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About

Mangrove Ecologist  &  Blue Carbon Specialist  ·  Dubai
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Bio

A mangrove ecologist who has followed the tide from São Paulo to Bremen to the Gulf.

I am a mangrove ecologist and blue carbon specialist based in Dubai. I completed my doctorate in ecology with the Mangrove Ecology Group at ZMT Bremen in 2025, after a Master of Science in Environmental Management in Kiel and a degree in biological sciences in São Paulo.

My work spans the full arc of coastal science: from field restoration and survey programs across four continents, to doctoral research on how mangroves connect to the land, to the development of blue carbon and peatland projects under Verra and Gold Standard. I co-edited the Springer reference volume Brazilian Mangroves and Salt Marshes.

I now work as an environmental consultant on mangrove conservation strategy and coastal impact assessment across the MENA region. I work in six languages, and I am open to research positions and collaborations in mangrove science, blue carbon, and coastal restoration.

Experience
Now

Environmental Consultant

Nature for Environmental & Agricultural Solutions · Abu Dhabi, UAE · EIA for large-scale coastal island development

Now

Environmental Consultant

Goumbook / MENA Oceans · Dubai, UAE · Stakeholder mapping, workshops, MENA mangrove conservation strategy

21-25

Senior Nature-based Solutions Specialist

EcoSecurities Group · Blue carbon & peatland project development, Verra and Gold Standard

17-23

Co-editor

Springer Nature · Curation, author management, review

11-17

Researcher, Mangrove Ecology

Biota / FAPESP · São Paulo, Brazil

10-16

Researcher, Mangrove Ecology

ReBentos network · Brazil

14-15

Invited lecturer, Benthic Autotrophs

Universidade de São Paulo (USP) · Theory, field, and lab

2012

Lecturer

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie · Aquatic ecology, environmental management, EIA, limnology, climate change

2012

Subproject coordinator, “Amazônia Contada”

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie · Amazonian community stories told through children

2009

Mangrove expert

Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa · Puting Buhangin Island restoration plan, Palawan, Philippines

2009

Marine Mammals Observer

GeoPacific · Maranhão, Brazil · Behaviour monitoring and environmental compliance

2006

Marine Mammals Observer

La Compagnie Générale de Géophysique (CGG) · Rio de Janeiro & Espírito Santo, Brazil

03-09

Lecturer & internship coordinator

Centro de Estudos de Biologia Marinha (ARGOS) · Ubatuba, Brazil

Education
2025

Doctorate in Ecology

Mangrove Ecology Group, ZMT / Universität Bremen · Germany

2009

MSc, Environmental Management

Ökologie-Zentrum, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel · Germany

2005

BSc & Teaching License, Biological Sciences

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie · São Paulo, Brazil

Other experience
Now

Invited Lecturer, Blue Carbon

Universidade do Carbono · MBA in NbS: Carbon Market and Projects

2021

Author & illustrator

“Scarlet and the Mangroves”, a children’s story on mangrove conservation · Once Upon a Time Initiative

19-21

PhD representative, Section E (Environmental Sciences)

Leibniz PhD Network · Coordination, policy, and event organisation across Leibniz institutions, Germany

19-20

Diversity Spokesperson

Leibniz PhD Network · Germany

11-12

Academic consultant

São Paulo State Prosecutor’s Office · Environmental Impact Valuation Working Group

2008

Volunteer

OMCAR · Hydrological restoration, mangrove planting, and social surveys, Tamil Nadu, India

2006

President, Brazilian Researchers & Students association

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel · Germany

04-06

Research intern

Instituto BiomaBrasil, Instituto Oceanográfico, USP · Mangrove structure surveys and analysis

03-05

Research intern

Laboratório de Ecologia de Meiofauna, Instituto Oceanográfico, USP · Samples from Santos, Baía de Todos os Santos, and Antarctica

2005

Vice-president, student association

Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie · Organised the XXII Science Symposium (96 talks, 24 workshops, 18 minicourses)

Languages
PortugueseEnglishGermanSpanishDutchFrenchItalian
Contact
abuchahla@gmail.com