identifying pathways that promote social progress without exacerbating ecological decline.

Using data-driven methodologies, including statistical and geospatial analysis, I examine the impacts of land use and deforestation on human development. My research on the Brazilian dry forest has demonstrated that municipalities with intermediate forest cover tend to exhibit better socioeconomic, health, and food security indicators. Additionally, my studies on land tenure and land use dynamics highlight how production models play a more significant role in forest cover changes than tenure type.

My research contributes to ongoing academic discussions, informs policy development, and fosters interdisciplinary collaborations. By providing empirical evidence and analytical frameworks, my work supports the design of strategies that integrate environmental conservation with sustainable development objectives.

I graduated from UFPE in 2015 after presenting my undergraduate thesis on the evolutionary history of a tree species found along the northeastern coast of Brazil and in the Cerrado. After, I moved to the Amazon to do my master’s degree at INPA, where I studied deforestation patterns in the Amazon and their effects on landscape structure and natural regeneration. I finished my MSc in 2018 and started my PhD the following year, once again at UFPE—this time focusing on forests and human development in the Caatinga. I completed my PhD in 2023 and have since been working as a researcher at the University of Manchester, investigating the relationships between environmental change, development and territories.

I’m interested in exploring different ways of looking at the same problem—especially how these perspectives can interact—while remaining grounded in themes like the environment, human development, land, and territory. I enjoy working at the intersections of these fields, combining diverse approaches. For instance, I’m currently leading research on how collective land use influences forest conservation and the material living conditions of rural communities in Mexico. I’m also involved in other projects that examine other intersections like land use and forests, or territories and human development. In these studies, I combine tools such as geospatial analysis, causal inference methods, and multi-scalar approaches to produce more nuanced and detailed insights. My work is guided by a critical perspective, always seeking pathways to overcome capitalism.